Why do I keep doing large organized distance rides / races?

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

I mean, I've done them most of my life, but what is it that keeps making me sign up for the punishment. I just rode a 25 mile dirt fondo with over 3,200 feet of climbing. The climbs where so steep, I had to hike-a-bike in a bunch of places. The downhills were gradual. So backwards. Two of the ups were 800 feet in less than a mile. There were about 3 or 4 people laying on the last climb cramped up, not even able to walk. There were rangers assisting them, and someone had a mild heart attack. The helicopter circled for about 15 minutes, but the EMS was able to get to that person. I kept my head down and kept grinding away. It took me 3:49 to finish. The last bit of downhill to the finish I hit 42 mph in a tuck. I have a mid-travel enduro bike, so it's not like I'm out to win anything. Four liters of water / Gatorade mix and 3 Cliff bars got me through with no cramps. At 60 years old, only some lower back pain. I finished, had a big burrito and a bunch of beers.
Let's face it, ending the ride / race at a brewery is definitely a carrot, but it's something bigger that keeps me coming back. I don't know what it is.... but I think it's a problem?

Steel-Onions · Nov 13, 2023

Tall BMX'r said:
so it's not like I'm out to win anything

Oh you are deffo winning in my book !, keep it up fella !! /Salute

CLDSDL43 · Nov 13, 2023

Congrats to you!
Timely post. I just bailed on a similar type ride this weekend. Still kept my camping spot though and enjoyed some family time.
At 54, have basically ridden once in the past 5 months due to work/laziness, I decided I didn't want to be the guy the helicopter was coming to get.
About to change that though. Less work, more riding!

Scott_123 · Nov 13, 2023

Fortunately the races I’ve entered had several classes. You want to be a pro and go kill yourself, then enter the 34 or 54 miler and have fun. Your 61 years old and not a pro by any stretch of the imagination, we have a 10 miler for you 👍

I see guys my age or slightly younger come back from the longer races usually beat up from crashes AND completely exhausted covered head to toe with dirt. They have the look of pain on their face and I wonder was it really enjoyable?

Sssnake · Nov 13, 2023

It's your competitive spirit shining bright.

Colvin323 · Nov 13, 2023

I did a ride yesterday which consisted of granny gearing up a steep paved road to bomb down a fun but short, steep and technical downhill. 22 laps total with over 5000 feet of elevation gain.

Why did I do it? I watched a David Goggins video the night before.

plummet · Nov 13, 2023

I did the race scene for 14 years.

Raced xc locally and nationally for 8 of those years, Adds in 12 and 24 hour teams races at some point.

Then faded into dh for about 8 years.

Racing gives a goal to work towards and point of focus to improve.

But I found for the endurance stuff I ended up racing for racing sake and doing training rides for training sake and not for fun. At my height of xc racing I was doing 20 hours of riding a week.

At one point I was riding by myself in the middle of winter on the road bike, into a head wind cold af rain and thought.
"This is not fun, I have just created a second non paying job"

Now I was ok at xc racing. On the podium locally and top 5 to 10% nationally. But I was always the bridesmaid and never the winner. It took me years to figure out no matter how hard I trained there would be someone else thar just had a better body type thar could bear me.

I faded to dh which was more fun based than fitness based. I was more successful dh racing, winning some local events and podiuming on the national series I my age division.

Then after I had had my fill dh racing I faded off into enduro riding with mates and focused on technicall riding, away trips to different locations. That has been my focus since I stopped racing in 2008.

I see the allure of racing. But these days I prefer to ride with mates and have fun.

jeremy3220 · Nov 13, 2023

Tall BMX'r said:
I have a mid-travel enduro bike, so it's not like I'm out to win anything.

... but it's something bigger that keeps me coming back. I don't know what it is.... but I think it's a problem?

Sounds like your subconscious is trying to convince you that you need a new bike for these races; upon which buying you'll never enter another long distance race again.

bingemtbr · Nov 13, 2023

For me, races/rides/events are goals. Something to look forward to, sometimes something to dread (as the date gets nearer) and a motivation to ride a little more when you'd rather be a couch potato. Also, its an opportunity to ride/explore new trails.

Post ride food and drinks are always enhanced by endorphins from a big effort.

SouthSoundRider · Nov 13, 2023

Can't say why you are addicted to races.

I can say one thing though.

You were probably 95% overbiked.

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

CLDSDL43 said:
Congrats to you!
Timely post. I just bailed on a similar type ride this weekend. Still kept my camping spot though and enjoyed some family time.
At 54, have basically ridden once in the past 5 months due to work/laziness, I decided I didn't want to be the guy the helicopter was coming to get.
About to change that though. Less work, more riding!

You have to ride more than that! Get out there. Just riding on the road works

twowheelmotion · Nov 13, 2023

Hey, my bro that went through a nasty divorce and lost it all, kept riding these local events, kept seeing the same lady over the course of 6 months to a year, and now they are a couple. All because of riding bicycles at these organized events, they met and are stoked. And if this guy, that tucks his tee shirt into his cargo shorts, and wears socks and teva sandals can get chicks going to bike rides, I'd say the benefit of these rides is significant. Also I did the Death Ride. That was enough for me, thanks.

