How many races is too many?

I have 19 in my diary, 16 short course, 2 x 24’s and a 12 hour solo.

Thing is they are all MTB and I’ll like to get some road challenges in – TT’s and a couple of sportives.

I may be tired by the end of the year…

If you’ve got time to recover, time to train and the knowledge about how to do both. You could probably do the same again in road events. At least.

Guess it depends on how well you want to do in them. How much volume you can handle. What’s your recovery like.

For example, I’m getting on a bit so my recovery isn’t great. I also don’t have much time to train and would like to do as well as possible in the races I do, so I try and be as specific as possible. Also have to juggle that around family time so racing every weekend isn’t doable. So racing volume for me will be relatively low. Evening local club TT’s are a good way to get in some racing time though.

You could do that many races in a 5 month CX season and take the other 7 months off.

for me personally?

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yunki – Member

for me personally?

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Yeah me too, I used to race occasionally, it took away everything I love about riding bikes.

I think if you’ve mentally divided them into an one A race, a few B races and the rest are C then it’d be fine. If you are mentally thinking they’re all A then you might have a bit of an issue.

Using races to train for races isn’t a bad idea in itself so I think it all depends on how you approach them.

sweaman2 – yes I am prioritising and periodising as well. This needs to fit in with family and work, but the TT’s I see as riding efforts to supplement my MTB race fitness rather than podium goals, so almost “D”.

Edit: That ^ all happens between March and end of August is actually only 5 months I’ve realised – loads more time!

I think I did 27 or 28 in 2014 (not including midweek crits).I did’nt do any in 2015 (or much riding at all tbh).I suspect the two things are closely linked.

19 would burn me out, each to their own, but given your previous angst on racing,is this wise?

Did something like 22 DH races one season. All SDA, Dragons, NPS and Midlands that didn’t clash. That’s full weekends from Friday to Sunday in the van, pack Thursday, sort kit Monday. Fun but pretty tough to fit in.

Haven’t raced in years now but loving riding more than ever now my mediocrity isn’t being timed.

but given your previous angst on racing

What angst? Unless my memory fails me that was about Crits, not MTB.

I overdid it year before last, I think it was a mix of the number of events and just how packed together they were at times. I think that was about 18 over the year. They just stopped being as much fun- it’s like after 12 or thereabouts, it’s the same amount of enjoyment just stretched over more weekends. And I got very demanding– ended up sacking off 2 race days entirely after practice just because I didn’t think the event was worth doing, I’ve only ever done that once before.

The last race is always the one too many. You’ll know when you do it.

96 races for me last year. I only counted them all after Christmas if i’d known i was close to 100 i’d have made an effort to get there. Although in saying that it is an inflated figure due to 2/3rd being track league related and doing 3 races in the one evening but i dont think its necessarily a bad thing racing that much (apart from the cost of entry fees). Dont expect to peak every race just treat it as good fun and part of your training.

March to August? What about the rest of the season?

August is school/family holiday time, and I haven’t planned winter yet. The above is me periodising to my summer target races.

Sounds fine as long as you can handle it and accept you won’t be at your best for all of them. Use some as training and pick some to be competive in. You may find you need to rest a little more in between. I lean on the side of training more to address weakness. You can’t really work on specifics in a race as the conditions, speed etc is dictated for you.sure you’ll get fitter but its difficult to turn a personal weakness around…which are ultimately what holds you back from progression in races.

With a family that’s a lot of commitment , my wife has a tendency to agree in advance and closer to my departure become less supportive !

Tell you wife you’re doing 30 and each week say…I’m going to miss this race and spend some time with you!

I would have thought ‘too many’ was the point at which they start compromising your proformance and results by not hinging you E ought one to recover, train, etc

Depends on your shoulder? Would have thought that unless you have made a serious effort on rehab to address the underlying problem that you might have some issues with that.

Its not a lot

Adsh – Im having physio on it. The knots – which we discovered are all down the left side of my spine are almost all gone, but he found the underlying problem which that I have three “frozen” vertebrae probably caused by trauma of prior injuries. Those are being worked on currently.

In fairness 2 24s and the 12h will take some recovery. I manage loads of racing in Autumn but then it is easy to race a couple of hill climbs in a weekend and mix in some CX races as they are only short.

Bottled it on entering road races on consecutive days last year. I could probably hang on but I wouldn’t be competitive.

What’s your objective?
If you just like turning up and riding races (a lot of people do) it might be fine. If you actually have some specific targets you want to hit, you need to make sure that list of events is going to help you achieve that; ie they help you build the fitness and skills you need at the right time and don’t overload you when you need to peak. The point made above about mental load is a good one. If you do have specific targets, don’t treat every race as life or death, and save your real focus for the ones that are important to you

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“What angst?”

Seriously? There’s usually some in every one of your many threads.

Personally not factoring in all the other stuff you mention I only been able to do 1 x 24 solo a year. They take too much out of me physical & logistical but I am edging toward 49 with 4 kids :-0

If you can do them then go for it I would.