Exercise R Us » Biking » 1st Mtn. Bike Race
Question:
> All riders will recognize that situation, and no one > expects a lapped rider to jump off his bike on a super- > endo downhill section.
I am glad to know that you (and probably most) recognize that situation, but I am afraid that many riders don’t. > Yelling is being polite in this instance. How else is the rider going > to get the message that he should stop his AT pace and get out of the > way ?
In some ways yes. There is a huge difference between someone yelling, "track" or "track, please", and someone screaming, "Track! Get the F*ck out of my way pud sucker." I find that the second one is much to common. > There is a huge difference between passing a slower rider that is in > front of you and a lapped rider. The slower rider can and sometimes > will block. He has as much right to the line as you do. Even if you > are coming up on a rider in a different class you have no right to > get him to pull off so that you can pass. It is common, in fact, > for pro riders to sprint to the singletrack so that they > can block a better singletrack rider from putting time on > them.
Agreed and understood, but in the event I described, the passing riders considered the class in front of them to be lapped riders. The rulebook is unclear on this. As a matter of politeness, if a rider from another class catches me (not being lapped), I will pull off if I am asked, IF I can. I have been racing for 7 years now (NORBA, USCF, and NCCA), and have seen a recent increase in the number of impolite riders. People who, can’t wait for the slower rider to find a safe place. People who want to insist on yelling as screaming to get that one position when they are in a train of 20. Maybe it is just because racing is becoming more popular, but many are loosing sight of why they they race. It is supposed to be fun. cheers jesse
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: >Here’s another question, then. Who has the right-of-way, : >the climber or the downhiller? I would say the climber, : >but on fast fire road descents, it’s most often the : >climber who yields to the descender. I guess it depends : >on how technical the trail is. If you’re climbing, you : >don’t want to lose momentum to let someone by. : the climber has the right of way because it is harder for him/her to : change direction than someone decending at a fast pace. its similar to : sailing in that, sailboats always have the right of way because it is : much harder for them to change direction at a slower speed than it is : for a speed boat to change direction. In XC skiing, the downhill skier has the right of way because they have less control than the uphill skier. Hmmmm……. Jay Wenner
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> >Here’s another question, then. Who has the right-of-way, >> >the climber or the downhiller? [snip] >> the climber has the right of way because it is harder for him/her to >> change direction than someone decending at a fast pace. its similar to >> sailing in that, sailboats always have the right of way because it is >> much harder for them to change direction at a slower speed than it is >> for a speed boat to change direction. >in theory what you say is perfectly true, but i would get out of the way >of someone descending a piece of singletrack, and would expect the same >back if i’m going fast. it depends, right… >in relation to your sailing analogy, in theory, an oil tanker has to get >out the way of a sailing boat, but in practise? i don’t think so. i’m >getting out the way first, i reackon. call me old fashioned 
>well it depends on the circumstances John. >International Regulations For The Prevention of Collision At Sea (off >thread or what ?) Rule 9 Narrow Channels: >b) A vessel of less than 20m in length or a sailing vessel shall not >impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within the >narrow channel or fairway. ><In open sea as you say John ‘in theory but’. It would seem fair that >the climber should have right of way, and safer probably forcing the >downhiller into caution ? then again maybe the downhiller is a bit like >the tanker in a narrow channel ?>
The biker is less like a tanker than he or she is like a biker. It is interesting to talk about rules of conduct for sailing vessels, or airplanes, or intersteller vehicles; but bike-on-bike meetings aren’t much like any of those things. I don’t like rules any more than the next feller, but sometimes they are needed to reduce chaos. I wish the IMBA would support *my* version of the rule , but as of today they don’t officially. Oh, and there *are* rules about bikes meeting any other trail users: we [bikers] yield. There are lots of schools of thought on bike-on-bike meetings, and I’ve flamed and been flamed in these discussions before. Here’s my opinion, and what I practice: The climber should be allowed to climb. If singletrack is narrow enough that two can’t pass on their bikes, the climber should be allowed to use the trail because it will be tougher for that person to get started again, and it will be a safer pass–the descending rider could easily fail to shed enough speed, but climbers don’t have to worry about shedding speed. If the climber chooses to ditch the trail and take a rest or whatever then the situation changes, but I don’t think the climber should feel duty bound to stop. People who are descending can be right back up to speed in two seconds after yielding to a climber. A climber who is forced to stop my not be able to get started again–around here the climbs are often not makeable without momentum. It kind of bites when you are descending and the trail is full of climbers. You have to stop alot, but that’s just because the sport is popular. In such a situation, bombing fast downhill on singletrack is irresponsible anyway. Pick a time to go riding when things won’t be so crowded (e.g. early morning). > … [clip] >by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of >the case.
