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Technical Skills, or lack thereof

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Technical Skills, or lack thereof

Old 10-26-10, 06:41 PM
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Technical Skills, or lack thereof

After racing my first season of cross, I have concluded that my lack of technical skills (if they even exist at all), is severely crushing my performance.

Is there any magic trick to getting better at off-camber turns, 180 degree turns, not losing severe amounts of speed out of corners, tight high speed turns, etc? My cardiovascular stamina is what has kept me in races, albeit terrible placing. I assume everyone is just going to say off-road riding experience will make me better with technical skills.

Also, if this topic has already been covered, please send me in that direction. Search function wasnt working for me.
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Old 10-26-10, 07:14 PM
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man, we are opposites! i have the tech....just no stamina spiked with microbursts (yet)...working on it.

just go ride, take chances....i often train on mt. bike trails (which is fine, since i mt. bike alot)...do you trust your tires and equipment?
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Old 10-26-10, 07:22 PM
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Well, I actually am in a sling for 3-6 weeks (aka 1 week) as a result of a separated shoulder/A-C Tear. My left fork blade snapped, tweaked my wheel, foot went into wheel, stopped momentum at >20mph on a mtb downhill and went over the bars. So in terms of taking chances/trusting my equipment...I DID do those things. In the future, though? Who knows.
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Old 10-26-10, 07:58 PM
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jeez! i was actually wondering, after i wrote that about TRUSTing, about roadies descending alpine mountains ... i guess cyclocross is the better place to crash or have a mechanical...

hope yer feeling good enough to hit the trails soon!

by the way, i did see a CXer who separated his shoulder during (i think) the cat 4 race at Granogue. better that than a broken collarbone
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Old 10-27-10, 02:37 AM
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I found out last year tht technical skills develop faster than fitness. At east in my case. My first year racing I had spent the entire summer running. My cardio and lg strength was great. I fell down A LOT though.

Be willing to crash at low speed in mud or grass. Get out of your comfort zone.

The more you race, the better you'll get.

Watch the A or Cat 1 racers after your race. See what they do in the corners where you had trouble. Ask questions.
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