[Closed] Mass start races / events... Your start line strategy?

Are you actually in with a shot of winning? If you are, then plant yourself right on the start line, and elbows into anyone who takes your line.

If you're not, amble over the line, chatting away and make up the time over the next few miles.

What sort of event?
Some are gridded, some it's a free for all to get position. If it's a free for can be a bit competitive in a passive aggressive way to get a decent place before the whistles even gone!
In my experience the argy-bargy level sort of depends on the distance to a pinch point and the width of the start. Normally get a bit of rubbing elbows

Start as near the front as I can. Go hard at the start and hang on. Wouldn't call it a scrum and cant say i have had any issues. What event are you thinking about

Never done one but I'd imagine it's:

1. Elbows out
2. Pedal like mad

In fact, I have done an XC race and that was bad enough with respect to those two points...

I have always started right at the back. Nice and friendly back there.

No I'm not in with a shout 😆
Entered the battle on the beach and just watched the start on YouTube.
I've actually been riding my arse off the last month with training so I'm feeling like I may as well give it my best shot.. Looks like it will be hard to make up places if you get a shit start.

For running, not bang at the front, but about a few rows back or go by the start pens/signage - many people seem oblivious to these.

I'm normally within the top 20% of finishers and more often that not know a lot of regular faces at the races so know who I want to beat or pace myself off if possible.

Second row on inside of first bend if I can. Flat out to make the single track before it chokes. Elbows optional.

Depends. In a short CX race then it's all elbows and red mist. In endurance stuff it is don't get stuck behind the overly optimistic fat middle aged bloke but stay calm. In the National marathon champs I got gridded - made my day even though I wasn't on the front row. At the 3 peaks I normally try and go forwards but everyone has over inflated ideas of ability. I normally make my way past huge numbers of people on the road and up the first hill.

Worth knowing the course. Some mtb endurance events funnel down real quick and if you aren't in the top 20 going into the single track you'll never see it again.

Just saw a youtube video. Don't sweat it. Not technical, loads of room. Don't get held up but you final position will reflect how good you are not how good your start is.

I've tried both steady away and up front for the Strathpuffer.

Steady away was OK. Get caught up in traffic here and there but nothing to bad.

Up front worked out better, my team wasn't expecting me back so quick though.

This was not as a solo, in that case I would of just been a steady Eddie.

I've never done a proper high speed mass start on a pushbike (megavalanche etc) but the 2 times I did it on a motorbike it was
a) Shite it
b) Continue to shite it as people fly past me
c) Generally be a moving chicane/danger to self and others.
I'm sure mountain biking would be the same.

Endurance XC race mass starts are totally different imo, I started from the absolute back of the glentress seven for the last 2 years, but you can move up pretty effortlessly up until it hits singletrack, I'd overtaken most folks by the top just by going 1% faster or whatever it may have been. I probably lost about a minute or so by being at the back, which for me is irrelevant so I leave the front for the keen uys. Obviously dependent on having a decent amount of passing space, 10UTB was much harder to pass (not helped by a large number of fit riders who couldn't descent at all)

I try to get as close to the front as I can if I'm not gridded, whistle blows I'm off like a greyhound for half a lap, get past a few times and then try to maintain what position I'm left with 🙂
Had a couple of races where bars & elbows have touched but to be fair in my experience everybody is trying to avoid it as the crashes at a start are not normally soft ones.
The starts are the only bit that makes me nervous.

I'm not a proper racer but the one time I was reasonably fit and motivated and decided to have a hack at it, I went like mad off the start, clipped bars with a rival, lost half the skin on my face, and by the time I'd got back up, got the bars back straight and got back on it was dead last.

Another time - this time on a SS - the start was a long gentle downhill straight, and despite spinning like a monkey having tinsel pulled out of its arse, hit the first bit of singletrack dead last.

The second was memorable because immediately in the ST was a short sharp rise, the sort you need a run at on a SS to clear. Which clearly I wasn't getting, so I hopped off and ran up the rough stuff at the side overtaking the stragglers spinning up in bottom gear. The abuse I got for not waiting my turn was fabulous! I wasn't aware it was a no overtaking race, certainly wasn't in the briefing notes.

So from my experience - it doesn't make any difference what you do but one method leaves you with a grin on your face and the other leaves you with no skin on it.

Red mist then:

1. Elbows out
2. Pedal like mad

Unless its a long event and you have an energy saving strategy. I work best with this, so I ride under Lactate threshold - the Burn - for long periods until I think its strategically appropriate to up the pace and overtake thoose that put to much in at the start.

