Racing Questions

nigeldog said:

Hey all,

I picked up a bike about a month ago after being out of the sport for about 10 years. Everyone keeps telling me that I should get into racing. I was just wondering how good do I have to be to do a beginner race and not be an obstruction on the course?

So far all of my rides have been 10-30 miles. I tend to average about 9mph (mid atlantic, mixed terrain), but I'm not killing myself. I also seem to like crashing. I usually have one good crash per ride from trying something I shouldnt.

Is that ready for beginner? Or should I be able to sustain higher speeds? Or should I work on crashing less? I'm not worried about winning, but I dont want to be in the way.

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Just go out and race and don't worry about getting in anyone's way. They'll all be beginners if your racing beginner. Have fun!

Ok, I was also asking for one other reason. While I don't expect to win, I would like to avoid public humiliation. I'd hate to come in last place by 30 minutes. Or get passed by someone leading a race that started after mine. If thats going to be the case, I can say that I definately wont be having fun. If I'm competitive with the other racers, then I will have fun.

I'm just trying to guage what I could expect from a beginner class. I've never even been to a race. I don't even know if I'm fast or slow.

It's different everywhere. You won't know unless you go out and do it. Odds are you won't be DFL (dead Fing last). As far as a later group catching you. Odds are, unless you are always the winning pro, you will at some point have someone from another group passing you.

So just do it and have fun. The race scene is cool. That's half the fun.

Ha public humiliation, well to be honest

nigeldog said:

Ok, I was also asking for one other reason. While I don't expect to win, I would like to avoid public humiliation. I'd hate to come in last place by 30 minutes. Or get passed by someone leading a race that started after mine. If thats going to be the case, I can say that I definately wont be having fun. If I'm competitive with the other racers, then I will have fun.

I'm just trying to guage what I could expect from a beginner class. I've never even been to a race. I don't even know if I'm fast or slow.

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until you give it try, you won't know for sure. A gauge is to go out with a group, on a ride if you are dead last there you will be dead last in a race for sure, because racing even as a beginner is really demanding and intense, so what is hard on a fun ride is going to be 10 times tougher on a race.

But remember that the first couple of times you don't know really anything about racing so your results will reflect that. Even if you have great results, because you will think you are a God and jump to sport after a couple of races and then get killed there

So just do it aand let us know how it goes.:thumbsup:

i think you are worrying too much about how you place in relation to everyone else. see if there are any local forums where you live; usually you'll be able to join group rides at your local trails, etc. most races are grass-roots type stuff and pretty casual. everyone tends to be accommodating and friendly towards everyone else. i'd just go for it, and see what you think. even if it means finishing last, or not finishing at all. it's fun to meet new people and friendly rivalries (and some healthy smack-talkin' ) always makes for a fun ride.

group rides (especially night group rides) and trail maintenance days are other things worth doing whenever you can. remember, it's all about having fun!

As far as groups from behind passing you:

I bet you are thinking that the groups are staggered by 10 minutes or more. This isn't the case. In our three state series there are two big groups: beginners and everyone else. These go off two hours apart and within each of the groups the smaller age defined groups go off 1 minute apart. So if a guy from a group behind passes you, are you really going to be upset that he is a few minutes up on you? It's fun. I jumped into it after only riding for 3 weeks and did come in DFL. It wasn't really humiliating. If you go for it, remember the first race should be thought of as noting more than a learning experience. Maybe you'll have slower beginners where you are and come in with good results or maybe your just a racing machine. Never know until you try.

Anyway, just pay the entry fee and go do it.


CW