OK Paul, I can’t see what seman has to do with it. If there is seman around, you probably aren’t riding all that fast–seems like getting a bunch of seman into one of these situations will just be messy and disgusting. Different strokes for different folks, but when I’m riding I prefer to just ride… [sorry, I couldn't resist] Tom Purvis - - Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -Bertrand Russell
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In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960512232931.14852E- writes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Here’s another question, then. Who has the right-of-way, > >the climber or the downhiller? snip > the climber has the right of way because it is harder for him/her to > change direction than someone decending at a fast pace. its similar to > sailing in that, sailboats always have the right of way because it is > much harder for them to change direction at a slower speed than it is > for a speed boat to change direction. >in theory what you say is perfectly true, but i would get out of the way >of someone descending a piece of singletrack, and would expect the same >back if i’m going fast. it depends, right… >in relation to your sailing analogy, in theory, an oil tanker has to get >out the way of a sailing boat, but in practise? i don’t think so. i’m >getting out the way first, i reackon. call me old fashioned >john
well it depends on the circumstances John. International Regulations For The Prevention of Collision At Sea (off thread or what ?) Rule 9 Narrow Channels: b) A vessel of less than 20m in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within the narrow channel or fairway. <In open sea as you say John ‘in theory but’. It would seem fair that the climber should have right of way, and safer probably forcing the downhiller into caution ? then again maybe the downhiller is a bit like the tanker in a narrow channel ?> the lesser known Rule 2 of the regs. states: a) Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with Rules or of neglect of any precaution which which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from the rules necessary to avoid immediate danger. Paraphrased: the rules are not enough, if you have to depart from the rules to avoid a crash then you are obliged to do so. All a bit vexing as the reason I sail and MTB is to get away from the restrictions of a regulated existence. — Paul Tomlinson <| / | / | /___|
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>Here’s another question, then. Who has the right-of-way, >the climber or the downhiller? I would say the climber, >but on fast fire road descents, it’s most often the >climber who yields to the descender. I guess it depends >on how technical the trail is. If you’re climbing, you >don’t want to lose momentum to let someone by.
the climber has the right of way because it is harder for him/her to change direction than someone decending at a fast pace. its similar to sailing in that, sailboats always have the right of way because it is much harder for them to change direction at a slower speed than it is for a speed boat to change direction. tom — | Tom Nelson | Everything is in walking | | http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gt6894b| time. |
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Perhaps "track" should mean that the forward rider should stay on his present track, not making any sudden moves. The fresher rider can then pass as he sees fit. It may be easier for a tiring athelete to stay where he is than to decipher directions. — -PT "A wise man and a fool cannot argue"
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"Track" comes from just that, track and field. Slower runners are expected to move to the outside and let the faster ones through, i.e. move to your right. In MTB races, though, I’ve found that people passing tend to yell "on your left" when passing. Then there’s "rider up," which for some reason you call out when descending as you pass someone who’s climbing. This lets them know there’s someone coming down behind you and they hopefully will stay where they are. Here’s another question, then. Who has the right-of-way, the climber or the downhiller? I would say the climber, but on fast fire road descents, it’s most often the climber who yields to the descender. I guess it depends on how technical the trail is. If you’re climbing, you don’t want to lose momentum to let someone by. Hmmm… Peter
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[snip] > Generally if I’m lower down in position and coming up on a slower rider or > more than likely group of riders, I normally shout encouragement to speed up. > They either realise they are being slow or let me pass. Shouting ‘Track’ is > not something I’ve heard of. Normally it’s ‘Left’ or ‘Right’. How does someone > know what to do from ‘Track’? > Perhaps it gets more impolite the more Pro you get?
