First MTB Race this weekend?
Discussion
Also VERY IMPORTANT!!!
If you are swapping cassette and chain before the race, have a thorough test of the fitting by riding the bike and putting the chain under stress. An off-saddle sprint on a short steep climb is ideal, but if you don't have one available, try pedalling while braking the front wheel. And try all the sensible chain crossings. A decade XC racing has taught me that....
If you are swapping cassette and chain before the race, have a thorough test of the fitting by riding the bike and putting the chain under stress. An off-saddle sprint on a short steep climb is ideal, but if you don't have one available, try pedalling while braking the front wheel. And try all the sensible chain crossings. A decade XC racing has taught me that....
pablo said:
As for tubes etc, have a tube and co2 taped to the underside of your saddle but be sensible about deciding whether or not to replace the tube or take the DNF. If you arent in the mix at the front and get a puncture, or its in the last half hour, take the DNF on the chin, its just not worth the hassle of replacing it on the course IMHO. If you are closer to the front, you will lose too much time and drop down the order regardless of whether you are a tube ninja using co2 etc. Saddlebags rattle around and would annoy me although if you have a small one you can keep everything tightly packed. If everything is in good oder etc, you wont need tools etc. Keep faff to a minimum.
While I am all for keeping faff to a minimum, I think that unless you are contending for the win and nothing else matters, then defo take a tube and CO2 - if you puncture half way round the course, it'll in all likelihood take longer to walk the bike back than it would to repair and ride it! 
daddy cool said:
...Food - just have a decent hearty breakfast 2-3 hours before the start of the race...
...Drink - start drinking pints of water/juice at breakfast. Try to ensure your widdle is a clear as an alpine stream by the race start (thats my indication im "hydrated"). Obviously try to time it so you wont need a slash halfway through the race. During race, as its 2 hours, a 600-750ml bottle will be fine, but have plenty ready post-race...
- Kit - bare-minimum, small saddle bag with spare innertube, levers, and either a C02 or standard mini-pump. Please tell me you replaced those ancient innertubes that have been patched a thousand times? Getting a puncture will be pretty much game-over.
- Race - mine was bedlam at the start, with everyone diving for a tight and steep uphill left bend. Hold back, let them all get it over with, and build your pace and (hopefully) start overtaking people when you feel good for it.
Otherwise, just enjoy it. You wont be first, but you also probably wont be last, and as other groups start behind you, or pro's start lapping, you will lose sense of your individual race, and just consider it more like you against the clock. Hope it goes well - not sure if i'll be able to, but if i have time i might pop down to watch.
Breakfast 2 to 3 hours before the start? WTF? Start time is 0930hrs! Trying to shift me out of bed at 0630hrs is like trying to shift Stonehenge....Drink - start drinking pints of water/juice at breakfast. Try to ensure your widdle is a clear as an alpine stream by the race start (thats my indication im "hydrated"). Obviously try to time it so you wont need a slash halfway through the race. During race, as its 2 hours, a 600-750ml bottle will be fine, but have plenty ready post-race...
- Kit - bare-minimum, small saddle bag with spare innertube, levers, and either a C02 or standard mini-pump. Please tell me you replaced those ancient innertubes that have been patched a thousand times? Getting a puncture will be pretty much game-over.
- Race - mine was bedlam at the start, with everyone diving for a tight and steep uphill left bend. Hold back, let them all get it over with, and build your pace and (hopefully) start overtaking people when you feel good for it.
Otherwise, just enjoy it. You wont be first, but you also probably wont be last, and as other groups start behind you, or pro's start lapping, you will lose sense of your individual race, and just consider it more like you against the clock. Hope it goes well - not sure if i'll be able to, but if i have time i might pop down to watch.
Hydration is a concern. I'm good at keeping 'topped up' throughout the average day, but I need to discipline myself to drink from an earlier point in the ride when I'm on the bike. More important still if I do try to push a little harder.
Kit? Following other recommendations I'm probably going to wear my decent road bibshorts, with a compression long sleeve top, and a short sleeve PH jersey over it. I'll bung my Sportful 'Hotpack' jacket into a pocket. Regular trainers is all I have, on flat pedals. I'll have a tube/pump/chain tool with spare links/puncture patches as for a normal ride, but I may well swap that stuff into a smaller sadddle pack to look a bit more 'pro'
And no. Those multi-patched tubes are still hanging in there. 24 patches between the two now, I think. Sharp stuff will either get through the tyres or it won't. I'm not sure new tubes will make much difference to the outcome.
