First MTB race experience

[Loraura]

My next race is not until this coming weekend, but, I pre-rode the course last weekend, and, I'm skeeered! HAHA.

It's gonna be a tough one for me. More of a mental battle than a physical one. I dislike several parts of the trail. One section is new, and seems really choppy and frustrating for me. Another is the very spot my good friend broke his wrist on.

At least the last mile or two is fast and fun. I'll have that to look forward to. Maybe I can use that to help me get through the parts that are simply above my ability level.

On the pre-ride I fell three times. After the first one, I was sketchy and not relaxed on the bike (probably leading to the other two). I had forgotten my pads at home, too, so I was even more unconfident (is that a word?).

I'm hoping I can get one more pre-ride in before the race, and that maybe, just maybe, the same thing that happened at Mellow Johnny's Classic will happen again for me, and the race will seem easier than the pre-ride.

I'm trying not to let myself get all psyched up about it. Just thinking about it makes my tummy do the roller coaster thing.

[limewave]

I'm trying not to let myself get all psyched up about it. Just thinking about it makes my tummy do the roller coaster thing.

I feel like that before every race. A friend of mine takes zanax before he races to calm his nerves . . . I think that is a bit extreme! I consider the anxiety a good warm-up since my heart rate is already high

I think it is awesome you are able to pre-ride the course. Now you know what is expected and you can psych yourself up for it, visualizing yourself riding smoothly through those challenging sections.

Can't wait to hear how it goes! Good luck!

[Loraura]

I've now completed my 4th race!

From my earlier post, you saw how nervous I was after having a bad pre-ride. HOWEVER, I pre-rode again the day before the race and had a MUCH BETTER ride. My riding partner who knows my abilities pushed me to try things I was previously bailing on, and I was able to ride much more of the course.

This helped a lot. At the starting line I was not terrified that the entire race would be as bad as my initial pre-ride. I've known for some time that it was fear rather than skill that was keeping me from riding some more technical features. They proved it to me by encouraging me to just TRY it. I had full pads on for this pre-ride, so that helped.

I decided to wear pads on race day as well, since it seemed to help my confidence so much and we have a MTB vacation coming up soon that I didn't want to miss due to injury! This course was very rocky. A fall could really hurt! Pads helped me leave some fear behind.

During the race, I did several things right! I sorted out what gear I should be in to punch it off the line (not gonna make that mistake twice!). At the whistle I SHOT OUT and immediately had a gap behind me with only one rider in front of me. I hit the single track in second position. My best entry into the woods yet! I had a bit of a wobble, and a short discussion with a tree, about 50 yards into the single track. I just came in a little too hot, but I recovered and didn't loose my 2nd place spot.

It took me a long time to settle in and recover from my start. I was a good 2 miles into the course before I could get my heart rate and breathing in SOME resemblance of control. When I finally did, things began to fall into place. I felt really good on the bike, not at all sketchy or off balance.

I made all of the obstacles that I'd practiced (with the help of my riding buddy) the day before. AND I made some other spots on race day that I hadn't ever made before! It was BY FAR my best ride on this course.

I was a little nervous about how much of a gap I'd been able to make (thinking at any moment I was going to be passed by another in my Category). This was in the back of my mind a good bit, and when I had the chance I'd look back to check.

There is one section on the course where the trail goes between two trees and there is VERY LITTLE wiggle room, especially on a 29er with wide bars. I'd practiced my approach to this part several time the day before and found an angle that worked for me. When I got to the spot there were spectators there, which made me a little nervous. I almost bailed so I wouldn't provide them with the entertainment of me smacking into a tree. But I stuck with it, felt confident that my practice would pay off, and wiggled right on through! They cheered! It was great.

The new section was much better having been ridden on by so many pre-riders and racers. I found it MUCH easier. Once I made it through the new section, I finally felt like there was no reason I would be caught unless I crashed. Up until that point I just raced my heart out and hoped it was enough.

I had planned to take a gu about 3 miles in, but when I got to that spot I was breathing so hard and my HR was so elevated I felt like there was no way I could keep it down, so I waited. I found another place later in the trail to recover and managed to get it down then. This worked out OK, but in the future I think I will try taping my gu to the top tube as I've seen others do. It's tough to find it in my pocket and get it open at race pace. I still had enough energy to cross the finish line with lots of power.

My hand-numbness issue from the last race appears to be resolved. I went back to racing with the gloves I like best (which don't match my kit, but whatever!). I also felt very relaxed as far as my grip on the bars for this race, so that may have helped, too.

