When to do first race

[Ered_Lithui]

DO. IT. NOW!

!!! JOIN US.

As for shouldering the bike - I RARELY do this. It's often not faster. The exception is if you have a very long run through sand... If I am running uphill, I will push the bike, using it as an outrigger. Helps me with traction and momentum, and I don't drop my chain putting my bike down at the top.

I agree that it's rarely necessary (I avoid it whenever possible), but I think she should practice it if she wants to work on skills. Yesterday we had the Battle at Barlow. Here are pictures from a few years ago showing the run-up: http://www.pdxcross.com/galleries/battle-at-barlow/ (Look at the second picture, as well as the one five below it....) There's no way around those stairs. My shouldering practice saved me. I saw a few people (mostly juniors) in earlier races attempting to suitcase it, and going miserably slowly. And people who tried to shoulder without proper technique were whacking their wheels against the railroad ties.

As far as crashing, there's the occasional spectacular wipeout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5xqP...ature=youtu.be), but more often it's people sliding into the mud. Average speeds don't get too high in the beginner categories.