The Do's and Don'ts of Duo!
The Appalachian Journey is designed and intended to bring together the old and the new in a way which creates a challenging and enriching experience for the rider. In melding old and new, we revisited the fundamentals of what we love about racing and riding, and came away with the partner format. While some of our team have extensive mtb stage racing experience where the format is used really heavily, the big point we came away with is that riding is more fun with friends. Solo experiences are swell but the opportunity to share a challenge with others always magnifies the outcome more than just two fold.
The format has been around for a long time; adopted by some of the worlds most challenging and well known events such as the Cape Epic, BC Bike Race, Swiss Epic, and many more. When riders partner together to accept a challenge they commit themselves to a purpose bigger than just themselves-and in a world that grows more selfish every day, that is something special.
Racing in pairs magnifies your strengths but also multiplies your potential weaknesses. A good partnership is more than the sum of its parts, and we have some great guidelines for how to navigate the partnership. So with this in mind, we thought it might be a good idea to let our riders in on some "Do's and Don'ts" of partner/pairs racing. In addition to the best practices we will also outline the rules of The Appalachian Journey's partner format.
Do:
1. Communicate. Its pretty well agreed on by experienced racing partners that good communication is the foundation of racing and riding success. That communication begins long before numbers are pinned. Communicate with your partner about your goals and expectations. Have a frank talk about where your training has been and where you think you may have the greatest challenge. This allows each rider to help support the other in their challenge areas. Generally riders can overcome any challenge with good communication. DO make your plan together and rely on each other to stick to it!
2. Support each other. Take that communication to the trail. Generally one rider will be a little bit stronger, more technically capable, or more mechanically proficient than the other. Talk about your strengths and use those to help each other. Designate the stronger rider to carry more gear or food. Allow the better climber to physically and emotionally support the other on the long climbs. This extends to actual physical pushing. Some of the most skilled partner pairs will train to actually support their partner on climbs or on group drafting scenarios. This is encouraged in The Journey. Place a hand on your partner and give them a little push or a little lift. Assistance via any "mechanical means" such as tow ropes or slings is not permitted.
Remember that whatever you take out on course is also your partners. Whether that's food and equipment or energy and emotion. Take care of each other and the ride will be a lot smoother! Supporting each other when you are down is crucial to pairs success:
3. Keep it fun and keep in touch. They say change is the only constant. Be prepared for one rider to become the strong rider, or one to weaken. As you train coming into an event and as you start your race, continue to keep in touch. Make the event fun. Chatter and joke with your partner and with others. A little smile will relax nerves and certainly keep your experience more fun. Stay close to your partner. The Journey will disqualify riders who stray more than 5 minutes from their partner. Staying close and staying in communication has the effect of improving the morale for both riders.
4. Leave it all out there. Both the good and the bad: leave them both out there. Work as hard as you can to support each other and you'll move faster, farther, and safer than solo. If disagreement or challenges come up leave those out there too. Some teams recommend picking a partner with whom you've already had a long relationship because knowing how to navigate a disagreement is a major benefit you're sure to face out on course. No matter what, stay committed to each other and to arriving at the finish line friends. When you cross the line any tears should be tears of joy!
DON'T:
1. Expect your partner to read your mind. Even the best of partners can't read each others minds. The success of a pair relies on communication and dedication to listening and navigating any issues together.
2. Over-analyze or over-think. If you think your partner is suffering ask them how they're doing. Chances are good your guess is right and giving them the opportunity to say so may be welcome. But don't presume they are hurting and make decisions for each other based on that. Keep the lines open and keep the dialogue simple. A friendship with a good foundation makes this easier but isn't necessary if the lines are open!
3. Don't forget about others! While you and your partner make for strength in numbers don't forget to be friendly to others! Their strength may come back to help or haunt you and your partner. We are always #BetterTogether
These are some of the tips and tricks our team has learned in many thousands of miles of pairs racing.
So now for some RULES of the partner racing game:
1) Riders may push or pull each other by means of physical contact ONLY. No assistance from ropes, hitches, or any "mechanical" means is permitted.
2) Riders may support each other and other teams in any means which fits within rule 1 guidelines. No OUTSIDE support is permitted except within 100 feet of neutral aid zones/checkpoints.
3) Riders must remain within 5 minutes of their partner at all times. Riders who do not will receive a finish time but will not be posted in finish results. Time splits will be randomly taken by course marshals and at checkpoints.
4) Time of the second rider of each team is the one taken for results. Finish together!
We’re so excited to introduce many of you to this format for the first time, and trust that you will discover, as we have, why the Journey is better with friends.