Race or not?

[alleyoop]

I am reasonably new to MTB, started riding in March of this year, but I think I have been making pretty good progress. My hubby says that I am solidly intermediate, if that means anything. I have good legs, lots of stamina from running, but get tripped up on technical features (i.e. going up ledges that are bigger than curbs or down ones over about 10 inches or so)and steep obstacles.

There is a race coming up that I am considering doing, but don't really have a gauge if I am ready or not. I have never done a MTB race before. We rode the course for the first time this weekend and I rode 95% of it. There were a few obstacles that I had to walk, like a very rooty uphill section, but generally they were short sections and I think I could get on and off the bike pretty easily as well as get out of the way of other riders.

However, there are two short black diamond sections of the course, both very similar that I know that I wouldn't even attempt. Both are very steep descents followed by very steep climbs. They are the kind of thing that you need to fly down in order to have momentum to make the other side. The problem is that if you don't make it up the other side, there is NOTHING to step off onto. You are going down! I just don't have the confidence to ride those two sections yet. The climbs are pretty hard to walk also, with not much room on the sides (for walkers and riders, both). DH says that plenty of people will walk those two... but I don't know.

Walking them is not a problem for me mentally, I just don't want to be a danger to others or p*ss people off. My goals would be to finish and not go to the ER. Not finishing last would be cool also.

What do you think? GO for the race and just do my best to stay out of the way or wait until I can do the course in its entirety before racing?

Help!

[Aggie_Ama]

I know the race and haven't ridden there but I have been to plenty of TMBRA races including Lake Bryan a couple of weeks ago. Beginner class always has walkers. In fact at Bryan we were chilling on the levies watching Cat 2 class have people dismount for some climbs and even some Cat 1 riders just didn't make it. Trust me I have seen worse climbs at Walnut than this one and I am not talking the Wall on the BMX loop!

DH had to walk one climb because the single speeders did not make the climb in front of him and he couldn't go around. It didn't piss him off and didn't cost him any places overall. The only wreck I know of out there was the riders own fault so I wouldn't worry about others, yourself well we can hope you leave no blood out there (YOU WON'T). You would be racing last group anyway at that race, if the experts are still on the course well they got problems and if someone doesn't expect that in beginner class they are nuts.

So I say yes, the races look like a blast, DH has been DFL before and still had fun! If you do we will see you there. I will be cheerleading, naturally but hopefully DH will be improving his top 10 to top 5! We will likely stay all day so you may even have extra cheerleading you weren't banking on- what incentive. :p

[SheFly]

I agree - go for it! In the beginner class, you won't be the only one walking sections of the course. If there is someone who comes up behind you riding, try to get out of their way (they have the right of way), but you won't hose anyone up. I have found mountain bike racers to be much more considerate and understanding than road racers (I do both), so I don't think you will have an issue.

Have fun, and good luck!

SheFly

[spokewench]

I've raced mountain bike races for years and even 10 years into it, don't necessarily ride all the parts of the race, I will get off and walk if I need (sometimes the uphills are just too hard too); so when you dismount, get off the side of the trail so people who want to ride can get by, when you run down a drop off, make sure you have room to go before someone riding might run you over; when you get to the bottom, get off to the side, make sure no one is riding behind you that will run into you and get back on the course.

GO FOR IT! GO race, and start in the beginner's category. If you are better than that, you will find out quick enough.

spoke

[alleyoop]

Wew! Sounds like it is a common occurance to walk a bit or two. You don't know how happy I am to hear that!

I might see if I can get a girl or two to go out with me the weekend before to ride the marked race loop. It would give me a bit more confidence to have been out there twice.

Thanks for all the advice and support! Y'all are a wealth of wisdom! I will do a full report if all the ducks align and I get to race!

PS. Amanda, if you are going to be out there, why aren't you racing it? Other than the two or three obvious black diamonds, the rest of the course is about like the Log Loop at the Nut. Seriously, it is something you can do! If not, it does make it better knowing there might be a cheerleader in the crowd!

[Aggie_Ama]

I am not quite ready yet to ride in a pack, in fact I haven't been out to the trails in almost a month. BUT they do look like a lot of fun and I am thinking I will attempt some next fall maybe even spring at Warda (pretty easy course). A whole winter of riding and then next year I know about RLAG, I should be ready if I want to go! :D

Did you see on Mojo there is a group going this weekend? Didn't see if it was all just boys or maybe some girls going to pre-ride as well. DH is going Saturday after work as he has never been to RHR but I will be out riding a charity Harley ride with my dad and mom.

I can't wait to hear your report, you are definitely ready to ride with the Cat 3. No doubt, I saw some very green riders at Bryan but everyone was having a good time.