Beginner to Sport XC = Night & Day

[0gravity]

Yep, that's the newbie realization of the day.

My first mtn bike race ever was the second Southridge XC in beginner class where, suprisingly, i breezed in to 2nd place. This past weekend I stepped up to Sport and got my a$$ handed to me. I partly moved up because I didn't want to drive all the way out to fontana again to race one seven mile lap. I didn't actually think I would be a threat to the class but i did think I'd do better (last place with a 9 min gap behind the next to last guy - what a gap!).

So that's basically it: Now I know Sport is way uber competitive and unless I'm gonna get spanked everytime, I've gotta get serious about training, eating right, etc (or actually START training instead of just riding a lot, but casually).

Have any of you recently made the jump? From beginner to Sport? Or some other level? Did you experience the same thing? Any tips besides TRAIN TRAIN, NO PAIN NO GAIN

[allison]

Hubby and I just did our first XC races ever on Saturday out there. I figured it'd be tough. We had been training long distances for Counting Coup and going to a mad all-out XC race sprint format for 6.7 miles is a lot different than pacing for a 40+mi ride.

I think I want to try it again, but I think it's probably tough (at least for me) to do well at both. Very different aspects to both. I know that some people go all out for 44, or 54 miles for CC or Vision Quest, but even that is a lot different than 3 laps of XC racing.

The Southridge course was tough also. A few pretty steep climbs. I rode SS. 32/18. I would consider going to 32/20, but with the flats near the end of the course, everyone on earth would pass by.

I'd say find a similar ride nearby and just go out and hit like you would a race. Good luck!

[2wheel_lee]

Very impressive that you made the jump, nonetheless. I've ridden with guys who have done well in beginner XC, and to me, they seemed sickening fast!

Sounds like you're in a tough sitation for the time being. You can either dominate the beginner class, which isn't that fun, or get dropped - for now - in the sport class, which isn't fun either. Sure, it can be motivating, but the biggest challenge is determining how badly you want to win the higher classes.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[mtnbikerdude87]

Welcome to the sport class. I started the southridge series doing beginner and took about a year for me to fully move up a class. I also jumped an age category so my field is a lot bigger (19-26). It has gotten a lot tougher and a lot different. But I like sport class because it gets me to learn to pace myself for the 2 laps instead of going all out. Its been fun so far.

Stay in sport class, those guys will make you a much faster rider. If you stay beginner and place top 3 then you wouldn't really improve that much.

Oh and if you want to be a faster rider than its time for a road bike....

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by mtnbikerdude87

Stay in sport class, those guys will make you a much faster rider. If you stay beginner and place top 3 then you wouldn't really improve that much.

Oh and if you want to be a faster rider than its time for a road bike....

That's the truth!

BTW, that also applies to DH - even the road bike thing I finally got back on mine last weekend. Maybe that one ride helped my results on Sunday.

[1x1clyde]

Originally Posted by 0gravity

Yep, that's the newbie realization of the day.

My first mtn bike race ever was the second Southridge XC in beginner class where, suprisingly, i breezed in to 2nd place. This past weekend I stepped up to Sport and got my a$$ handed to me. I partly moved up because I didn't want to drive all the way out to fontana again to race one seven mile lap. I didn't actually think I would be a threat to the class but i did think I'd do better (last place with a 9 min gap behind the next to last guy - what a gap!).

So that's basically it: Now I know Sport is way uber competitive and unless I'm gonna get spanked everytime, I've gotta get serious about training, eating right, etc (or actually START training instead of just riding a lot, but casually).

