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Pat

Does anyone know of any fast mtb training rides during the week? Something that simulates racing?

Ive found plenty of road rides, but none yet for mountain bikes.

Anyone?

Pickettt

I don't think you'll ever find an MTB ride that simulates MTB racing. On the road simulating an hour crit is one thing, simulating the grind of MTB racing for 2-3 hours is a whole other ball game. BUT....would you consider starting such a ride?

Evil Chocula

There's at least one fast paced ride I know of, but its in SD.

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papisimo11

Just about every Thursday at 4.45 in Santa Monica there is a hammerfest. It is nothing but mtn bike racers honing their form. Some big guns show up occasionally.
The ride meets at 4th and San Vicente(actually just one block north on 4th at "the stairs".
Hope some of you can show up.
paz afuera

Keith B

Why not jsut do your own ride and push yourself rather than force yourself to hang out with a pack of adult children ego maniacs?!

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Pickettt

Because that doesn't work. Next question?

soul rider

isn't that seat too high? j/k

Carbon Canyon...ride as fast as you can up North Ridge, that should help for some training.

Evil Chocula

True!

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Von-Skipp

Then your not motivated to become a faster better rider.



Find a common ride you do, and time yourself. I used to do that at Aliso by myself all the time.

Defintely hit up the road bike, if you wana become a faster racer!

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papisimo11

This doesn't simulate race conditions, too controlled, a good measure of fitness, yes.
Riding with others going their max will teach you a lot of things you can't learn by timing yourself up a canyon.

Von-Skipp

Thats true. I was't sure if the training he meant was fitness or race simulation stuff.

Race simulation is defintely harder to find. A training partner would be good, but thats only one rider you can learn from and watch.

The best experience is actually racing. I have learned soo much from racing than any other rides.

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Pickettt

If you want to get faster, ride with guys (or girls) who are faster than you are.

Keith B

Yes thats right - unless you actually have the fortitude to push yourself hard on your own.

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allison

I find it extremely difficult to simulate race pace. I've never done a crit or ridden in a big road group, so can't comment on that.

Find a fast group of mountain bikers, or join a club team maybe?

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ubermensch

Just curious, how often if at all does drafting play a role in mtn. bike racing? I've never done a mtn. bike race, or even seen one for that matter, but I'm under the impression that the fittest rider will pretty much win. Is that right?

For the road, just about the only way to simulate racing is to do the training rides because a person riding solo can't achieve the kind of speed that a pack can do. That works because road races tend to stay in packs. I thought mtn bike racers pretty much ride solo for the bulk of the race?

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Pickettt

No, no. The combination of fitness and experience wins the day. The course wil dictate whether or not drafting is an advantage.

Von-Skipp

I've never been in a mountain bike race where drafting was benefical. I have tried it though, hoping it will save me some energy, but in a mtn race there is never a stretch long enough and fast enough to make a difference.

I did a Super D race last month and some guy was trying to me draft, it was really annoying. haha

Drafting in a crit, is a feeling every biker needs to feel.

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allison

Clearly you guys never raced in the wind.

I pulled the eventual winner of my Sea Otter XC class 2.5-3 miles uphill with wicked wind. I tried to save the energy, but I know she wasn't working as hard as I was.

If there's no wind I don't think it matters at all, but with the insane winds we had up there, it mattered a LOT.

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Pat

Well as far as I’ve been able to tell, most of the adult children egomaniacs tend to stay on their road bikes.

Now then, the problem is this: Riding hard alone just sucks after a while. As impressive as a display of fortitude may be, its just not always fun.

What I’m looking for is this:
I want to ride my bike as hard as I can with other people who want the same. I want to get my ass kicked by some fast riders so I can see what they do, and maybe even kick some ass myself. I want to have a drink afterwards and talk about how excruciatingly painful that was and then say, "see you all next week!"

If something like this doesn't exist in orange county then I think it should. I wouldnt have a problem starting it either. I just wonder if there is enough interest.

Any thoughts?

Von-Skipp

Count me in. Where do you live? What races are you training for?

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