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MOUNTAIN BIKING
Getting Ready for the Racing Season
By Ian Beilby
 Photo by Darryl Caron |
The number of mountain bike races and racers in the Adirondack Region is growing steadily over the past couple of years with at least six major events in the Park last year. I think the reason for this growth is that mountain biking is such a blast and there are so many types of races out there, riders are naturally drawn to compete just for the fun of it. Think about it, you probably have a mountain bike you ride several times a week. When you go out with your friends you can't help but race each other up everyone's favorite gut wrenching climb, pausing at the top, and then racing down to the bottom. Why not race against some riders you may not know and test yourself a little?
Let's say you're now thinking about doing that first race, you immediately wonder "how do I find one?" There are quite a few online resources with race schedules, I've included a list at the end of the article. There are also print publications such as the one you're reading now, VeloNews, and Dirt Rag, all of which can be found at your local bike shop (LBS). Or, just check for flyers at your LBS – you'll find that I refer you to LBS a lot in this article since they are a great resource for most bike related activities in their area. Another resource is the local bike club. Members are always happy to share their experiences and offer advice. Making contact with a club will open up training ride opportunities, and also assure you that you recognize a few faces when you get to the race.
Now that you have an idea of when and where these races are, you need to decide which one(s) to do. Here you may have to do a little research. Give the race contact (promoter) a call to learn: what is the course description, how technical is it, how much climbing per lap, what categories are there, what are the distances for the category you are likely to be participating in, how much does it cost, and are any racing licenses required? Usually the promoter will send you a flyer or refer you to a website that contains this information. In making your decision, weigh your strengths and weaknesses and see if they match the course description. If you consider yourself a good technical rider, choosing a race with a technical course will probably be an ego boost. I guarantee that whatever race you choose to do will be a learning experience.
Now you're probably trying to figure out what you need to do to get ready for this race that you've committed to. Training is number one and there are hundreds of books and articles written on the subject. I'll keep it simple. Do lots of miles, preferably on a road bike this time of year to build your endurance. Keep the intensity low with one or two hard rides during the week. When the weather permits, get on the mountain bike to hone those offroad skills. The more saddle time you have before the event, the more confident you will be going into it and the better you will feel during the race.
About a week before your race start thinking about your bike and how it's running. Take the opportunity to fix anything that may give you problems. Considering all the effort you've put in up to this point, you don't want to get to the start line with a sloppy deraileur jumping shifts. At the same time you should also make sure to stock up on your favorite type of energy drinks, bars, or gels that you will need to get through it. If it's a short race (less than one hour), you probably won't need much more than water.
Two nights before the race make sure you eat well, including lots of carbohydrates – don't experiment with anything new. I say two nights because that's generally the food utilized during the race, not food from the night before.
It's now the night before your first race and you're nervous. Make sure you have everything packed, don't wait until your alarm goes off late and you have to cram everything into a bag at the last minute. Early preparation will make the day of the race go a lot smoother. The equipment list should include proper clothing, some carefully selected tools to carry during the race, spare tube and small pump or CO2 system, and a helmet. You can't race without a helmet. Also, make sure you know how to get to the event and how long it's going to take to drive there.
The morning of the race, be sure to eat a good breakfast comprised mostly of carbs, but again, don't eat anything unusual. I always bring a gallon of water just to be sure that I have all that's needed, and don't have to worry about getting it along the way or at the race. Pack your vehicle and hit the road with all the stuff you packed the night before.
Once you get there, find the registration tent, check in to get your number and double check the starting time of your race to ensure everything is on schedule. Then you know how much time you have to warm up. Take as much time as you can to warm up and see if you can pre-ride the course to check it out. Mountain bike races start fast – think of a bunch of kids hearing the "recess" bell ring after three hours of spelling class – if you have a good sweat going at the start you'll be more likely to keep up during the first couple of miles.
The most important thing to remember is that no matter how well prepared you are for this race, it's going to be a huge learning experience. The more races you do the better you will get. That's why it's important just to get out there, have fun, and do your best!
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RESOURCES Clubs: Organizations: Publications: Miscellaneous |
Ian Beilby has been racing mountain bikes in the region since 1993
and is the current president of Capital Bicycle Racing Club. He works
as an engineer for the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation in Albany.
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