Technique
Although courses are less technical than those of mountain biking, the particular obstacles require specific technical abilities of their competitors. However, single-track and streams (like in mountain biking) are also sometimes part of the course, depending on the location, both of which require rider experience and technique. More common, however, are steps, barriers, ditches, stairs, steep slopes and deep mud or sand which require running while carrying the bicycle. This approach was invented by Octave Lapize and proven by Eugène Christophe who in 1913 had to carry his broken bike down the Tourmalet during the Tour de France. Although this sounds simple, doing so in the middle of a quick-paced race is difficult. Being able to dismount, pick up the bike, put it back down and remount smoothly and quickly requires practice and skill..
A more recent development to overcome obstacles such as barriers and sometimes ditches is the bunnyhop, which came to prominence in 1989 when Danny De Bie used it in his successful World Championship run. Bunny hopping has become less popular as a result of race directors seeking to limit its use by setting up two or three barriers in a row. Skilled riders are still able to hop the obstacles, despite the back to back to back barriers. Sven Nys, an ex-BMX racer, demonstrates the importance of technical skills as he continues to dominate the sport.
Read more about this topic: Cyclo-cross
Famous quotes containing the word technique:
“A successful social technique consists perhaps in finding unobjectionable means for individual self-assertion.”
—Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)
“Every notable advance in technique or organization has to be paid for, and in most cases the debit is more or less equivalent to the credit. Except of course when it’s more than equivalent, as it has been with universal education, for example, or wireless, or these damned aeroplanes. In which case, of course, your progress is a step backwards and downwards.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
“Technique is the test of sincerity. If a thing isn’t worth getting the technique to say, it is of inferior value.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)