1st Race

glider72 said:

I just entered my first race yesterday and finished second in a beginner class. It was actually a duathalon. I felt like a spaz on the bike though. I kept slipping and falling off in places I normally would cruise through with no problem. I actually fell off my bike and sat on my rear spokes! Is it typical for people to perform not as good during race situations because of the adrenaline and fatigue of racing?

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Yup. When you are "on the edge" due to riding all out in a race, bike handling skills that seem easy when doing recreational or training rides suddenly become wild and at times nearly out of control. The more you race, the more you will learn to pace and improve your bike handling when the body is screaming back at you. Improved conditioning and race experience will iron out most of those issues.

Congratulations on your 2nd place finish in the beginner class. Hopefully the experience was a positive and the racing bug will draw you back to do some more of it.

BB

glider72 said:

Is it typical for people to perform not as good during race situations because of the adrenaline and fatigue of racing?

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I think it can go both ways. In my most recent race I was like a different rider, I was taking aggressive lines thru stuff that had me walking the day before.

nice work, congratulations. I think race pace always adds new and different issues to riding ability. It seems like race pace is always faster than you think it is going to be. I am in my first "serious" summer of racing and entering Sport class. My first race I finished near the back of the pack but had a lot of fun. My legs were shredded by the end, but I'm getting stronger!

I think the first race really is a bit out of control. Most people aren't prepared for the level you ride at during a race. One thing I have done (not sure if it is good or bad) is to go to my favorite trail and really attempt to perform at race speed. This has helped my handling skills tremendously. In my most recent race, I felt more comfortable at full race speed than I did during the pre-ride the day before.

Great job on second place. I hope the success inspires you to continue to compete.:thumbsup:

my first race, I came in last place, but had fun. 7 years later, I am still racing. I have learned a lot. I thought i was in shape when I entered my first race. Now I realize how far away from being in shape I was. The fittness level that it takes to compete is truly incredible. Most people that are new to the cycling or racing culture would be truly amazed what dedication it really takes to really compete.

I now race in the expert catagory. I am still not as fast as i would like to be, but I am getting closer.

DNF in first race, too

rickm said:

my first race, I came in last place, but had fun...I thought i was in shape when I entered my first race. Now I realize how far away from being in shape I was. The fittness level that it takes to compete is truly incredible. Most people that are new to the cycling or racing culture would be truly amazed what dedication it really takes to really compete....

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I was DFL in my first race, too. I raced Sport because, like you, I thought I was in shape and certainly wasn't a "beginner" mountain biker. Then I was mopped up by everyone and realized that I was without a doubt a beginner RACER. The next year I entered the race in the beginner class and won! I don't think it was sandbagging, but I did get much better during that year inbetween and got a new bike that I think was faster. Now I'm racing sport and finished my first race near the back of the pack but I know I had room for improvement. and I wasn't DFL!

im entering my first race at the end of july .....any advice...the bike im racing is like a xc bike on steriods but it should do fine...Trek Remedy incase u couldent guess from my name...but im also doing another race in september as long as i dont hate the one in july...but if i like them both i plan to build another bike over the winter....anyone have any advice for my frist race....or even building a xc race bike

TheRemedy said:

im entering my first race at the end of july .....any advice...the bike im racing is like a xc bike on steriods but it should do fine...Trek Remedy incase u couldent guess from my name...but im also doing another race in september as long as i dont hate the one in july...but if i like them both i plan to build another bike over the winter....anyone have any advice for my frist race....or even building a xc race bike

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preride the route if you can. have fun. carbo load dinner the night before. the pace will be faster than you think.