Bosch (e)MTB Scavenger Hunt Photo Report

22.07.22 08:03 1212022-07-22T08:03:00+02:00Text: Gabriel Waringer (translated by AI)Photos: Michael MeindlTakeshi's Castle on two wheels. As if it were a family event! The skills competition held as part of the Salzkammergut Trophy as a springboard to a dazzling e-sports career ... or not.22.07.22 08:03 1242022-07-22T08:03:00+02:00

Bosch (e)MTB Scavenger Hunt Photo Report

22.07.22 08:03 1242022-07-22T08:03:00+02:00 Gabriel Waringer (translated by AI) Michael Meindl

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Takeshi's Castle on two wheels. As if it were a family event! The skills competition held as part of the Salzkammergut Trophy as a springboard to a dazzling e-sports career ... or not.22.07.22 08:03 1242022-07-22T08:03:00+02:00

Because of the rather modest — to be honest, non-existent — successes of my young racing career in the alternative racing scene of the Gravelkings and bikepacking bobos, it's slowly time to pull the emergency brake and keep an eye out for real alternatives beyond that. In that sense an alternative-alternative race calendar is needed, and anyone who has looked at the internet in recent years (that little box next to the phone socket that sounds like a Robotron K6316 in the final battle) knows that the future lies in e-sports.

A cross between an MTB tour and Takeshi’s Castle
The Bosch (e)MTB Scavenger Hunt

My plan is simple and foolproof - as an early adopter I will shake up the scene and, with foresight worthy of Nostradamus, put myself at the top of the E-Olympus. Long distance? 24-hour races? Who has time for that these days!
To put words into action, a conveniently located event in Bad Goisern called "Salzkammergut Trophy" presents itself. There, old-school die-hards ride MTBs without (!) assistance, senselessly going in circles.

But since I'm clever, I signed up for the event of the future - the Bosch (e)MTB scavenger hunt! A cross between an MTB tour and Takeshi's Castle, where you can ride to several stations along a predetermined route to prove your skills in disciplines as different as the mini crossbow, nail-driving or the technical course. Depending on how you do, you collect more or fewer points, and in the end the person with the highest score wins. Clear?

The rules in detail

The Bosch (e)MTB scavenger hunt was designed as an event that brings riding fun and entertainment for the whole family: you can take part alone or in a group, with motor assistance or without; there is no timing, but there are fun skill challenges at the checkpoints where the aim is to collect as many points as possible. Three route lengths (25, 37 or 43 km) are available.
The bronze medal is awarded to anyone who completes the short route and gets a stamp at the four control points. The silver medal goes to anyone who visits all six control points on the middle distance. For the gold medal you must also complete half of the skill stations. Anyone aiming for the maximum points must tackle the longest distance and take part in all activities.

Getting used to the bike

For lack of my own gear (the entire budget for this season has already been invested in a gold chain and white socks — note: as a future icon every detail counts!) I simply and effortlessly order a rental bike through the organizer — just before the start at around 9 a.m. I find myself standing in front of the monstrosity that is a KTM Prowler Prestige, 25 kilograms of pure zest for life powered by the Bosch CX Performance drive unit with up to 85 Nm of torque and equipped with the 625 Wh PowerTube.
With 180 mm at the fork and no less impressive 170 mm of travel at the rear, this steed literally flattens everything in its path; the 29”/27.5” wheel combo irons out any obstacle. To somehow get these brutal primal forces under control, only the finest components were fitted — shifting and braking are of course handled by the latest (commercially available) XTR. Luxurious — and all of that at a price that inevitably makes you wonder how on earth it adds up. Another topic.

The Bosch (e)MTB scavenger hunt comes as an event of the future without timing. The start takes place between 9 and 11 a.m.

To get acquainted with the eventual winning bike, I quickly ride to the technical training with Lucky Luke, the man people say is faster than his shadow. In an hour I learn everything there is to know — or at least the basics, like position on the bike and braking, at least.

