Christoph Sauser (Specialized) « Bike Pure

When we started BikePure in 2008, it was lovers of our sport just looking to give a voice to the clean professionals and illustrate the desire of the fans to have riders to trust. Everything was growing well and refining our message, but when Christoph Sauser replied to an email and said he would like to be part of BikePure and it’s goal of creating an ethical sport- it took off overnight. Having a World champion linked to our campaign exploded the coverage and membership. We had 10,000 members within a few weeks. Now two years on, and with BP in 87 countries, we caught up with him briefly to see how the season was going:

Your form has been good this year, do you alter your program for season to season?

I always like to add or change some of my routine. You can not stick to the same program all the time. First off all it would be boring and secondly I think you would not improve any more.

How do you keep race fit when there can be 4 weeks between world cup events?

That is no problem at all. First off all I take it a week really easy. Then ride my Specializd Enduro on a backpack trip for endurance and power. Then back on speed work with intervals and picking nice training races for braking the training routine up and excitement.

What is your greatest weakness?

Sprint on a wide open road, cold weather in combination with rain

You use flat bars and bar ends, would you recommend these over riser bars?

For racing yes. I can really have “extension pulling” on the bar ends, especially when racing off the saddle. Some racers have low stem and riser bar. That make so sense to me, and looks goofy too! But on my Stumpjumper and Enduro you can find riser bar and shorter stem.

What are your thoughts on Paulissens recent positive test?

I don’t want to comment when I do only little facts from the press

What advice would you give to young Mountain bikers starting out?

Start out with having big fun. Don’t try to do everything right from the beginning on, so you have lots of room to improve.

James Bond or Jason Bourne?

I am not big into movies

29″ is it the future?

Yes absolutely! So much looking forward to my new Epic 29er carbon. The fastest fun, comfortable bike out there!!!

Check out his charity in South Africa Songo, where he is part of an effort to improve the quality of kids lives through cycling. They have already built and stocked a BMX track in www.songo.info