2012 UCI World MTB Trials rider focus

Published Date

Written by Una McKay

TRAILS2

Our National Trials riders representing Australia in the Bicycle Trials Championship at the 2012 UCI World MTB and Trials Championships in Saalfelden, Austria are Paul Gerloff, VIC, Janine Jungfels, QLD, and Nathan Mummery, NSW.

Trials is a particularly unique sport that involves riding in both city and nature terrains. A rider must have his or her bike, which doesn’t have a saddle, under complete control in order to manage the obstacles that appear. These obstacles can include things like slippery rocks, trees, logs, and boulders.

Mummery said that it is the versatility and patience that the sport requires that pushes him to be a better athlete and an all round better person.

“This is an extremely intensive sport which pushes your mind, skill and patience to the extreme,” Mummery told Tim Mullally, owner and rider of Expressive Bikes. “Trial riders work hard at every technical aspect, not just the fitness, but each individual skill over and over. It is a sport which demands an alternate mixture of concentration, patience, persistence, balance, speed, power, control and more”.

'My most favourite trials technique would have to be front wheel moves and big kickers' says Janine Jungfels, our sole female representative. Janine at 23 years old has been riding trials since 2005, got introduced through a family friend who was involved in Moto Trials.

Paul Gerloff is our more experienced team member at 28 years and with 12 years behind him explains that diet and cross training is imperative to becoming an elite rider.

'I just bought my first bike with a seat in 9 years last week so I've had 3 cross country rides. Most of the cross training happens in the gym or with things like rock climbing. With food, Salmon, broccoli and sweet potato combine well with my training regime'

All three riders said it is a great feeling to be able to represent Australia, and they hope to be able to learn a lot from the International riders.

For more information on Trial Riding or to follow the programme from September 6-9, click here.

Read about Janine Jungfels on her Antwerp World Cup experience.

Interviews and images courtesy of Tim Mullally

Images include Paul Gerloff and Nathan Mummery

Expressive Bikes: http://www.expressivebikes.com/

Phone: 0411 609 115 (Australia) +61 411 609 115 (International)

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