I fully intend to 'have some fun' out there. I know full well that I'm not likely to trouble the leaders, so the plan is to go out hard, but fairly steady at the same time. I did three repeats of the Army XC champs lap in the same woods, and got quicker with each repeat, so I know that there's room to push a bit harder. And yes, I've watched a couple of races, and the sense of riders racing each other directly does get a bit lost, so I intend to treat it a bit like an off road time trial. Me against the clock more than fighting for track position. If I enjoy this one, I can think about race tactics and targeted training in a few races time.
ccr32 said:
...Other than that, just ride the bike! Oh, and have some fun too!
Shame that pre-entry has now closed as I would have probably entered this too on an impulsive whim..!
While I am all for keeping faff to a minimum, I think that unless you are contending for the win and nothing else matters, then defo take a tube and CO2 - if you puncture half way round the course, it'll in all likelihood take longer to walk the bike back than it would to repair and ride it!
Fun is (hopefully) what this is about. I've no illusions about winning, I'll be happy just to finish.Shame that pre-entry has now closed as I would have probably entered this too on an impulsive whim..!
While I am all for keeping faff to a minimum, I think that unless you are contending for the win and nothing else matters, then defo take a tube and CO2 - if you puncture half way round the course, it'll in all likelihood take longer to walk the bike back than it would to repair and ride it!
I am now wishing that I'd mentioned this earlier, as a couple of people have expressed interest. For those considering it, rounds 2 and 3 are fairly local too (out Deepcut way). Round 2 at Tunnel Hill is on the 14th Dec (entries close 09th Dec) and Round 3 at Windmill Hill is on the 04th Jan (entries close 30th Dec)... http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/ then follow the links to the individual rounds.
As I've said, I've got to ride there and back, so all normal tools and spares are going with me round the course, so I'll deffo be repairing any punctures on the spot, even if it means rolling in last.
Enricogto said:
Also VERY IMPORTANT!!!
If you are swapping cassette and chain before the race, have a thorough test of the fitting by riding the bike and putting the chain under stress. An off-saddle sprint on a short steep climb is ideal, but if you don't have one available, try pedalling while braking the front wheel. And try all the sensible chain crossings. A decade XC racing has taught me that....
Thanks for that advice, Enrico. I've never had an issue after a cassette swap, but I'll certainly be making sure it's riding 'right' before I put the bike away Saturday night. That's if the cassette gets here in time. The front rings should be fine, as they were only recently swapped. The last set had 4,000 plus miles through them before they needed changing.If you are swapping cassette and chain before the race, have a thorough test of the fitting by riding the bike and putting the chain under stress. An off-saddle sprint on a short steep climb is ideal, but if you don't have one available, try pedalling while braking the front wheel. And try all the sensible chain crossings. A decade XC racing has taught me that....
Thanks, everyone who has contributed advice. It's all very helpful, and has given me a few things to consider before the race, but on the whole, I think I'll wear and carry all the things I normally do, add a little extra fluid, and just ride as best and as fast as I can, then see how things pan out at the end. Anyone who's coming down for a look, see you there, and give the sweaty lump in a PH jersey a wave as he passes...
I just need to relax a bit now, and stop overthinking things
Edited by yellowjack on Wednesday 19th November 16:35
Well. I've officially given up watching the weather forecast. It started out (long range) as a dry weekend. It got steadily worse, to the point where it was forecasting heavy rain all Sunday morning. Now it's eased to a combo of thick cloud and light rain. As it stands, I've paid to enter, there's no hope of a refund, so I'm riding come what may.
The cassette is on it's way too. Tracking update this morning?
The cassette is on it's way too. Tracking update this morning?
Royal Mail said:
Status: It's on its way.
We received item JL4838****2GB at Farnborough DO on the 2014-11-20.
The item is now ready for delivery.
Last update: 20 November 2014, 05:45am
So hopefully that'll be on the bike by this afternoon and I'll have plenty of time to shake it down before the weekend.We received item JL4838****2GB at Farnborough DO on the 2014-11-20.
The item is now ready for delivery.
Last update: 20 November 2014, 05:45am
Another pre-race update...
After a s
tty week, with very little riding, and nothing but niggly problems with the bike, all seems to have come together on the eve of the race.
