Wise Words is our new interview series talking to some of mountain biking’s most switched on people.
We’ll ask our short list of questions to a heap of influential, inspiring and outspoken people that we feel are driving the direction of mountain biking today. Some will make you think, some will make you laugh, some will be plain dumb, some will inspire you to better yourself and your riding. We hope!
Wise Words this week comes to you from Morgane Such.
Morgane Such is the person you’ll likely speak to if you’re talking Marin Bikes in France, as their marketing manager. She’s also pretty handy on a bike, having taken silver in the Trophy of Nations Industry event as a mixed team, bagged top 20s at the Enduro World Series and won the Mountain of Hell in 2017. Pinned.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
I hate this type of question…. I had to ask one of my friends to answer.
At first, you think I avoid being in the mud or in a dangerous situation, but I am always down for anythin,g stupid or not, no matter how hard a section looks to ride I want to try it, I follow my buddies and I enjoy it, always. Crash or not. I could say no to a small dirt jump but I finish riding the steepest section in the mountain with a 130mm trail bike.
What thing or things have you bought in the last year that had the biggest effect on your life as a mountain biker / cyclist / person that works in the bike industry?
I changed my tiny, girly car for a van. I am living in a city so that’s not easy to park everyday but it’s definitely the best choice I made. I can sleep inside, carry all my bikes and stuff, do shuttles. Sometimes I am going from race to race or resort to resorts for weeks during summer and it’s the perfect vehicle.
What unusual habits do you have as a bike rider?
I did a lot of horse riding when I was younger and as a result I always jump on and off my bike from the left side…being on the right is very uncomfortable for me, almost impossible. But I am sure if I am not the only one doing this.
What piece of advice do you think every mountain bike rider should hear? And what piece should they ignore?
Everything takes time and requires patience, even the easiest things. It’s not a problem to take weeks or months to be able to ride something or learn a trick. Don’t compare yourself too much with other riders, get inspired but find your own talent on the bike even if it’s frustrating (I know this so well)
Don’t ignore but don’t believe all the stupid shit you can hear or read on plenty of forum, make your own opinion.
If you could go back and re-ride one day from your life so far, where/what/when/who would it be? Would you change anything?
Megavalanche 2018, I was leading and broke my derailleur on a rock… I would avoid this rock. Or last year we went with Marin Bikes crew to Italy (Tuscany). It was before the launch of the new Mount Vision bike we spent 2 days shuttling in amazing trails, weather was fantastic and we had the best food and wine.
What have you wasted the most time on in your life as a rider or bike industry career that you wished you’d given up years ago?
Thinking I could have been in the top enduro racers in the world with my mental game. I accepted pretty late on that even with the talent I have on a bike, I am just not someone able to give up my social life and pleasure to do what I want when I want. I tried to avoid partying and put the training before the fun but I was never happy and it never lasted more than 2 months.
It’s not a regret, I love racing but I should have start finding another path before. And it’s never too late, I am only 25.
How do you motivate yourself when you’re struggling or lacking inspiration?
It depends on the subject. I just need to try something totally new, I love learning new things and it helps a lot I need to meet new people as well. I think that we grow and get inspired from what’s and who’s around us. I love talking to unknown people when I go to the bar.
It can happen that I spend more time talking to someone I just met than with my friends. I am very curious. Actually, I often come back with ideas or projects after talking with someone totally outside of the cycling industry. They have a different point of view.
What single and specific thing about riding bicycles do you gain the most happiness from?
The freedom feeling of being outside in front of amazing and quite landscape. And then the sensation of surfing with the bike, that’s why I love riding grey earth or alpine/volcano freeride that much.
Photo by Bartek Wolinski.
What single thing would you like to erase from cycling history from the last year?
There would be so many things that we all want to erase, but life doesn’t work like this.. I would say the huge amount of bad crashes we had in 2019 in the MTB scene professional or not. Some worse than others unfortunately.
What single thing would you like to make happen in the cycling world in the next year?
With the current situation (COVID-19) I just want to make the 2020 season happen and see everyone again, healthy and enjoying being back on the bike.
Who else should we ask these questions to?
Reach out Anne Caroline Chausson. I don’t think you spoke to her already.
