Arthur is one of the finest riders to have participated in the past few FVMBA Super-D races in the Fraser Valley and he is currently the series leader. Arthur’s friendly demeanour and positive energy have been evident throughout the race series, as well as on other projects. I would describe him as easy-going and approachable, but also quite competitive.
We caught up with him on one of his lunch breaks (do they ever get one there?) at Suspensionwerx for a short interview. Check it out below:
Q: So, you’ve been dominating the FVMBA Super-D series. Tell us your secret. Is it the 29″ wheels?
A preliminary note to thank you, the course designer, the race organizers, devoted FVMBA members and all volunteers for putting on a true rider’s race series that rewards the all-around mountain biker. Varied, challenging and always fun-to-ride courses, seamless timing, great atmosphere and great people: the growing number of participants does not lie, FVMBA series is where it’s at.
Dominating is a big word. I’ve been hunting for points, chasing the Federeaus up and the Johnstons down, trying to be a jack of all trades and clearly a master of none! I am fortunate that there is a race series that puts on events the way I like to ride. The 29” wheels don’t like to slow down: they like barging the ups and let you have fun on the downs. A weapon for the right rider.
Q: What’s the current bike you ride/race and what’s your set-up?
Santa Cruz Tallboy, XL please. Low on travel, high on snap. It’s very confused…in the best kind of way: XC weight and get-up-and-go, yet an unexpected taste for the rough and rowdy. Just about 4” of travel all around, sometimes triple, sometimes single ring, and always an up and down post.
Q: Do you ride left foot or right foot forward?
Right foot forward is more comfortable. I do try to mix it up on casual rides, as to not feel helpless when things don’t go my way on the trail.
Q: How do you conjure up the MTB spirits before the race? Is it meditation? Music?
I grunt a little, sometimes a lot, get angry. Music can help, but the headspace has to come from me. I strive for angry yet calm, confident and determined… in an ideal world!
Q: Energy drink or Coffee?
Coffee, no question. Coffee keeps me crisp, surprisingly focused, and just jittery enough to keep me moving forward.
Q: Place you call home?
North Vancouver. The North Shore has the ability to beat skill into you, the hard way. I figure if you can ride a cross country bike here and have a decent amount of fun doing so, you are bound to be making progress somehow. Right?
Q: What is your training routine?
This year (2011) was the first year I actually had focus and a plan regarding my riding. Monika (Marx Conditioning) is to take all the credit for helping me overcome my imbalances through targeted strength training in the gym and cardiovascular training on the bike. Monika designed an eleven week program of on-the-bike intensity work focused on improving my power at lactate threshold and VO2 Max, that I began in mid January. Although my lack of true base training is apparent racing longer events, top-end power and stamina improvements were shocking. Two key strengths for races of the FVMBA series and this format of racing in general. The last mention I can’t emphasize enough is the importance of incorporating recovery in any training regimen: Winter 2011 saw the greatest improvements in my bike fitness, yet the least amount of riding of any Winter yet. Rides with a focus and proper recovery will do wonders for the casual and competitive riders alike.
Q: What is your favourite trail to ride/race in the Valley so far?
The FVMBA series has been an amazing showcase of mountain biking in the Valley. There is not one course I like best or least. The trail network of Heritage Park blew my mind: who would expect such quality trails in a city park-like setting? Sumas, its loam, combination of high-speed and tech, with some lung-busting fireroads has become a go-to for riding East of Vancouver. Vedder is a staple as well: swoopy singletrack, immaculate berms, and well-propotioned airs, nothing to complain about here. Please don’t make me pick.
Q: Who do you look up to in the MTB industry?
Those who have had a vision and the insight, drive and smarts to make a living doing what they enjoy. Qualities that I have seen in professional riders, photographers, fitness professionals, bike shop owners, race organizers, tour company owners, company representatives and trail builders alike.
Q: What do you think is the future of MTB racing in BC?
- DH
- Super D
- XC
- Enduro/All-Mountain (i.e. BC Bike Race)
All disciplines have their place and each format builds certain skills within its participant base. It seems like most people around me these days don’t like having to pick between riding and racing. The whole “hurry up and wait” format of competitive DH unfortunately translates into little riding for most people on a typical race week-end. The overall experience is becoming more and more a priority. True mountain bike cross country races (Nimby, GearJammer, etc, …) are attracting participants eager to test their fitness and show off their skill. Multi-day stage events ( a la BC Bike Race) allow one to discover amazing trail networks, while either racing neck to neck in an increasingly competitive field, or simply experiencing a high-quality, fully-guided and assisted mountain bike holiday. Super D style races hit the all-around rider’s sweet spot. The Super D format requires enough fitness that winner’s can’t be slouches (yet don’t have to ride 20 hours on the road a week to feel able to participate), have a well-rounded and sharp set of technical skills (ability to ride demanding terrain with your heart up your throat) and, most important, are won on trail bikes. The perfect bike for this format of racing is the bike that most riders own already, and if not their only bike, the bike that gets ridden 90% of the time around here. Grab your open-face, trail-bike, perhaps knee pads, make sure you’ve had some sleep, and go race. A couple of pre-runs are a good idea, but not mandatory, and no matter what, Super D format ensures a lot of riding in a day of racing.
Q: List three websites you visit on a regular basis?
Do not spend much time online. But, if I had to pick, not particularly in this order: NSMB.com, Santa Cruz Bicycles Blog (sheer entertainment) and Yahoo for my email duties.
Q: Please share with us your insight on how to grow the Super-D series in the Valley?
Honestly, it still blows my mind that such a small group of people, with such a limited budget put together such high quality events. As a racer, the lack of timing mistakes, near immediate race results, effective course marking / vollie placement and most importantly outstanding course quality, is huge. As a mountain bike enthusiast, the series is an ideal introduction to a new network of trails, an opportunity to socialize with like-minded people and a way to improve fitness and skill.
Q: In July 2011 of the Mountain Biking UK magazine featuring Wade Simmons, was it you following him down the super-gnarly-steep section? How was that experience?
It was. I don’t think the picture is detailed enough to see the clench in my teeth, bulging eyes and general look of fear: that section is a nemesis on the DH bike, so riding it on the Tallboy had me sweating hard. I could feel every millimeter of my 100mm stem and 685mm bar work against me as I dropped into the slot that had once swallowed my Fox 40 and 2.5 sticky downhill tire. The sub 1500 gram race wheels and tires had more side to side movement than both my fork and shock’s travel combined (or so it felt). Wade is a true professional: he took a deep breath, dropped-in, looked up to Sterl at the bottom and said: “Again?”. Wow.
Wade has been a great riding buddy over the years. There are only a handful of guys that can ride up and down anything on the same ride, on the same bike, hour two or hour eight in, always with a smile and sense of humour.
Q: Any shout out and Sponsors to thank?
Monika, www.marxcondioning.ca, has changed my vision of health and fitness, redefined what I believed my cycling fitness could be and driven me to set higher goals. My bike would not be what it is if it wasn’t for James, www.SuspensionWerx.com, keeping my FOX fork and shock working to the highest standards. Santa Cruz Bicycles, for making bikes that are fun and fast to ride and pleasing to look at. The North Shore for handing it to me weekly.
Excellent write up Fernan!! And Arthur, those are some super kind words. You definately enbody the type of racer that we targeted to come out to our Toonie Series.
He kicked ass at today’s toonie race on Red with a smoking fast time of 45:17!
Interesting interview! Well done.