In the paddock the rumor is that a larger group will start at 10 o'clock — perfect for me; in the gruppetto I can conserve my strength while, quietly whirring with almost 30 others, I race up the first climb.
The ride wind almost tears my jersey off at the speed-limited 25 km/h; I give everything to keep the beast on the road. Despite my best intentions, however, I end up drafting most of the time. You simply can't mess with the traction of the 2.75" wide Schwalbe tires.

Spot on?

After ~~sweat-inducing~~ 15 minutes of T(r)acticing in the field the group reaches the first checkpoint in Sankt Agatha: a shooting club, where we earn our first points. Three truly masterful shots with the crossbow not only earn me the nickname “Wilhelm” but also the first 27 points and catapult me miles ahead of the competition.

During the transfer stages from Station A to Station B we also pick up Rene Reidinger, known from radio and television. He claims to know an asphalt-free shortcut. Since we're already badly behind schedule anyway due to waiting for group size, I really have no choice and follow him onto the forest road.
On the climb I notice that Reidinger is illegally riding without a motor — a clear breach of the rules, which I may report to the organizer at a later time if it suits me.
As time is pressing — the awards ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. and I'm still about 920 points short — I start to doubt my decision to have tied my fate to none other than the gentleman nicknamed NoBrain. With no knowledge of the route whatsoever I'm helplessly at his mercy, and the hands of the clock already point to five to twelve. Not only figuratively, but literally. I could at any time kick my engine into turbo mode, but doing so would absolutely destroy Reidinger and thus cost me my navigator. What a drama, what a dilemma!

Somehow we still manage to get up to the Halleralm, known for many things, but above all for the archery course.
Again a steady hand is required; thanks to the motor assist I still have plenty of aim left and score an incredible 53 points - a historic result, and I'm immediately made an honorary member on the spot. I gratefully accept, but time is pressing.

Thanks to the motor assistance, I still have plenty of finishing kick left
The steady hand as one of many advantages of an e-MTB

Damage limitation

Now the late start time is paying back, and despite a moderate 43 kilometres my plan to visit all the stations and checkpoints is receding into a distant, unreachable future.
In such a case you need to keep a clear head and weigh your options:

Option A: Fake a mechanical defect and withdraw from the race. Difficult, because on closer inspection by the race commission my deception would be exposed immediately — the Prowler simply works too well, so defects are out of the question.
Option B: Be taken down by a fan at the side of the course and thus be eliminated.
Problem — hardly any fans at the roadside.
Option C: Damage limitation and try to save whatever can be saved.

Since the latter seems like the only way out, I accelerate at breakneck speed toward the Ewige Wand. The prospect of 150 points and thus a secure place in the top 3 puts me into unexpectedly great form. Effortlessly I shift between the E‑MTB and Turbo support levels and pedal for appearances.
Shortly before the checkpoint on the Ewige Wand I have to drop the anchor in the form of the 4‑piston XTR and manage to haul myself in just in time in front of the officials at the checkpoint, who are frozen with fear. Embarrassed, I apologise, but the woman nods understandingly. Taming the Prowler Prestige is no easy task.

So, quickly swung back into the saddle — off we go for the final sprint toward Bad Goisern! The descent after the Ewigen Wand may be a trial by fire for many - thanks to the suspension described earlier I don't remember it at all.
Was it asphalt? Was it a trail? No idea, but a KOM is definitely in the bag!

At exactly 2 p.m. we reach the destination, but the awards ceremony takes place without me. Disappointed, I turn away from the festival stage.
I should have been standing up there; it would have been my day. The conditions were perfect, but because of a tactical mistake I risked everything and lost. I should never have joined Rene Reidinger, the man didn't even have an e‑bike, how could I have been so blind!

I don't give up hope - there must be a race format somewhere that suits me, and I'm pretty sure I've found it in the Bosch (e)MTB scavenger hunt. The scene is certainly hot, rumors are circulating of a Tour E-France and a Giro E-Talia. That means: my time will still come!