Track is strictly a call for a rider to make when he is lapping another rider. Quite often in loop courses the experts will have to lap more than 1/3 of the sport fields. The last portion of the race becomes hairy – you run up on rider after rider that is going much slower than you are. They are blown and tired, and it can present problems for the faster lapping rider to try to pass. The problem with yelling left or right is that no one ever seems clear that means you are coming on the left or you want them to move left. That is exactly how I’ve been hosed many times. I yell track left and the rider moves left. Bang ! Many experts think the best way around this is to not say anything and just blow on by. I don’t share that opinion. And again, this has nothing to do with passing riders that are competing with you. The lapped rider is ‘lap down’ and often doesn’t even get to complete the course. — Dave Blake http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblake
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>All I am saying is that if you are being lapped, you yield >trail as soon as possible. If that means getting off your >bike so be it. Don’t even think about blocking a rider that >is lapping you.
I agree with that one however… >OTOH, if you are on the same lap as the rider >coming up from behind, the best line is fair game.
This depends on where you are in a race surely and if you know the other rider. If someones coming through like a steam train they are either a) fitter b) going to blow later in the race If it’s towards the end of a race, I quite often block when I can. If it’s at the start let the guy through and if you think you can sustain his pace, tuck in behind him as a pacer/wind break. Generally if I’m lower down in position and coming up on a slower rider or more than likely group of riders, I normally shout encouragement to speed up. They either realise they are being slow or let me pass. Shouting ‘Track’ is not something I’ve heard of. Normally it’s ‘Left’ or ‘Right’. How does someone know what to do from ‘Track’? Perhaps it gets more impolite the more Pro you get? — Micro Focus Ltd, Newbury, UK. | www: http://www.mfltd.co.uk/~scm/
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’. I have been > close to blows with a sport rider that cost me a win at a cyclocross > race by running me off the trail in the last lap after I yelled > ‘track’. If you are slow enough to get lapped, have enough common > sense to yield the trail as well. >Gee, I guess you have never been caught in a section of singletrack >where it is impossible or unsafe to pull off. > Although I would generally yell at the rider who wouldn’t yield > rather than push her down. That is in the wrong spirit. >Sorry, but yelling isn’t in the right spirit either. Try being polite >about it, and I think it will get you much farther. Yelling at other >riders, especially beginners, gives them a bad impression of the sport, >and does more damage to the sport than the satisfaction it gives you at >the time. > — > Dave Blake > http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblake >It is true that you have to yield to "track", but it is also the >responsibility of the passing rider to make the pass safely (see the >rulebook), and I have almost come to blows with people who insist on >yelling, screaming, and shouting obscenities (which is a violation of >the rules also. See unsportsmanlike conduct. And it makes you look bad >to your sponsor) I have seen people come up on a slower rider and just >start screaming, which is uncalled for. You have to give the slower >rider a chance to move to the side or find a safe place to pull over. >If you come upon a group, you can’t expect the front rider to pull off. >He has x number of people in his class behind him. You need to work >your way up through the group from the back. >It is just a race. People need to mellow out. I am on the verge of >quitting racing because there are so many ass holes out there who take >themselves too seriously. You would never see true professionals such >as Tomac, Tinker, Overend, Furtado, etc yelling and screaming at slower >riders, and they are the only ones who would have the right to. Racing >pays their bills. Does it pay yours? No, then it is just a hobby. Why >don’t you read the Maynard Herson article in the last VeloNews, if you >want to see how true professionals act. Promoters can improve things by >starting the classes in better orders, but there is never any excuse for >acting like a jerk. >Sorry Dave, none of this is directed at you, I just had a very bad >experience this past weekend with some real ass hole racers and need to >vent. I was leading a group through a singletrack section, which was >catching people (by the top of the hill, I was behind about 5 other >riders), and three (one of which I know) riders from another class >caught us and immediately started yelling and cussing. When I did find >a good place to let people by, I looked back and I had a 50 yard gap. >When we hit the road, the guy I knew, who had been yelling specifically >at me, got two spots in front of me and stayed there for a mile. At >least the other two jerks passed as many people as they could. When we >hit the next section of singletrack he started yelling at the guy in >front of him, even though he just got through a section where he could >have passed, and didn’t. >jcb
hey I thought I was the only asshole in singletrack My first races (and I bet it won’t be my last-I am trying) I yelled in the single track and I know why… there were slow butt-heads NOT tracking for me, and I could easily ride this singletrack… these jerkys were walking, not running. My adrenaline was WAAYY up there and that set me off. It is my lack of control over my own adrenaline rush, and since I couldn’t boil it off with my legs I spewed garbage from my mouth. I need to fix that, but I bet that is a major problem for some type A personalities. As a cyclist races more they will regret these episodes and hopefully mellow and deal. I know I have mellowed some and it helps me retain energy, so when I finally do get clear, I make up lost time even better. I still need to get used to high-adrenaline high-frustration races until I can be the first into the singletrack every time (yah, right, can that actually happen ??? not yet by far !!) it doesn’t mean the rider is a jerk, just too focused and frustrated, and loaded with energy. but yelling gets you less than nowhere, yelling sets you back, always !!