New cassette fitted and tested, kit dragged out of the box so I'm ready in the morning, and today I managed to get a few hours riding in, including a complete lap of the freshly marked course, so there'll be no surprises in the morning. The course was in good condition when I left, so hopefully it'll hold up under the heavy rain forecast all night and all through tomorrow.
For anyone who knows Minley, this course is very fresh, and full of surprises. As much as half of it is new, or at least sections that have been disused for several years. A lot of the existing sections are being used differently too, often in the opposite direction. This means a couple of nasty 'hits' into gulleys and ditches which are normally ridden in the other direction. It's a great lap, that packs an awful lot in, in what is a fairly compact area. If it isn't raining, pop down to have a gawp at the poor muddy idiots zooming about in the woods...
After a mass start, this is the route out of the arena onto the course. Very happy to see the ABF as a supported charity.
Looks confusing, but really isn't. The course is very well marked, no excuse for straying off the lap
ETA: It's a 7.5 mile lap, and I went round earlier in 1hr 07min 16sec. I fear I've got to pull my finger out if I want to get more than two laps completed in the two hour category I've entered.
After a s
tty week, with very little riding, and nothing but niggly problems with the bike, all seems to have come together on the eve of the race.New cassette fitted and tested, kit dragged out of the box so I'm ready in the morning, and today I managed to get a few hours riding in, including a complete lap of the freshly marked course, so there'll be no surprises in the morning. The course was in good condition when I left, so hopefully it'll hold up under the heavy rain forecast all night and all through tomorrow.
For anyone who knows Minley, this course is very fresh, and full of surprises. As much as half of it is new, or at least sections that have been disused for several years. A lot of the existing sections are being used differently too, often in the opposite direction. This means a couple of nasty 'hits' into gulleys and ditches which are normally ridden in the other direction. It's a great lap, that packs an awful lot in, in what is a fairly compact area. If it isn't raining, pop down to have a gawp at the poor muddy idiots zooming about in the woods...
After a mass start, this is the route out of the arena onto the course. Very happy to see the ABF as a supported charity.
Looks confusing, but really isn't. The course is very well marked, no excuse for straying off the lap
ETA: It's a 7.5 mile lap, and I went round earlier in 1hr 07min 16sec. I fear I've got to pull my finger out if I want to get more than two laps completed in the two hour category I've entered.
Edited by yellowjack on Saturday 22 November 20:18
I (and the organisers) might need some luck tomorrow...
BBC Weather website said:
Met Office Warnings Issued For: Hampshire
Yellow warning of rain
From: 0300 on Sun 23 November
To: 2100 on Sun 23 November
Updated 1 hour ago
Rain will be persistent and locally heavy through much of Sunday. Falling on saturated ground, it is likely to cause flooding in places before clearing eastwards. The public should be aware of this hazard.
...Grrrr! Sunny all day Monday too, according to the forecast. Yellow warning of rain
From: 0300 on Sun 23 November
To: 2100 on Sun 23 November
Updated 1 hour ago
Rain will be persistent and locally heavy through much of Sunday. Falling on saturated ground, it is likely to cause flooding in places before clearing eastwards. The public should be aware of this hazard.
it is many moons since I raced cross country, but my advice is not to surrender to bullies behind. a couple of the lads I used to race with, and we did pretty well, swore by holding people up intentionally on the singletrack to wind them up..bit of gamesmanship, but I guess it worked, as they were fairly successful.
remember, first third of the race you will feel sick, second third should feel fairly comfortable and last third dead in the saddle!
good luck.
remember, first third of the race you will feel sick, second third should feel fairly comfortable and last third dead in the saddle!
good luck.
daddy cool said:
ecsrobin said:
So how did you get on? I m hoping you won with all the prep you've done....
I think yellowjack will update us later, at the moment he's in talks with Specialized about a sponsorship contract for 2015.dave123456 said:
it is many moons since I raced cross country, but my advice is not to surrender to bullies behind. a couple of the lads I used to race with, and we did pretty well, swore by holding people up intentionally on the singletrack to wind them up..bit of gamesmanship, but I guess it worked, as they were fairly successful.
remember, first third of the race you will feel sick, second third should feel fairly comfortable and last third dead in the saddle!
good luck.
Best tactic ever. Get in front for first single track. Get your breath back. Then get a tow along a fire road or hill then jump in front for the next single track. remember, first third of the race you will feel sick, second third should feel fairly comfortable and last third dead in the saddle!
good luck.
Anyway, hope you had fun yj
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