HDTVKSS

hay yall, hows it goin?

well i have my 1st race comming up and im pretty excited ( its the 2nd last race of the season so im a bit of a late starter....) Im only riding in the lowest grade so im not expecting to get whipped, but neither am i expecting to win. Just got a couple of questions i thought i mite run past some of you....

given that the race is on a sunday, and i normally ride monday - friday + 1nce on the weekend, when should i taper off for the race? I was thinking maybee do a light 1 1/2 hour recovery ride friday nite, then day off sat, then race sunday? is that the way its normally done?

Also given that its a low grade race, its only going to be 12 K, and not too hilly but pretty techy. normally i train with a HRM ( i train on a roadie) , does anyone use a HRM in a MTB race? if so what HR zones are you pushing in the race, or do you jsut go on percieved effort? i have this fear of going out too hard and dying in the ass at the end, but i also dont want to take it too easy and leave my run too late. i guess some of these things come with expereince?

ok, 3rd and final qestion. i normally ride with a camel back, would 500 ml of water be ok? ( its winter here in Sydney) id carry a bottle, but given the course is techy i cant see myself having a chance to have time to get the bottle onand off the rail.

anyhows thanks in advance for any hints and suggestions!

G

FoX Rider

Well, what type of race. XC or DH? What? If its XC I think you should go withtthe camel back because you probably wouldn't have time to pull out the bottle.

sm266

12k is a short race. My first race was a beginning women class, and because I had been riding a lot, I thought I'd be okay. I was wrong. Expect the field to be tough, remember these people have been racing all season. They're moving up to sport class next year, and they're starting to step up a level. They'll head out strong and fast. Anticipate getting trampled.

My advice: Ride Saturday and take Friday off. Riding Saturday will keep the legs fresh and ready while still resting on Friday. Right easy on Saturday with maybe just one hard effort. Warm up well the day of the race and hydrate as much as possible. Relax.

If you have time (2-3 weeks), ride some hard efforts. If you train on road, time trial once or twice. Let your body feel what it's like to work hard because the adrenaline will contribute to raceday. Just spend some time right below your lactic threshold. Otherwise, have fun and relax. This race is just to get your feet wet.

Endo

When I have a race coming up, I ride hard until about 4 days until the race, and then go for easy spins for 3 days. The day before the race I am normally at the race site camping already or whatever so I'll go out and do a very slow pre-ride, taking in all of the details of the course, noticing good places to attack, the feed zone, good places to relax and flow, etc. The day of the race eat some good carbs about 2 hours before, with a little protein too (Clif Bars are good.) Up until the start, be drinking about 1 bottle of sports drink every half hour. 45 minutes before the start, ride around enough to break out in a decent sweat. 15 minutes before the start, I'll take a Gu and a half a bottle of water while lined up ready to start if it's a bigger race. If it's a small race, roll up as late as possible to prolong your warmup.

PACE YOURSELF do NOT get caught up in a pace you cannot hold, ride as fast as you know you can for the length of the race.

The most important part is having fun! A regimented schedule just helps me deal with the stress and anxiety of a race.

Good Luck and I hope I helped!

Endo

Oh and also, a short MTB race is no place for a HRM! You'll get freaked out at your amazingly high rate and think you're gonna have a heart attack.

OokieCookie

My first race lasted about 1hr 15 mins, my average heart rate for the entire race was 165, which is precisely my lactate threshold. I spent a good chunk of time well above that too I had a road time trial two days before the race so I didnt get to do any worthwhile tapering, but the day before the race I did about 1 hr 15 mins of an easy ride with a couple short high intensity bursts (up small hills, etc). Good luck, my first race was an absolute blast, I went in not knowing if I wanted to focus on mtn or road, came out ABSOLUTELY certain that mtn racing was where its at

anthonaut

Good luck in finding a 12km DH track...

HDTVKSS

hay everyone

thanks for that! i dont know how ill go, but thanks for all your advice. at least at the end of it ill have a focus on where my training needs to go in the off season. and im really starting to think that after everyones races a season that im gonna get smoked! ah well, i think that call that character building ont they ?

sm266

How'd it go?

HDTVKSS

race isnt comming up for another 2 weeks, butnow it looks like im ognna hve to miss it due to impending network changeover at work given its pretty much all enduros after that perhaps ill just be preparing for a fully fledged assault on saeason 05.

JrXCracer

noworries there will be other races but the one thing you have to keep in mind is basically its all training how much effort you put into it is how much your goin to get out of it. u cross train road bike for mt.bike race? well that is what i do i dunno if its the best way but it seems to be working for me it builds up your stamina but when your racing XC you want to do a majority of your train on hills and climbs you can gain 10minutes on a uphill but you can gain 30 on the downhill the uphill is key the XC race is not won in the desending in is won in the climbing so practice your climbing i know its not fun but it does work!!! well best of luck to you

HDTVKSS

OK then, finally the new year has rolled around and the race season starts this weekend ( fun!!)

any last minute advice from the other racers out there?

Actaully having never seen a mtb race i was wandering how hard you defend your position in a race. if somone behind you that is faster ( same division) do you let them trough? or do they have to challenge for the position?

cheers

g

sarsparilla

Generally let them through, don't try to stay in front of him so that they can't get by. That's pretty poor race etiquette. In a novice race you might find some guys doing it but they'll learn not to. Good luck with your season.