So, it looks like I’ll be riding a local XC race tomorrow evening.
This’ll be my first bike race in 30 years, so what could possibly go wrong?

My race strategy is:
1) Don’t die.
2) Finish.
3) Beat my 19yr old cousin (I’m 31yrs older than him).

My tactics will kinda depend on what happens on the day.

Is a water bottle and small seat pack / hip-pack acceptable, or would I be better off wearing a race vest?

I’m assuming there’s no rules against wearing a checked shirt & shin protection?

Apparently a SS, drop-barred, fully rigid 29er isn’t the very best choice for this race, so I’ll be riding this:

I realise I’ve left it a bit late to get any specific training done, but are there any last minute tips I need to take on?

😛

Try not to let anyone see your bike.

Wear what work for you.

How long is it? At this stage food/hydration and pacing are about all you can do.

A wee spin with a few spin-sprints the night before will get your legs fresh, a decent arm up (especially if its a short race) too – get your HR up to race level over 10m or so as close to the start as you can.

No idea, but I’m entered into an enduro end of September and I’ve not raced in 18 months, and barely ridden this year. I haven’t even got the bike built yet!

im going for the approach of a load of beers the night before and then try and hang on…. 😆

Get to the start line on time.

Elbows out til corner one. Get a good start. But don’t get a red mist and blow yourself out mid race. Set a pace you know that you can maintain. Plenty of others will go off too quickly and you’ll pull them in later in the race. You just have to trust that this will happen and not panic, thinking you’ll come last.

Works for me anyway.

Oh… and enjoy it! That’s the main thing.

Is this Halden round 3 ?

Should be:

a) Boom!
b) I feel sick
c) I can’t do this any more (half way through)
d) I’m **** but I might make it
c) I can catch that guy in front of me before the line… grrr

If you think you can hold the pace you’re doing, you’re going too slowly.
If you think you can’t hold the pace, you’re going to quickly.
If you’re not sure if you can hold it or not, you’re about right.

Stay about 2 metres behind your cousin until the last 150 metres then open the burners and breeze past. Beating them is so much more fun if there’s an added sense of injustice.

effort gauge needs to be between

– I think I’m going to be sick
and
– I’ve just been sick

and then hold as close to that as you can for the duration.

Don’t forget to fuel your body before the race (cake).
And also re-hydrate afterwards (beer).

Apart from that, just have fun 😀