Have any of you recently made the jump? From beginner to Sport? Or some other level? Did you experience the same thing? Any tips besides TRAIN TRAIN, NO PAIN NO GAIN

Glad to hear you made the jump!
When I started beginner it was pretty fun, 1 lap and you are done!
Then it was onto Sport, a bit tougher but I had come from a road background so hitting the pavement for 150-200 miles a week and 1 XC race a week was ok and helped me stay competitive,-I am not your "smallest" of racers 6ft & 230lbs- and actually start winning some age group, clydesdale and SS races.
Now it is onto Expert which I am dreading! I am expecting a season of trying not to get lapped, dnf's and dfl's!
But honestly I look forward to the challenge of trying to make it happen in the Expert class, I just think its going to take a couple of seasons of punishment before it happens!
I use my road bike now more than ever and still worry about my fitness...and as I am sure others will agree you can easily overtrain and be blown before you even pin a number on, so track your training and listen to your body.
You might have noticed that XC races are like TT's on dirt, go out strong, keep it strong, finish strong...just wish I could do that !
Best advice: pick some races you want be strong in and focus on those. Don't try to race a whole season right away, it will kill your morale and drive.

Ride with those that are faster than you, pick signs,trees, hikers to sprint to, KOM sprints and lots and lots of intervals!!! Get that LT up there .

[Keith B]

That LT is a major love hate thing. I was racing this roadie along the beach path yesterday and I was screaming for mercy for a constant 10mins - when I got back to the car my legs where shaking! LOL!

[Abui]

Originally Posted by 0gravity

Have any of you recently made the jump? From beginner to Sport? Or some other level? Did you experience the same thing? Any tips besides TRAIN TRAIN, NO PAIN NO GAIN

I entered Mt. SAC as Sport because I wanted more dirt-time for my money. Plus I figured that on a longer race endurance counts for more than blinding speed.

Result (YMMV) -

[guero]

i actually did an xc race at the flying b last year and entered the intermediate division because i considered myself to be an intermediate rider (not racer though). the race was two laps on the course there and i was thinking of doing novice, but it was only one lap and i wanted more dirt time for my money as well.

well, it was no surprise that i got my ass handed to me, but the thing that really pissed me off was that about five minutes into the race, a group of lycra clad "novice" riders blew by me...not that i am fast by anymeans, but there is no way these guys were novice riders and purely were sandbaggers....that was my first and last race....well, i was on the average homeboys during the 24hrs of oc and had a blast.....minus the 110? temps.

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by 0gravity

Yep, that's the newbie realization of the day.

My first mtn bike race ever was the second Southridge XC in beginner class where, suprisingly, i breezed in to 2nd place. This past weekend I stepped up to Sport and got my a$$ handed to me. I partly moved up because I didn't want to drive all the way out to fontana again to race one seven mile lap. I didn't actually think I would be a threat to the class but i did think I'd do better (last place with a 9 min gap behind the next to last guy - what a gap!).

So that's basically it: Now I know Sport is way uber competitive and unless I'm gonna get spanked everytime, I've gotta get serious about training, eating right, etc (or actually START training instead of just riding a lot, but casually).

Have any of you recently made the jump? From beginner to Sport? Or some other level? Did you experience the same thing? Any tips besides TRAIN TRAIN, NO PAIN NO GAIN

Ride with faster people than you, and keep it fun. I personally love to race, and find that the more I mix it up, the more enjoyable it is for me. Try Super D, 24 hour races, and dare I say, downhill? I found for myself, that if I concentrate solely on one aspect, I get burned out.

[Pain Freak]

After winning or even making it to the podium in beginner, then it's time to move up. You did the right thing. Now it's time for a decision....
Do you race for the fun of it, or do you race with total seriousness?
Both can be a lot of fun, but watch out if you go the later route, it can take away some of the fun of racing or even riding if you're not careful.

Also there's different types of racing and you'll have to decide what you're looking at, distance or sprint? Some races (Southridge) are relatively short and more in line of sprint distance. Then there is the endurance race ( my favorite ) that requires endurance training, different in many ways, but still a lot of fun.

I was getting my arse handed to me on the shorter races all the time, but when I moved up into expert and we picked up the distance I did a lot better, and although the pain was longer and maybe even more intense the overall experience was well worth it.

[CC]

Originally Posted by jfromlv

Ride with faster people than you, and keep it fun. I personally love to race, and find that the more I mix it up, the more enjoyable it is for me. Try Super D, 24 hour races, and dare I say, downhill? I found for myself, that if I concentrate solely on one aspect, I get burned out.

That's why I ride with Incycle...I always get my a$$ handed to me, but it's challenging and keeps me motivated to ride. Thanks J!