General Cycling Discussion - Do you get anxious/nervous before a race?

Just curious if other people do ... I know I do.

I do not concern myself with whether or not I will win ... but for some reason I still get a strange feeling of anxiety before races. In the pit of my stomach. Not so much nervous as just anxious. The situation is so low-pressure, too ... I dunno what is wrong with me. But maybe I am not the only one?

You guys do anything before you race to help calm yourself? Mentally/physically?

Don't race now but I never got het up before a race. I was only there to give the others someone to beat so why worry. And If I did get a result- then it was a bonus. They did come occasionally but only due to others in my class not finishing.

I did for the first few but not anymore. You may actually get answers from people who race if you ask this in the appropriate (road, mtb, cyclocross) racing forum...

I figured, but I get a general anxiety before every type of race I do, whether it is a race at the track or just an alleycat for fun. Maybe it is conditioning.

It almost sounds like you are having a little bit of stage fright? When you race, is it a large group of racers? Lots of spectators?

Maybe stage fright. Not that many spectators. Mostly friends and family of friends. I dunno though ... I'm definitely not out to impress anyone. Not concerned about winning either. I know I will probably come in the middle of the pack by the end of the night. I just get strange anxiousness every time. I dunno. D:

No. But then, I don't race. I sometimes get a bit twitchy before the first 2-3 minute of my commute, depending on the weather.

Used to before sports car races and high school football games. I abandoned hope and ambition before I started cycling, so no pressure there.