Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 94, May 2017 | Page 45

Advice
Ma
It’s all STAGED
We’re full-swing into the whirlwind that is the South African MTB stage-racing season. One monumental event follows
another for the next couple of months, and for most of us these events are the culmination of many months of preparation,
training and sacrifice. As part of our registration for these events, we’re advised as to what we should take along, spares-
wise, but how many spares do we actually need? – BY THE GENTLEMAN RACER
P
acking lists from the organisers can at times seem confusing,
as there are many elements that may seem obvious to the
organisers, but to the average entrant are anything but! I’m
not going to deal with a whole packing list, only that which
pertains to the bike spares required, so let’s look at the typical
requirements:
1 A multi-tool, preferably one with a chain-breaker
This is often a double-edged sword. How many of us actually know how
to use a chain-breaker? Why would one need to? One assumes that the
average entrant would be proficient in basic trailside maintenance, but
that is not the case. A very wise idea is to sign up for a basic maintenance
course well before the event, as the advice given is extremely valuable and
could save your bacon out there.
2 Chain quick-link
Why a quick-link? Shimano prefers that their chains are always joined with
their own torpedo-pin, but in the real world, many prefer the ease of a
SRAM-inspired quick-link. It is, however, not particularly ‘quick’ to remove
one from a chain! Most of the time a dedicated tool is required to undo
one of these links, so why is it called “quick?” This is where the first point I
made comes into play: That trailside maintenance course will have taught
you how to remove a damaged chain link with the multi-tool’s chain-
breaker and substitute it with a quick-link.
3 Duct-tape and cable ties
I’ve personally seen broken frames trussed together and ridden to the
finish of a stage. If it can hold broken aircraft and racing cars together, all
that separates you from the finish is one’s ingenuity and a roll of tape. It’s
also very handy at getting teammates to quieten down...
4 Tyre levers, plugs and CO 2 ‘bombs’
As per point 1, being taught how and practising will determine how
successful the use of these items will be. Don’t be afraid to practise
beforehand, as this knowledge can mean the difference between a two-
minute repair and a long walk. Many people turf the tubeless valve they’ve
just removed in order to put in a tube… Don’t, because a hand-pump will
5 Spare derailleur hanger
In the cycling industry’s infinite wisdom, there is no ‘universal fit’ and each
frame comes with its own dedicated derailleur hanger. They are not specific
to the derailleur, only to that specific frame model. It’s best to get this item
right. For example, a Specialized concept store will not have the hanger
for a 2014 Giant Trance, and should an accident or misalignment cause a
hanger to break, one is faced with the bleakness of a bike converted to
single-speed for the balance of that stage, or worse, the balance of the
event. Many folks don’t know the year and model of the bike they ride, and
this info is crucial to the spanner at these events. If in doubt, ask your local
bike store to help.
6 Spokes
Believe it or not, a spoke is not just a spoke. Each variation of hub and
rim model requires a different-length spoke, not only to cater for these
variations, but also to cater for whether it’s a front disc-side spoke, or even
the drive-side rear. In the modern age of bespoke wheelsets, this becomes
even more important. For example, a conventional spoke cannot be used
to repair a Mavic Crossmax SL wheel, as this wheel needs the exact spoke
for the purpose. Again, best course of action is to ask your local bike shop
to source you the spares you need. You might not need to do the repair
yourself on the side of the trail, but you can give the mechanic the right
spoke to make sure you’re sorted for the next day.
What else?
It’s extremely easy to fall into the “what if” side of things – I know of
someone who carried a spare seat post in his pack – but these extremes
are not required! Take only what’s specific to your bike, like brake pads
(bad weather can destroy a set of pads in a single stage). The rest of the
spares you might need are pretty generic and should be available in the
race villages. And most importantly, always pack your sense of adventure,
and above all, your sense of humour.
An example of the variation
in hangers
CO 2 cartridges
and spare tube
The reason why you need the right spoke for your
wheels. All of these are for a 29er yet all completely
different
not re-inflate a tubeless tyre once it’s collapsed, only the sharp shock of a
bomb will force the tyre bead to kick against the rim and start the seal. You
will get punctures. A tubeless tyre conversion does not mean the problem
is eliminated, only reduced. So practise!
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