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’. > Yes, but that’s different from "riders being passed", which was the situation > in the original description. > The original post clearly stated that one rider was lapping another. > — > Dave Blake > http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblakeHere’s the official rules for lapping from the NORBA 1996 Competition
Guide, section 5.12.3: "Lapped riders must yield to leaders. Riders should voice the command "Track" when overtaking another. It is the responsibility of the challenging rider to overtake safely. You must yield to the passing rider on the first command." That should help clear things up! Brian Svehla
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>Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’.
Yes, but that’s different from "riders being passed", which was the situation in the original description. — [Hayden, ID] Motorcycles, mountain bikes, labradors, … O-
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> >Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’. > Yes, but that’s different from "riders being passed", which was the situation > in the original description.
The original post clearly stated that one rider was lapping another. — Dave Blake http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblake
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> Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’. I have been > close to blows with a sport rider that cost me a win at a cyclocross > race by running me off the trail in the last lap after I yelled > ‘track’. If you are slow enough to get lapped, have enough common > sense to yield the trail as well.
Gee, I guess you have never been caught in a section of singletrack where it is impossible or unsafe to pull off. > Although I would generally yell at the rider who wouldn’t yield > rather than push her down. That is in the wrong spirit.
Sorry, but yelling isn’t in the right spirit either. Try being polite about it, and I think it will get you much farther. Yelling at other riders, especially beginners, gives them a bad impression of the sport, and does more damage to the sport than the satisfaction it gives you at the time. > — > Dave Blake > http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblake
It is true that you have to yield to "track", but it is also the responsibility of the passing rider to make the pass safely (see the rulebook), and I have almost come to blows with people who insist on yelling, screaming, and shouting obscenities (which is a violation of the rules also. See unsportsmanlike conduct. And it makes you look bad to your sponsor) I have seen people come up on a slower rider and just start screaming, which is uncalled for. You have to give the slower rider a chance to move to the side or find a safe place to pull over. If you come upon a group, you can’t expect the front rider to pull off. He has x number of people in his class behind him. You need to work your way up through the group from the back. It is just a race. People need to mellow out. I am on the verge of quitting racing because there are so many ass holes out there who take themselves too seriously. You would never see true professionals such as Tomac, Tinker, Overend, Furtado, etc yelling and screaming at slower riders, and they are the only ones who would have the right to. Racing pays their bills. Does it pay yours? No, then it is just a hobby. Why don’t you read the Maynard Herson article in the last VeloNews, if you want to see how true professionals act. Promoters can improve things by starting the classes in better orders, but there is never any excuse for acting like a jerk. Sorry Dave, none of this is directed at you, I just had a very bad experience this past weekend with some real ass hole racers and need to vent. I was leading a group through a singletrack section, which was catching people (by the top of the hill, I was behind about 5 other riders), and three (one of which I know) riders from another class caught us and immediately started yelling and cussing. When I did find a good place to let people by, I looked back and I had a 50 yard gap. When we hit the road, the guy I knew, who had been yelling specifically at me, got two spots in front of me and stayed there for a mile. At least the other two jerks passed as many people as they could. When we hit the next section of singletrack he started yelling at the guy in front of him, even though he just got through a section where he could have passed, and didn’t. jcb
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >The > >whole experience was a really positive one. Everyone I met was friendly > >and there just for a good time, although I did hear about one jerk (in a > >younger division) who was going to lap a female rider, but couldn’t get > >past her on the singletrack, so he pushed her off the trail and took off > >past her. That, however, was the only negative on what was a really > >exciting, fun experience. > Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’. I have been > close to blows with a sport rider that cost me a win at a cyclocross > race by running me off the trail in the last lap after I yelled > ‘track’. If you are slow enough to get lapped, have enough common > sense to yield the trail as well. > Although I would generally yell at the rider who wouldn’t yield > rather than push her down. That is in the wrong spirit. > — > Dave Blake > http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblake
The lady in question wasn’t being lapped. The 14-18 yr old riders started the race one minute behind the beginner women, and the woman was caught up to on the first lap. You can question the start rder of the race, but the woman did nothing wrong, and certainly nothing to deserve what she got. "The purpose of life is to fight maturity" Bob Winning Dept. of Biology Eastern Michigan University
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> >The >whole experience was a really positive one. Everyone I met was friendly >and there just for a good time, although I did hear about one jerk (in a >younger division) who was going to lap a female rider, but couldn’t get >past her on the singletrack, so he pushed her off the trail and took off >past her. That, however, was the only negative on what was a really >exciting, fun experience.
