How to Handle Rock Gardens with Grace

The addition of rock garden sections to the XC track design not only made the races more difficult for the riders, but the technical segments also made the races more attractive to spectators. And yes, rock gardens usually separate the wheat from the chaff. While some XC riders complain that sharp and tire-unfriendly rocks were meant for downhill competitors, about 6.5 million people are glued to the TV or computer screens at every UCI XC race, believing that the World Cup series was more fun afterwards Technical parts enriched the show. “What works for the elite riders might work for any rider, as most of us do,” says Richard Gasperotti.

Anyone can choose to participate in the game or return to road cycling. (Except for the Hell of the North race from Paris-Roubaix, as it’s technically a 150-mile rock garden.) So, what could improve your overall technical skills? We learned that from We Love Cycling Ambassador Richard Gasperotti.

First of all, the most important key is in everyone’s head. Some riders consider a rock garden an enemy to fight. This is how they build fear in their minds and fight from the first moment they enter the zone. The closer they get to the segment, the more excited they get and the moment of entering the technical part inevitably becomes scary.

Accepting the hard part seems like a much better approach. It’s similar to a drummer’s experience just before entering a transition in a song, where he also mustn’t speed up or slow down just because the hard part is about to happen. No matter how technically challenging the part of the song they are in, they just need to get the rhythm right to lead the band through the song. And that’s exactly what you do best when riding over the rock garden.

Stay relaxed as if you were driving down a decent tarmac road while distributing your body weight evenly between the front and rear wheels. If the segment is too steep, push your butt behind the seat: that used to be the advice. “Today, however, I recommend lowering your body over the bike and staying well balanced so as not to lose grip between the tires and the ground,” says Richard Gasperotti. Dropper post owners are encouraged to use the device and drop the seat.

Slow down to a comfortable speed before entering the zone. In wet weather, use the rear brake sensibly and forget about the front brake altogether. If there are gaps between the rocks you can use them for braking, but you should loosen the brake levers to allow the wheels to roll smoothly over the rocks.

Plus, sustained speed is your friend, because with enough momentum, it’s easier to get over the cliff edges than if you hit each stone individually. Always focus on keeping your gaze on the exit, not the obstacles, while subconsciously steering in the direction you are facing.

There’s usually a perfect route through the rock garden, but Richard Gasperotti recommends finding an alternate route during practice runs to ensure you can power through the sections even if a faster rider pulls you off your preferred line mid-race. Enjoy driving and remember that repeating complicated parts is the best way to improve your skills, even if it hurts sometimes.