The Idiot's Guide to setting a bashBy Gordon Fraser |
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Bash Trail Paper | Laying the Trail | Pre-Bash Briefing | On the Bash
Introduction
It is said that way back in the annals of time, the Kuala Lumpur Mountain Bike Hash was established as a means by which able bodied young men and women could gather at an appointed time and demonstrate to each other their prowess upon the all-terrain bicycle.Well this was sort of the idea, but it actually evolved during a late night back in 1994 when a few of the lads, having partaken of copious quantities of gaseous amber liquid, thought it would be a good thing to go out on their bikes the next morning, rid themselves of their hangovers and have a general thrash about. The result was the birth of the "Basher".
The Kuala Lumpur Mountain Bike Hash meets at 9:30am on the last Sunday of each month at a predetermined run site. Occasionally the run is put back due to unforeseen circumstances but time and date have been established to suit most people and, although it screws up any chance of a lie in, it doesn't clash with KL adult running hashes or the junior hash (mainly because they meet at much more sociable times).
The Two Runs
Two runs are normally set, Long Run and Scenic Run, either on different circuits or largely the same circuit with paper of differing shape or colour for each run.The main guidelines for setting a run can be summarised as follows —
- Long Run—approximately 18km, varied terrain, steep hills, interesting downhills, single track etc.
Scenic Run—approximately 8km, as above but avoiding excessive hill climbs or dangerous descents.
Runs should be rideable ie. on your bike pedalling as opposed to on your feet climbing with bike on shoulder. This rule is somewhat more relaxed for the long run where, as a hare, it's nice to see the poor sods wading through a river or struggling up the contours—but don't overdo it. For obvious reasons avoid crossing standing or stagnant water, rubbish tips and planter's gardens. Try and keep the Scenic run less arduous but nonetheless interesting.
Reconnoitre
There are acres of good unexplored plantation within easy striking distance of KL. No need to go miles outstation, although Sunday morning is a good time to drive and new sites are always welcomed.To set a good run you will need to reconnoitre the area thoroughly, anything from three to five sessions. Make sure there is a reasonable parking area where roads/tracks will not be not blocked by bashers parked cars. A shady area is preferable (given that some bashers seldom appear in daylight). Send your run site directions to the News-Bash two weeks before the run—remember that simple instructions with trip-meter mileage work best for bleary bashers with Sunday morning hangovers.
Allow yourself plenty of time so that by the Saturday before, you are familiar and comfortable with the area. Plan the ride to cover a wide area within the distance limits. If its too tight and convoluted your false trails will overlap and confusion will reign. Remember that despite logic, bashers will overrun the end of "falsies" by up to 50 metres or more in the desperate hope that that paper will magically re-appear. Also, when bashers fan out from a check they can cover an area up to half a kilometre in diameter!
The Perfect Bash Trail
No such thing of course but a variety of terrain keeps everyone's interest—hill climbs, fast downhills, single track, challenging downhill tracks for the adventurous and of course a bit of mud! Don't worry about taking riders off the main tracks along contours etc. although remember the "rideable" ethic.Make sure that its not too easy such that everyone breezes round in half an hour. The Long Bash should take 1.5 to 2 hours, the Scenic about the same but at a slower pace, all including time taken to break checks.
Checks
Set five to six checks on the Long Run, three to four on the Scenic. The theory is that the front runners will arrive at a check and start looking for the route, allowing the slower riders to catch up-thus a complete peloton rides away as one once the check is broken. Well, not at all really but that's roughly the idea.Checks are established by dumping a pile of (biodegradable) paper at one point with only the lead-in trail visible. Choose a place where there are several options as to where the real trail could continue. Lay some false trails with paper starting not more than 60m from the check and lasting not more than 100m of false paper. If practical mark the end of the "falsie" with a paper cross or crossed branches etc. The true route should also start approximately 60m from the check. Pleasant tricks are to lay "falsies" starting tantalisingly at the bottom of a steep hill so that the poor bashers have to cycle back up to the check, or down single track so that everyone hares off only to end up in a crumpled mess as they all try and turn to come back.
- Back Checks—Where bashers will check the obvious routes leading from the check but then realise that they have to go back on their in-route to find the real trail. Alternatively lay it up a dead end where they know they will have to back track.
- Circular Checks—Lead them up a hill, round in a wide circle, then they'll meet themselves coming round, needing a trip back down the hill to find the real trail.
- Normal Checks—Lead the trail to a pile of paper at a junction of several tracks, then set "falsies" and the real trail as before.
Remember not to lay checks or "falsies" too close to where bashers may find another part of the run and end up going the wrong direction or shortcut the course.
Bash Trail Paper
Shredded paper or sliced up squares / triangles / strips etc., different colours if you feel inclined. Try and lay sufficient to mark the trail without going OTT. It is biodegradable but only after some time. On straight tracks one piece every 5-10 metres is sufficient but in long grass or mud you will need to lay more.False trail end crosses stuck to trees rather than on the road are better but make sure the trail leads to the tree and that its stuck on at cyclist's eye level—bashers sometimes suffer from tunnel vision. Chalk can be used on tarmac surfaces. If your run is in a popular hashing area make sure your paper is different from all the other stuff on the ground.
Laying the Trail
To be safe, plan to lay the paper on the Saturday afternoon before the run. There is a danger that it may get washed away by overnight rain but its a lot quicker to freshen up a trail on the Sunday morning than to lay it from scratch (unless you start at 5:00am with a torch).Get to the site early on the Sunday of the Bash, allow yourself enough time to whiz round most of the run and make sure the trail is intact.
Pre-Bash Briefing
Once the gathered masses have arrived you will need to give them a briefing or at least tell them what kind of paper to follow, point out any dangers etc.Make sure you nominate two volunteers to do the bash write-ups for Long and Scenic and that every one has checked in for whichever run they are doing.
On the Bash
Make sure everyone goes off in the right direction, not up the On-In Trail. You should then have time to get to the first check and see how they break it. Remember, if total confusion reigns you may have to give a clue, but resist all threats. Make sure that checks are closed (lay paper to join the route) once they have been broken, slow riders coming up behind will have a hard time finding the trail if not. Discourage enthusiastic bashers from closing checks unless they are absolutely sure its not a "falsie". If a basher is struggling, give him / her a shortcut if you can but don't get them lost because you will have to go look for them if they don't check in.Bashers should keep calling "On-On" as they ride round on paper. At a check they should respond to the call "Are You" by replying "Checking" if they are testing a "falsie" or of course "On-On" once they've found the trail. Other calls you will hear are what they think of the Hare—if its unprintable you've done well!
On-On!
