Originally Posted by carpediemracing

+1

As a race promoter I sometimes see some disappointed new racers, angry at themselves for not doing better, etc. I like to point out that no matter what happened that they're now a racer and their bike is now a racing bike. I remember that pain from when I started racing - I was sort of like the OP in that I was a new racer but in the Juniors instead of the Masters. I was 15 years old, I weighed less than 90 lbs, and one of the kids beating everyone up was a tall lanky kid from Long Island named George Hincapie. After George graduated to the National Team there was another kid named Frank McCormack - he and his little brother Mark would later dominate the domestic pro racing scene. And a slew of others that were some of the best in the country who had their hands full trying to handle George or Frank or Mark. For three years I lined up with these guys and it was absolutely devastating.

Mass start racing is different from anything else. It's like sex (I can say that here, right?) or driving or playing in a band/orchestra. You can read about it, you can watch videos, you can practice on your own, but when you do it for real with other people it's something else. It's absolutely thrilling when things go well (even if you don't win - for me I'm thrilled diving into a corner in the field) and there's really nothing that anyone can do to explain how it feels. You just have to do it yourself.

Originally Posted by Racer Ex

I got dropped so badly in my first race they called out cadaver dogs. What was worse was the dogs found me.

For people who need their egos fed this is a horrible sport for most. If you like to engage in a process that provides years of learning, exploration, and a multiplicity of avenues for improvement it's pretty darn good. If you're really lucky, smart, and dedicated you might win or podium once in a great while. If not then the process is the reward, along with meeting some neat people along the way.