[Guest]

how many of you here are racers, how many races a season do you take part in and what got you started?

i am getting fat and lazy now thus my XC racing days are over-i took in about thirty of them in a four year span-but i'm interested in the state of cross country mountain biking today especially in northern california.

i had a double boatload of fun in just about every single race i did and it would warm my heart to know that there are still a LOT of you who strap a number plate on your bike at least a few times a year and ride like hell till you almost puke!:thumbsup:

 

[BruceBrown]

how many of you here are racers, how many races a season do you take part in and what got you started?

i am getting fat and lazy now thus my XC racing days are over-i took in about thirty of them in a four year span-but i'm interested in the state of cross country mountain biking today especially in northern california.

i had a double boatload of fun in just about every single race i did and it would warm my heart to know that there are still a LOT of you who strap a number plate on your bike at least a few times a year and ride like hell till you almost puke!:thumbsup:

The "XC Racing and Training" forum here at mtbr.com is filled with number plate strap on types.:thumbsup:

 

[ChrisJ]

The "XC Racing and Training" forum here at mtbr.com is filled with number plate strap on types

This is true.

This is my first year racing. I've done 5 races so far this season with 3 or 4 more to go not decicded on the final race yet. Planning on doing a few more next year if the checkbook allows it.

 

[Guest]

yes, bruce, the XC racing and training forum probably IS full of strap on number plate types, but i'm here in the "General Discussion" forum, where we sometimes chat about rock climbing, soccer, broken clavicles and all sorts of cycling related subjects!

i don't wanna hang out with the racers no more and i'm very suspicious of anyone nowadays who wants to strap ANYTHING on...many of these folks seem to be awfully high strung and out of sorts much of the time.

chris j, who talked you into going out and beating yourself three quarters half to death five times this year? are you having fun? where are you racing and in which class? are there a lot of racers?

 

[borregokid]

My Story

I did my first XC race five years ago as a Clyde because a couple of people told me I needed to do something active. The following year no races but the next year I thought I could race sport and stepped up and lost some weight. Last year between Washington, Arizona and California I ended up doing 13 races. I did the Cool Race out side of Auburn-nice race in really great mtn bike conditions-mud and rain.

This year not as many races but in additon to four mountain bike races I have picked up three road races. Kind of funny but when you get older and you see the same faces you realize you are not racing against anyone but more or less riding with them. Its nice to place and podium but I think after all is said and done I will probably remember the people. This year some guys I hadnt seen for a year really welcomed me to the first race and that probably meant more than anything.

 

[ChrisJ]

chris j, who talked you into going out and beating yourself three quarters half to death five times this year? are you having fun? where are you racing and in which class? are there a lot of racers?

I've thought about it in the past. Moved to Mississippi about 2 years ago. This is the first year they are having the race series. So I decided to jump into it head first. I've podiumed each race 3rd, 2nd, and 1st in the last race. We have 3 more left in the series and i'm considering doing one more race in october in Lousiana. Its a blast. I'm in the beginner class this year. Making the leap to sport next year. The courses vary from flat and fast to rooty and hilly. I've seen some new trails well new to me. And again I am having a blast running my self 3 quarters to death.

 

[mtb_biker]

Racing is alot of fun. Theres nothing quite like some good clean competition.

 

[BruceBrown]

yes, bruce, the XC racing and training forum probably IS full of strap on number plate types, but i'm here in the "General Discussion" forum, where we sometimes chat about rock climbing, soccer, broken clavicles and all sorts of cycling related subjects!

i don't wanna hang out with the racers no more and i'm very suspicious of anyone nowadays who wants to strap ANYTHING on...many of these folks seem to be awfully high strung and out of sorts much of the time.

My bad. I was only trying to help out by pointing you to the XC racing forum because I figured you might get more XC racer responses with regard to your original questions:

how many of you here are racers, how many races a season do you take part in and what got you started?

BB

 

[ChrisJ]

how many of you here are racers, how many races a season do you take part in and what got you started?

Picking up a local sponsership for next season if all goes well. This is my first season racing. And I am jumping up to sport next season. I also planning on doing some of the SERC racing series next year.

 

[moab63]

I'm talking and no one is listening, hehe

I do around 12 xc races per season, and 1 or 2 endurance races(team). I race sport and the commiment to race and do well is pretty high, but life work,kids and ect. sometimes gets in the way.

 

[Hecubus]

I've been racing since 2001 and have done anywhere from 11 to 16 races per year without counting endurance events. I've pretty much taken this year off from racing and taking a small break.

 

[Guest]

moab, i'd never be able to keep myself in race shape nowadays. too much overtime at the salt mines and my riding buddies all moved away.

i'll just look at the pictures, number plates and medals i collected along the way to remind myself of how much fun it was.

keep the sport alive, folks, i'm glad to hear that there's at least a few of you out there with the passion and dedication required of a rider to race mountain bikes.

 

[Hardtails Are Better]

There aren't too many races in my area, but I try to do at least half a dozen a year. Lots of fun.

 

[moab63]

Well you do have to make a crazy commiment

moab, i'd never be able to keep myself in race shape nowadays. too much overtime at the salt mines and my riding buddies all moved away.

i'll just look at the pictures, number plates and medals i collected along the way to remind myself of how much fun it was.

keep the sport alive, folks, i'm glad to hear that there's at least a few of you out there with the passion and dedication required of a rider to race mountain bikes.

in my case this means that I commute to and from work 5 days per week. I can use public transportation if need be. I do anywhere from 40-60 miles per day, I started working here about two months ago. Before I did the comute but the hours were suuuuuuuuuper crazy, and a co worker lived near me so he always offer me a ride so I took it :eekster: , this met that I didn´t train nearly enough and my race results started to suffer badly, top 10 barely.

So now I´m making a full on commiment, I want the trophies again , so no more car rides. I just got home from pre running the course for my race next week, I felt good a little tired but good.

 

[ChrisJ]

We do some local road rides. Put in about 60 miles on a sunday. Depends on what we feel like. Hill work, speed work whatever it is. Just got back from a road ride. Some roadie freaks down here. I pulled for about 3/4 of a mile at about 24mph. Carbon bike makes a huge differnece.

 

[Duckman]

This season..

7 or 8 state or regional series XC races
3 12hour endurances
4 or 5 TTs
couple longer point to point races(40+ miles maybe?)

Every now and then, I get to sniff the podium. Not often tho..

Love the competition, and will do so as long as I'm able. 48yrs and never been as fit as I am currently. Will attempt my first 12hour solo next week.

 

[LetsGoOutside]

So far this year I have done 7 local mtb races, 2 local road crits, a training crit every week. I think I am done with the local stuff for this year and am taking July as a rest month, another full season starts in September for collegiate mountain bike racing and then off to a full season of cyclocross.

Racing is addicting, I finish up my cross season in December and barely have a month and a half off before road season is in full swing and every one if out training again. It's definitely a high level of commitment but completely worth it.