After just pleasure riding for several years, I have decided to enter my first XC race. I entered the beginner category in the 18-29 class. The course is one lap that is about 9.4 miles long. I've ridden the course several times and only once at a near race pace-- and that was haulted when a friend snapped his chain.

As far as I know, the format for the start is going to be one big group and then we make a mad dash for the trailhead. From there it is alot of mixed single track and double track.

Any tips on passing?

Any tips on being passed?

Do other people like to start out kind of slow and then build on their pace or the other way around?

The website for the race can be found here:
https://www.tourdelizard.com/

Anyone else going to be at this race?

Thanks,
--Tom

It is most likely going to be a mad Dash for the woods. Passing isn't hard but getting comfortable with it is. Your lower back is probably going to ache a lot during the race since you don't usual ride as hard as you can for 1 hour straight.

I would say if you are a good rider or confident in your ability to hang that you go into the woods in the top 1/3 of the group. Hang back and watch what is happening for the first few minutes. If you need to pass don't hesitate, call the side you are coming on and just go. The rider ahead should not block you and if they do do your best to get by when the opportunity presents itself.

Try to find someone faster than you and stick to their rear wheel. I use this to pull me around at a race and then try and dig deep for a fast finish. You are going to feel terrible while racing or you are not riding hard enough. This is part of it but the sense of accomplishment at the end is completely worth it.

GOOD LUCK!

There is a mtb racing sub-forum for these types of questions, just in case you didn't notice.

I just started racing at the very beginning of this season, so hopefully since I am still relatively new I can help you NOT make some of the mistakes that I did or overlook some of the things that I overlooked.

For the start, what I have found to be the best is to do pretty much what Trey said, try to get with a group that is out front and then stick with them. Don't try to beat everyone from the start-line to the finish line and stay ahead the whole way, because chances are that you'll run out of energy.

Passing, same as Trey said also, say what side you're going to pass on and then pass as soon as you can. It may feel like you are being pushy by telling them, but is much better to say where you are passing from than to just try to pass without them knowing you are going to.

Now some things to think about:
Hydration - I take in as much fluids as I can a day or two before the race, that way you know you are well hydrated for the day of the race.
Stretching - A must, it helps you get the blood flowing and feeling good and loose for the race.
Warming up - Another must, I know that you want to save as much energy for the race that you can, but warm up past that initial point where your legs start to burn, becuase you want to stay away from that feeling as much as possible during the race.

Then you already did the other thing that I was going to reccomend which is to pre-ride the track. You have an advantage over the others that didn't because you know where to push and when it's not worth it or you need to replenish some energy.

Also, don't be afraid to get off your bike if there is a hill that is too steep to climb. It is faster and uses less energy to run up the hill than it is to try to push up the hill in a low low gear, only to fall over because you are going 1/2 a mile per hour.

That covers most of the things that I wanted to say except one thing... GOOD LUCK! You should have a blast!

Great additional info. Read this stuff twice!

You'll want to ride that trail at race intensity at least more. You can't realisticly expect to ride at race intensity when all you've done is something less.

Why don't they put it in some obvious place like the top of the Mountain Biking Forum page. Oh, wait...... I'm a dumbass.

Thanks for the tips. I don't know if I'll be able to ride the course before the race given my schedule. I've been running at nights and in the mornings to try to get my cardio vascular fitness up. Should be fun. I'll probably question my reasoning at some point during the race as to why I am doing this to myself, but once it's over it should be a good experience.

I'll keep you posted as to how I do.

Thanks again,
--Tom

w00t...Just don't go granny gear, tom! LOL. Good Luck!