First Time Racers, Tips and Tricks

Discussion in 'Racing and Training' started by JOx2, Oct 8, 2008.

  1. lukewiens

    lukewiens New Member

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    well for XC i use something from chris carmichael....i think it is oriented towards crits but it seems to work well for me....of course i have added my little spin to it, but the concept remains the same.

    total time: 30 minutes
    12 minutes zone 1 (easy pace)
    10 minutes zone 2 working to zone 3 (mild sweat to low forced breathing)
    1 minute zone 4 (just under max, should feel mild lactic acid build-up)
    1 minute zone 1 (recover)
    1 minute zone 4
    1 minute zone 1
    1 minute zone 5 (max out, find the lactic acid)
    1 minute zone 1
    1 minute zone 5
    1 minute zone 1 - Then show up to the start line with as little time to spare as possible.

    It is funny sometimes when I show up last minute with my class and is the only one sweating....only to ride, ride away :)

    Give it a shot! But with most things, what works for me may not work for you.
     
  2. demo_rider

    demo_rider Downhill Rider

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    new to dh racing

    hey guys im 16 and I live in orange county and im wondering about going and racing in fontana. Im not sure how the racing works. Ive ridden in Colorado and in Canada at the downhill parks and can do those pretty well. So is Fontana open all the time to ride and race? Thanks for the help
     
  3. Vince

    Vince New Member

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    im a first time xc rider and i tried to figure out the fontana course last weekend and got lost figuring out which arrows to follow. does anyone know whether i follow the yellow arrows or white ones?
     
  4. jake88x

    jake88x New Member

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    4x

    Thinking of doing my first 4x race this weekend.
    How long are they?
    Any pointers?
     
  5. Ride2live32

    Ride2live32 New Member

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    Take it easy on practice days, knowing the trail, every jumps, corners, etc before you hit off jet mode. lol
     
  6. markus onetime

    markus onetime New Member

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    Nice Thanks!
     
  7. DownhillWebKook

    DownhillWebKook l'homme plus

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    If you're racing DH...

    Look where you want to go, not where you don't want to go.

    Get your braking done early and roll through corners so you can get on the gas ASAP.

    Look ahead. Spot your entrance into corners before entering and spot your exit before exiting.

    Always be pedaling.

    Buy Lee McCormick's Mastering Mountain Bike Skills and read it cover to cover. Then go practice.

    Buy Dirt Magazine's Fundamentals DVD and watch it like a hawk.

    Get into any one of the following clinics: Eric Carter's, Rich Houseman's, Greg Minaar's (if you're that lucky), or Joe Lawill's. (I won every single race following an EC/Houseman clinic--that's 4!)

    Don't discount fitness in DH. Train.

    Be a student of the game. Study the discipline. Then practice.

    Be methodical on practice days. Memorize the course and run through it in your mind. Execute on race day.

    Rest before and on race day. This also means don't blow your wad on practice day or race day.

    Refine don't redesign on race day. That means don't change your entire approach on race day. Get your lines sorted on practice day and then refine them to suit changes in course condition on race day.

    Watch Minaar, Peaty, Hill, Vioulloz, etc. Emulate.

    Buy all of Clay Porter's films and watch them again and again. Repeat for all of the Earthed series (buy the box set).

    Learn about your bike and how to tune it. It's your instrument so tune it, treat it, and play it like one.

    Chill.

    Keep your gear in tip top shape. Always. Always. Always.

    Pretend you're European so you can not suck like most American racers.

    Don't argue with your girl/wife before race day.

    Don't bang your girl/wife before race day.

    Don't rub one out before race day.

    Eat properly. Don't drink.

    Invest in a bunch of Cytomax products. They work.

    Get on a club team or shop team. Having proper race support is invaluable.

    Don't be a tool, help others on the track, be a sportsman, and ACT AS IF you're a pro--you'll be surprised what that can do for you at every level of the sport.

    And on and on and on.

    This whole thread should give you some good ideas.

    Let's ride together and I'll help you go faster out there, too.

    Now go do it!!!

    Cheers,
     
  8. crazy_asian_ninja

    crazy_asian_ninja New Member

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    one word: MONSTER
     
  9. Dreamscapeimages

    Dreamscapeimages New Member

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    What has made an amazing impact on my performance is Spinerval DVDs. Although a good endurance base should be your first step, these videos will take your riding to a whole new level.

    There is only one thing you have to accept.............pain!

    Also, a lot of people fail to rest enough before a race (me included). The tip on spinning a few miles the day before the race is good advice, but not too many miles.
     
  10. eruizela

    eruizela mountain bike addict

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    Looking forward to racing, when does the next closest series start?

    Im going XC
     
  11. vlad

    vlad Montrose Bike Shop

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    You have the Rim Nordic series that just started. www.rimnordic.com. One of the nicest venues around up in the San Bernardino's near Big Bear. Later in the year you also hae the Triple Crown series. Go to incycle's website for more info. The rest start next year so keep an eye out for them in Jan/Feb. Look them up at www.uscup.net and www.teambigbear.com
     
  12. jcw

    jcw New Member

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    Getting used to that feeling, and not actually getting sick, will get you to front of your class.
    Years ago when I was actually racing all of the time, my best finishes came from races where I felt "awful" most of the time.
    When the race was over, that nauseous feeling disappeared pretty quickly.
    Races where I felt good at the finish, just told me that I hadn't given it as much as I should have.

    I always thought it was funny when people said stuff like, "Well you're an expert, you don't suffer like a sport or beginner rider."
    Not exactly true.
    Everyone is suffering, some are just going faster while suffering.
     
  13. Giddy

    Giddy Member

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    I am a true beginer in MTB racing I need to stop and have fun so if I am riding a wheelie by you don,t worry I am out of control most of the time or I might be slide around a turn thinking its a speedway race but I am have a blast do it I cant wait until I can hang out in the top ten for aleast two miles while it is all about having fun just ask Ricky Bobby Go Fast!!! 8~)
     
  14. fogivernick

    fogivernick New Member

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    Didn't read the whole thread, so sorry if this was posted before, but where is a good place online for a beginner to get info about upcoming races in his/her area?
     
  15. DM Rides

    DM Rides Bruise Bunny

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    I read through the thread and didn't see anything specific to what to do the week before a race. I KNOW that Rwanda isn't a race, but it will be the longest (timed-ish) ride I've done, and I want to maximize the time before Sat.

    How much riding? Other than favoring carbs more, any other changes to diet?

    Of course, I'm already praying that there's no rain on Wed-Thu. :p
     

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