Riders being lapped must yield trail to the call of ‘track’. I have been close to blows with a sport rider that cost me a win at a cyclocross race by running me off the trail in the last lap after I yelled ‘track’. If you are slow enough to get lapped, have enough common sense to yield the trail as well. Although I would generally yell at the rider who wouldn’t yield rather than push her down. That is in the wrong spirit. — Dave Blake http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~dblake
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I have now completed my first two mtb races. 17th/74 and 19th/98. And I must say I felt I could have been in top ten in both races had the less experienced riders/racers been placed further back at the start. It is frustrating to train hard, every weekend, then to race and wind up behind someone one who is a beginning rider. I will definitely push my way to the front next time to get a good start. With all due respect to the slower beginners, of course. later, D
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A couple of weeks ago, I broke my rear derailleur 6 miles from the end of a cross country. While running to the finish (I _hate_ quitting) I caught a beginner cat. racer who was finishing their shorter loop. I started yelling encouragement to him, mostly because I had all this race adrenaline and nowhere to put it. After complaining a couple of times that he was cramping up (followed by more yelling from me ) he put down all the hammer he could muster and rode away. After the race he came up and thanked me for yelling at him; he said three guys had come in together less than a minute behind him, but that he hung on for 3rd. That wasn’t his first race, but his story definitely cooled down my frustration at having to run my bike in… That’s what it’s all about, imho. I hope he wins the next one… Happy trails, Ben
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I did my first race two weeks ago and I concure whole heartedly that Mountain bike racing is just plain fun. Not too many jerks in the race I entered and it was fun suffering along with everybody else on the long hillclimbs. Had so much fun, I just signed up for my next race. I’m a beginner in the Vet class. Is there such an animal as a beginner in these races? I thought I was pretty fit until I saw what shape everybody else was in. I plan to train harder, hard to do with a family and a full time job, but I’m determined to do better the next time out.
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I just started racing again ( beginner class) after trying a few times last year. I too have seen very sportsman like behavior ( lending of tools to a compeditor) to somebody who was damn near booed off the track ( mid twenty rider cursing at a 12 year old who was doing his best trying to get up a stiff climb) I dont know if he crashed later ( one can hope) but the public humility of being booed by 100 or so fans that saw it take place hopefully will stick with him. Mike
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>The >whole experience was a really positive one. Everyone I met was friendly >and there just for a good time, although I did hear about one jerk (in a >younger division) who was going to lap a female rider, but couldn’t get >past her on the singletrack, so he pushed her off the trail and took off >past her. That, however, was the only negative on what was a really >exciting, fun experience.
There are always a few sore-heads around to mar what is otherwise an absolute gas, whatever your age or ability level. Last season, in my first race, before I graduated to clipless pedals, I had to dab in some gnarly single track and had the age old problem getting my foot back in the toe clip. I tried to be polite and move over, but it was narrow and tree lined. A young female who had to stop and unclip to avoid me had some really choice things to say. Well, excuse me, but this was beginner class, after all. Later in the race, going downhill, the same lady had an unforced crash and put about 3 people behind her in the woods, me included. What goes around comes around. I’m sticking to beginner class until I get some semblance of competence, and I expect and am on the defensive for beginner mistakes from myself and others. Move up to sport if you don’t want clods like me in your way. — Doug Taylor
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> For those who have never raced a mountain bike race, I highly recommend > it. It’s friendly and loads of fun. > The race was the Sizzler Classic in San Jose, Northern California. If > anything, it teaches you new skills and it pushes you to your limits of > endurance. It was my first race ever in the beginner’s class Vet > division. > I learned one thing, there are no true beginners in these races. I came > in 36 out of about 65 in my division and fell below mid-pack as far as > times goes in a field of about 300 competitors in the beginner’s class. > You really know where you stand amoung the beginner’s. It’s alot > different than the Sunday morning rides with the boys. It’s 100% all the > way, a bonk waiting on every hill, legs cramping, fast decents, knarly > singletrack and during this time of the year, MUD. I’m hooked and I > loved every minute of it. > I finished 39th in beginner Vet Mens. I was the guy who endoed off the > bridge. Where would I have finished with that 5 minutes I lost? I’ll > find out next year! > MTB racing is great fun. You push your fitness and skills. It forces you > to improve. And everyone is friendly. I’ll bet 65th had fun.