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

SouthSoundRider said:
Can't say why you are addicted to races.

I can say one thing though.

You were probably 95% overbiked.

There was two sections where there was a blue XC down or a double black steep and chunky down. I definitely used my full suspension in opting for the later. I'm sure it was the slowest route, but I couldn't pass it up.

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

Scott_123 said:
Fortunately the races I’ve entered had several classes. You want to be a pro and go kill yourself, then enter the 34 or 54 miler and have fun. Your 61 years old and not a pro by any stretch of the imagination, we have a 10 miler for you 👍

I see guys my age or slightly younger come back from the longer races usually beat up from crashes AND completely exhausted covered head to toe with dirt. They have the look of pain on their face and I wonder was it really enjoyable?

This was a fundraiser for a local high school mountain bike race team. The kids just hammered it. There was a 50 miler totaling or 7K feet in climbing too. Only about 15 people did that. I was there when they finish seemingly happy and unfazed. Most were the high schoolers. Awesome to see.
I will continue reluctantly signing up for this events till I no longer can.

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

jeremy3220 said:
Sounds like your subconscious is trying to convince you that you need a new bike for these races; upon which buying you'll never enter another long distance race again.

100% and 100%. I bought a mid-travel just to be OK at everything. I'm fine with OK. I've been on podiums in my younger years and have / had lots of trophies. I eventually toss them. My biggest trophy is being fit, healthy, still do trail work almost weekly, ride two to three times a week, surf once a week, on no medications, and I'm 60. 🤞

jimPacNW · Nov 13, 2023

Something fun/challenging to look forward to is important, otherwise life can just be a grind.
Upcoming races are fantastic motivation to stay fit, and go for a ride when you don't totally feel like it.
It's fun until it's not, and we tend to get more and more involved in things until we reach a peak in activity, then become a whole lot less involved for any of a number of reasons (burnout, life circumstances, injuries etc). Ideally we can balance how involved we get to keep the fun and fitness without getting into the burnout area.

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

plummet said:
I did the race scene for 14 years.

Raced xc locally and nationally for 8 of those years, Adds in 12 and 24 hour teams races at some point.

Then faded into dh for about 8 years.

Racing gives a goal to work towards and point of focus to improve.

But I found for the endurance stuff I ended up racing for racing sake and doing training rides for training sake and not for fun. At my height of xc racing I was doing 20 hours of riding a week.

At one point I was riding by myself in the middle of winter on the road bike, into a head wind cold af rain and thought.
"This is not fun, I have just created a second non paying job"

Now I was ok at xc racing. On the podium locally and top 5 to 10% nationally. But I was always the bridesmaid and never the winner. It took me years to figure out no matter how hard I trained there would be someone else thar just had a better body type thar could bear me.

I faded to dh which was more fun based than fitness based. I was more successful dh racing, winning some local events and podiuming on the national series I my age division.

Then after I had had my fill dh racing I faded off into enduro riding with mates and focused on technicall riding, away trips to different locations. That has been my focus since I stopped racing in 2008.

I see the allure of racing. But these days I prefer to ride with mates and have fun.

My mates talked me into this and other rides. I rode with this same group about a month ago, 4 days in Southern Utah. 16 mile rides each day. They all live in high altitudes (I don't), past champion XC, Cyclocross, and enduro riding at pro and expert levels (I never did). They are my cycling group because we are all old friends, but I wasn't and never will be at their level of endurance. I'll keep chasing and be content to just finish... way behind them.

Tall BMX'r · Nov 13, 2023

jimPacNW said:
Something fun/challenging to look forward to is important, otherwise life can just be a grind.
Upcoming races are fantastic motivation to stay fit, and go for a ride when you don't totally feel like it.
It's fun until it's not, and we tend to get more and more involved in things until we reach a peak in activity, then become a whole lot less involved for any of a number of reasons (burnout, life circumstances, injuries etc). Ideally we can balance how involved we get to keep the fun and fitness without getting into the burnout area.

So true...

_CJ · Nov 13, 2023

twowheelmotion said:
Hey, my bro that went through a nasty divorce and lost it all, kept riding these local events, kept seeing the same lady over the course of 6 months to a year, and now they are a couple. All because of riding bicycles at these organized events, they met and are stoked. And if this guy, that tucks his tee shirt into his cargo shorts, and wears socks and teva sandals can get chicks going to bike rides, I'd say the benefit of these rides is significant. Also I did the Death Ride. That was enough for me, thanks.

But, were they using Strava?

.

twowheelmotion · Nov 13, 2023

_CJ said:
But, were they using Strava?

.

Affirmative: Over

Why do I keep doing large organized distance rides / races?

Tall BMX'r

Steel-Onions

CLDSDL43

Scott_123

Sssnake

Colvin323

plummet

jeremy3220

bingemtbr

SouthSoundRider

Tall BMX'r

twowheelmotion

Tall BMX'r

Tall BMX'r

Tall BMX'r

jimPacNW

Tall BMX'r

Tall BMX'r

_CJ

twowheelmotion

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