Mountain Bike Racing - new to racing

I used to ride some single track in my 20's, but never raced and haven't riden seriously in several years. I started riding a lot again this year (I commute on a hybrid about 125 mi / week and ride weekends) but just got the race bug and signed up for a race next weekend. I will be riding a Trek Mountain Track 850 and did have the presence of mind to sign up as a beginner vet on the short course. (I'm 41)

Looking for advice to
1) keep me out of the hospital (a broken collar bone made me quit riding for a long while in the 90's)
2) have enough fun that I might consider doing it again
3) minimize embarassment on the course (it is out of town, so less important that it might be)

The race is the Xterra urban Assault in Richmond, VA. It starts at 11:00 and I'll be running a 10K earlier that morning.

Not sure what to suggest to keep you from braking your collarbone, but getting behind the seat on steep downhills is a start and preriding the course and much as possible so there are no surprises during the race.
Don't worry about what other racers think because I can almost gurantee they won't give a crap how you do. All the sport and expert riders will likely lose you at the start so you'll mostly be riding with other beginners. If one of them yells at you to move it just response with a loud "go - insert 4 letter word here - yourself". Its a race, they should know how to pass. If you go down on a climb or technical section just get off the trail ASAP if other mounted riders are behind you and don't sweat it, everyone comes off their bike at some time - even the pros.
Just go out and have some fun. Just remember racing is highly addictive. Also check out the xc racing and training forum at www.mtbr.com. Many, many first time racers have posted threads on tips for first races.

Kmoses,

Thanks for the pointers, I'll check out mtbr.com. In this race they are starting the beginners seperate from the sport and expert riders, so that will help. I (middle-age guy on his ancient bike) will just have to watch out for the young crazies. Here goes nothin . . .:eek:

You're gonna love the course. You'll be in for a treat on the new section behind Maymont. Just finished building it yesterday and it will be used in the race! Here's a taste from the early stages of building: http://cyclingcentralva.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5841

I'm not racing the Urban Assault, but I will be racing the Xterra Sport Tri the day after on the same course. Good luck to you Saturday!

I survived! I rode the course in 46 minutes. I placed 9th out of 24 in my bracket, so I am pretty happy with myself, but it certainly wore me out. I ran the 10K first that morning, so my the end of the bike race, I was completely spent.

The best comment of the day was a guy after the race who, looking at my 12 year old Trek 850, said: "You placed ninth on THAT?"

I wasn't able to swap out my clipless pedals from my commuter before the race, so I rode with pedal cages - BIG mistake - I won't do that again. I also decided I HAVE to get a front suspension fork, with no suspension this pretty technical course beat my middle-aged shoulders to death. I'm spending father's day popping motrin and rubbing Icy Hot on my shoulders.

Any advice on what to replace my front fork with?

Congratulations!!!!!

Check out the WV XC race circuit - www.wvmba.com