Mountain bike racing

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:09 pm

So I think I am gonna enter my first mountain bike race. I know there are several folks on here that race. What are some good pointers for a first timer?

http://blog.capefearsorba.com/?page_id=94004

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:08 pm

jeremy gast wrote:

So I think I am gonna enter my first mountain bike race. I know there are several folks on here that race. What are some good pointers for a first timer?

http://blog.capefearsorba.com/?page_id=94004

Biggest thing I learned from MTB racing is to recognize that (not "when" - it's pretty much a given) you're pushing too hard to sustain a given pace and back it down before bonking. When the initial adrenaline rush wears off with lots of distance left to go, you have to adjust your pace enough to sustain through the rest of the race.

Good luck, Jeremy!

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2012 6:44 pm

That's awesome to hear Jeremy and I hope you're enjoying the GT. If you figure out which one you're hitting let me know.

Donnie and I did a fun one called the Bushwhack Adventure Race in January last year that went through Umstead and Crabtree, which would both be great trails for a first-time mtb racer. The downside is that it was 26° but after a half-hour you didn't know the difference.

We're overdue for another THSCC bike ride at Crabtree. :thumbsup:

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:09 am

Ya I hit crabtree up a lot. Prob gonna hit up the "landfill" trails off Durant rd saturday am for some early close to home miles.

Def think I am gonna do it.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:39 pm

Matt or Keith do either of you use a gps based cyclecomputer to keep track of your rides? I was looking at either a garmin 300 or 500.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:57 pm

The Garmin 500 has been on my list but car parts keep bumping it back. I've logged every mile run & pedalled this year on the iPhone with my armband or in the bike jersey pocket in a ziplock bag. I almost always listen to music too to make sure I didn't lose the phone.

Definitely get on Strava as it's so much fun to look back at great rides and to see the progress.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:13 pm

Ya was def gonna hit up strava. i might just try my cell phone see what happens.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:28 pm

Those Cape Fear races are run pretty well. Just start with one of the novice classes and you'll be fine...their races are fairly short and those courses are pretty flat as I understand it. I've only raced with them once and it was at the New Brunswick site which is REALLY flat, but they put on good events. I'm hoping to make a few of those, anyway. They have kid races, too, and my kids really got into it last year, so we'll do them as a family.

Warm up with some decent pedaling around the paddock and then try not to go out too hard. Otherwise, be courteous and ask for passes and you'll be surprised how cool everyone is about letting you by. Conversely, if someone asks, let them by.

Using your phone with Strava is okay for training, but know that your data will be off by as much as 20% on tight singletrack. A Garmin by itself will be off 5-10% on the same singletrack. Pair either one with a wheelspeed sensor (get one with cadence too...they don't cost enough more to matter) and you'll get your data almost perfect. The Garmin will need an ANT+ sensor, the phone will need a Bluetooth one (assuming you have Bluetooth 4.0 in your cellphone, anyway). Your phone app will also need to support the sensor and I'm not sure which apps do and don't, but the Strava one probably does.

--Donnie

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:09 pm

jeremy gast wrote:

Matt or Keith do either of you use a gps based cyclecomputer to keep track of your rides? I was looking at either a garmin 300 or 500.

I use a wireless cyclocomputer (and also a heart rate monitor), which gives me all the info I need and seems to very accurately track speed and distance - no GPS here.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:30 pm

Oh, FWIW, I use a Garmin Edge 800. The two big things for me over a non-mapping unit is that I can load tracks for trails I've never ridden before and follow them -and- I also use the 800 on my motorcycle for road navigation. They have detailed street maps for a couple hundred bucks, which I have, but a friend says he downloaded free stuff that works great, too. But it's waterproof and can be used with gloves on, two big pluses when using on a motorcycle...

But if you don't have motorcycle needs nor ride much on trails you aren't familiar, the 800 is overkill in a big way.

--Donnie

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:23 pm

I am going Mtn biking, if i kick this chest cold.. this weekend with TORC.. At Lake Crabtree on Saturday.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Wed Dec 26, 2012 3:39 pm

So I used the android in my "pack" this weekend. It seems to keep a decent track of it with strava for me. I know the gps is not gonna be perfect but for the price not bad at all.

Leason learned this weekend, the pedals and shoes i bought last summer(used on craigslist) to go clip on's were to small(doh tried on one foot not the other). So need to find me some shoes, legend park in clayton was a little damp in a few spots and my feet got wet and i had a terrible time staying on the bike. All in all, it wasnt a bad 5.5 miles on Monday.

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