This was the first race I've done where I felt like I COULD have gone another lap if I had to. On my previous races the thought of having to go again made me want to run screaming back to the car! It would have been tough, but I think I could have gone another lap.

I finished in second place, and I'm really proud of that finish! 4 races, 3 tropheys. I can't complain about that!

I'll do one more race this season, but I have a month to get ready for it. I'm looking forward to it!

[Aggie_Ama]

Great job on racing a really technical course and making the podium! I know several people (my husband included) who visited the ER yesterday so good call on the pads. Good luck closing out the season strong at RHR!

[Anelia]

Congratulations again! Is the difference between the first lady and you big?

[Becky]

Well done! I find your accounts of racing for the first time very inspiring. There's a race this Sunday at one of my local trail systems, and I'm hemming and hawing about signing up, moreso after pre-riding the course. These reports give me some idea of what to expect.

[Loraura]

Congratulations again! Is the difference between the first lady and you big?

It's not huge, but it's significant enough that I can't expect to win untill I can do some technical things much better. Ledges are killing me on race times. Some I can probably make but fear tells me to get off the bike rather than fail the front wheel lift and endo-smack right into it.

[Loraura]

Well, I have completed the 2012 Texas State Championship Mountain Bike Series, and I am still in one piece!

I raced the final race at Rocky Hill Ranch this past weekend.

I pre-rode the course on Saturday, and had a pretty good fall. Bruised my arm and hip and shoulder, but survived. Most of the course, I could handle. I did find out that I need to learn how to ride some steep gullies (few feet very steep down, followed immediately by a few feet very steep up).

The smaller ones I could handle, but there were a few large ones (one was even called "the wall") that I could not ride. I just didn't know how to go about getting up the other side once my downhill momentum ran out. I watched other people nail it, but i coudln't quite emulate it. I put that on my list of things to learn how to master before next year.

I went into this race knowing that weather I got first or last, it made absolutely no difference for my placement in the series, as long as I finished. So I went in on race day with the goal to finish uninjured.

So race day comes, and I've got a pretty good routine going for pre-race activities by now. I had a little bit of nerves at the start, but not much. I was just chit-chatting with the other ladies. We've become rather friendly with each other, seeing the same faces each race. The whistle blows and off we go. I avoided a little pileup as soon as we entered the singletrack. 3 minutes into the race, I go down a descent that I cleared with no issue on the pre-ride. It's not even difficult. It has two line options. Straight down the middle (bumpy, roots, not smooth), or on the right, smooth, no roots, but off camber.

I have no idea why I took the off-camber line but I did. With my weight back for the drop, my front wheel did not have enough weight to keep traction and slid out from under me and down I went. And down and down until I was so graciously stopped by trees and brush piled on the side of the trail.

I hit my head, my teeth, my arm, my hip... I had to pick up parts of my helmet from the brush (the visor came off). After I manged to get untangled from my bike, stand up, check my head and parts, I decided I was OK to carry on. I did have a scratch and a "goose egg" on my forehead, but it wasn't bleeding (much).

In a way, this relieved me of any pressure I had to try to place well. Everyone passed me while I was plucking myself from the trees. The sweep guy was waiting at the top of the hill to see if I was going to continue or not. When I looked up to see if it was clear to go, he said "Go ahead, I'm sweep". I replied to him "Well, thanks, I didn't figure you were riding in the 40+ women's cat!" We had a little laugh.

So I started to ride again, and noticed my handlebars were no longer on straight. I stopped, got off the bike, held the front tire between my knees and started banging and prying my stem back to the center. It took me several stops and retries, but I finally got it pretty much straight.

Note to self: Check all screws/bolts for EVERY race.

I did catch and pass one rider from my cat/class, and several others who started at the same time as my group. I had a pretty good ride after that, really. I cleared some spots that I didn't on the pre-ride, so that's always a plus. Even with all the climbing on the course, I felt good at the finish.

I finished 2nd overall in the series. I got a really cool trophey and a "Top 10 fnisher" Tshirt. For someone who went into this racing thing expecting misery, torture, and a complete void of fun, I'd say, it worked out FANTASTIC.

I would highly recommend checking out the XC racing scene in your area. In addition to becoming a better rider Racing allowed me to ride new venues, meet new friends, and become part of the community. An amazing experience I highly recommend.

[Aggie_Ama]

I think I wrecked and busted my lip open on the same feature at RHR last year. Way to pick up and finish out the series strong, it hard to wreck so early and keep moving on!! See you at RLAG this summer.

[limewave]

Nice sum-up Loaura. I'm glad you were able to finish your race--hope you're not too banged up. Congrats on your season! And I can't wait to read your race reports next season