I'd like to point out I haven't won anything yet and have one podium to my name (3rd) 😀

If you're not on the front row you're at a massive disadvantage. That said, don't start on the front if you don't belong there, in the nicest possible way! It'll miserable for you and everyone else! More satisfying to start at the back and try overtaking everyone!

Don't get on the front if you're not in with a chance of a high placing. The longer the race, then the less difference it makes - I've rolled over the start dead-last and still finished top-10 - it's quite satisfying to spend the day passing others and not being overtaken. Done it in a CX race too and managed to get up to the top-10 in a field of 100 in 1-hour, but I was cooked!

Depends on a lot...
The normal thing is if the call the fastest 50% forward 85% of the filled steps up.
If I'm feeling good and there is singletrack coming up in the first km I'll aim for front half probably on the outside to give me some space to move. On the last few I've know the courses and know that I can stay with the first bunch into the singletrack. The gap behind that then opens with all the people who can't quite get round corners 😉 I'll but a big gap into similar paced riders just by being in the right place. I'm also aware of my surroundings and try and be very easy to overtake which has means your not becoming the roadblock.

"pro elbows"

Start at the back and fall away from there. This is my technique. Works well as it keeps me out of bother.

Always found inside line better than outside when in numbers, you can lean on the rider next to you to make a little space. On the outside that doesn't work and more than a couple of times I've ended up being pushed wide and into the bushes. I've only done a couple of years racing so still learning.

Show me your warface!!!!!

No, not your cum face, your warface.

Nevermind.

I get close to the front, go like poop off a spade, hold on as long as possible and usually end up in the top 10. Seems to work for me!

Prefer the second row, behind a good starter as it gives you a cracking lead out, compared to being on the front. The longer the race the less it matters.

Battle on the beach should be great, that first run down the beach has got extra pieces in place this year to try and avoid the bottle necks. If you get a good start then stuck behind a sscx I'll apologise now 🙂

I did battle on the beach for the first time last year, and no I wasn't in with a chance!

The first twelve minutes were flat out down the beach, I have road raced in the past so am used to riding in a pack, I was in a bunch and when I glanced at my garmin I was doing 28mph.

Ultimately it was all fairly pointless as the first singletrack had a queue and we were all standing still for a while while it sorted itself out.

I've entered again for this year anyway as IT WAS AWESOME!!

Sounds like lots of people simply wave their willies on their way to the front 😀

Push to the front of the grid and go red-line from the gun to ensure that you're first to the singletrack.

Then concentrate on simitaneously holding back the pack behind you while not throwing up and/or passing out.

ETG, scourge of the Rockhopper South Fun Class, circa 1992.

Battle on the beach is a bit unique. Straight of the start you've got 3mls of flat beach possibly into a strong headwind. At the end of which there's a bottle neck !! It's a race so I'm presuming you're going to give it 100% and aiming for as good a result as your able. 1st or second or 301st against 302st every position counts or why enter a race ??
Get as close to the front row as you can, get into a group down the beach, don't do any work just hide, as you peel of the beach move forward and put in a spurt towards the sandy bank that takes you off the beach. This is the point were a bit of effort can save you minutes. Better to loose a few places getting a breather once your onto the trails rather than a couple of hundred by hanging back at the start and being stuck at every pinch point !! I'm not doing it this year but enjoy, its one of the U.K's best cycling events 😀

My tip would be not to try and push your way to the front of the grid. Enter from the front and back into the first row. You might get some grumbling, but it's a race.

Hummerlicious ^ great video edity, musicy thing. Nice. 🙂

Looks like fun!

Rancid beer facts get you some space.

Depends how far it is to the first single track section, as that's when you'll be stuck in a queue, but it really depends on how fast you are.
Do you prefer overtaking people or being overtaken? Starting slow and catching people all race is, I think better, as you always have someone ahead to chase.

Prefer the second row, behind a good starter as it gives you a cracking lead out, compared to being on the front.

no way! You're then concentrating on the person in front getting out of the way, infinitely better to have clear track! If races were 100m long I'd be pretty good! 🙁

Starting slow and catching people all race is, I think better, as you always have someone ahead to chase.

If you're quick off the mark,get as near to the front as possible,if you're a bimbler stay more at the back and pick them off at the inevitable bottleneck.

I make a mental note of all the people that tare-arse past me at the start and then try to predict where I will catch them.
Can be quite entertaining.

I 'race' 12 hour solos and always start at the back, makes no real difference in the long run. However, if anyone on a fat bike overtakes me I am mentally incapable of sitting behind them.