I have to echo everything on this thread. I rode in my first race yesterday (also beginner class, vet division) and it was a blast! It’s surprising what you can accomplish when you are pushed to your limits. The whole experience was a really positive one. Everyone I met was friendly and there just for a good time, although I did hear about one jerk (in a younger division) who was going to lap a female rider, but couldn’t get past her on the singletrack, so he pushed her off the trail and took off past her. That, however, was the only negative on what was a really exciting, fun experience. Oh, and my wife wound up being the very last finisher in the beginner race (the equivalent of the 65th rider mentioned above) and she had a great time! "The purpose of life is to fight maturity" Bob Winning Dept. of Biology Eastern Michigan University
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > For those who have never raced a mountain bike race, I highly recommend > it. It’s friendly and loads of fun. > The race was the Sizzler Classic in San Jose, Northern California. If > anything, it teaches you new skills and it pushes you to your limits of > endurance. It was my first race ever in the beginner’s class Vet > division. > I learned one thing, there are no true beginners in these races. I came > in 36 out of about 65 in my division and fell below mid-pack as far as > times goes in a field of about 300 competitors in the beginner’s class. > You really know where you stand amoung the beginner’s. It’s alot > different than the Sunday morning rides with the boys. It’s 100% all the > way, a bonk waiting on every hill, legs cramping, fast decents, knarly > singletrack and during this time of the year, MUD. I’m hooked and I > loved every minute of it.
I finished 39th in beginner Vet Mens. I was the guy who endoed off the bridge. Where would I have finished with that 5 minutes I lost? I’ll find out next year! MTB racing is great fun. You push your fitness and skills. It forces you to improve. And everyone is friendly. I’ll bet 65th had fun. — Ed Murphy The views and opinions expressed in this posting were implanted in my brain by an extraterrestrial pre-invasion force.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->For those who have never raced a mountain bike race, I highly recommend >it. It’s friendly and loads of fun. >The race was the Sizzler Classic in San Jose, Northern California. If >anything, it teaches you new skills and it pushes you to your limits of >endurance. It was my first race ever in the beginner’s class Vet >division. >I learned one thing, there are no true beginners in these races. I came >in 36 out of about 65 in my division and fell below mid-pack as far as >times goes in a field of about 300 competitors in the beginner’s class. >You really know where you stand amoung the beginner’s. It’s alot >different than the Sunday morning rides with the boys. It’s 100% all the >way, a bonk waiting on every hill, legs cramping, fast decents, knarly >singletrack and during this time of the year, MUD. I’m hooked and I >loved every minute of it.
I can relate! I stumbled upon my first race last year and fell in love with the sport. You are correct when you say that it is much different then your everyday group rides. Racing is very hard core and extremely fun!! I can’t wait for Sunday when my next race is scheduled. TTYL, ROg! Member TEAM OS/2 and proud of it!! Running WARP Fullpack on a Packard Bell 486DX2-50 and loving it! (My other PC is a Pentium!) If it weren’t for this darned computer, I’d be Mountain biking!!
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For those who have never raced a mountain bike race, I highly recommend it. It’s friendly and loads of fun. The race was the Sizzler Classic in San Jose, Northern California. If anything, it teaches you new skills and it pushes you to your limits of endurance. It was my first race ever in the beginner’s class Vet division. I learned one thing, there are no true beginners in these races. I came in 36 out of about 65 in my division and fell below mid-pack as far as times goes in a field of about 300 competitors in the beginner’s class. You really know where you stand amoung the beginner’s. It’s alot different than the Sunday morning rides with the boys. It’s 100% all the way, a bonk waiting on every hill, legs cramping, fast decents, knarly singletrack and during this time of the year, MUD. I’m hooked and I loved every minute of it.
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