I try to keep out of peoples way and not get stuck behind the tossers that push to the front only to drop to a snails pace at the first climb and block the trail for anyone faster. 👿

Prefer the second row, behind a good starter as it gives you a cracking lead out, compared to being on the front.

Unlike njee I am crap at fast starts so would go with this and try and hold the wheel until things calm down a bit. I'm not slow but I wass surprised at how ridiculously fast XC race starts are. Definitely something to train for.

Road race mass starts are a lot more leisurely.

Start from the back.

Then I can claim no one passed me for nearly a lap...

🙂

See, I always go for the side on the outside of the 1st corner rather than the inside, the crash always happens as people take the shortest line through the 1st and T bone each other, they very rarely overshoot it and take you out if you're going around the outside.

I've used this technique for ages up to World Champs level CX and XC. Doesn't always work but mostly it does.

Having said that if it's a 3 mile straight I'd not opt for the front row unless there's no choice as you'll take a lot of wind.

Also, it's always worth giving it the berries from the start, it's the easiest place in the race to take 30-40 or 300-400 positions in a short space of time, try that once the race is under way!

I used to be very polite on the start line, but then caught too many people and got stuck behind them on the singletrack. Nowadays, I give it a bit of welly, and go backwards from thereonin.

I'm not slow but I wass surprised at how ridiculously fast XC race starts are. Definitely something to train for.

It's pretty nuts, think it was on svenness that the quote came up 'for a cx race it's the sprint at the start that can win it not the sprint at the end' same goes for mtb. One of my main reasons for racing cx this season was to get better at fast starts, as it's something hard to train for on your own.

It not just the speed but the aggression needed, you have to be really up for it and willing to hold position and barge/lean on people if necessary, if you aren't, however fast you are you'll get caught up.

I tend to start mid pack, and it amazes me how some people who are pretty slow are happy to barge to near the front, only to fumble to clip in when the whistle goes. That's something I need to learn to do next season- the barging not the fumbling 😆

I've done the Steve Knight method once or twice
1.) get gridded.
2.) Wait for the gun to go.
3.) Rapidly move backwards through the pack.
4.) Remember i'm not Steve Knight and as such won't be able to make up 30 places in 5 laps, panic and try and hold on to a top 20 position.

I don't use the Steve Knight method anymore.

(What happened to Steve?)

Don't get on the front if you're not in with a chance of a high placing.

This. Did a race last year where off the start the guy in 4th place rode the first bit of narrow singletrack like a granny on a shopping bike, the result being a queue of 20+ riders behind him getting increasingly annoyed, and the first 3 riding off into the distance.

It's pretty nuts, think it was on svenness that the quote came up 'for a cx race it's the sprint at the start that can win it not the sprint at the end' same goes for mtb. One of my main reasons for racing cx this season was to get better at fast starts, as it's something hard to train for on your own.

You haven't encountered the hard start intervals ref. the other thread yet then?

It not just the speed but the aggression needed, you have to be really up for it and willing to hold position and barge/lean on people if necessary, if you aren't, however fast you are you'll get caught up.

And confidence, which is my problem.

@kryton57 - the tr thread? Not done hard start intervals on tr., practised them in on a bit of fireroad, but however quick I am when I'm on my own, it's nothing like hearing 'you'll be started in the next 15 seconds... [b]BEEEP[/b]'

I don't think doing start intervals on the turbo compares.

Racing cross has sped up my reactions in terms of clipping in winding up to power etc, and my confidence/aggression has improved, whether it's improved enough we'll see in a few weeks!

For the first couple of events you do, try to aim to keep clear of the front couple of rows of "serious" folk who are used to riding in a big bunch at speed at the start of a race. It's bloody dangerous when people who aren't used to this start snaking about everywhere. Once you figure out where you end up results-wise, you'll get to know more where to start in the pack. Here's always a queue beyond the first few riders once the track narrows, don't worry you won't lose any places as everyone is in the same queue and only plonkers try to push past in a queue. Even elite XC races are a queue at the first trail section for everyone outside the top 20 or so... Just get used to it.

As I only ride CX intermittently, I don't have the points to get gridded so have enjoyed the challenge of starting at the back - encountered some really odd behaviours by some who try and prevent me passing. Same riding my fatbike in MTB races, but as the track points skywards, it's usually "Arrividerci!" from me!

encountered some really odd behaviours by some who try and prevent me passing

Assuming your not lapping them and you are in the same category why would they make it easy for you to pass?

I'll happily block the rider behind me through narrow singletrack, especially as my strength is climbing, if I can keep a competitor behind me on a technical descent (still not back up to full speed on descents after a bad crash a couple of years ago) it means I can often get a gap when it's flat or uphill.

I love the argy bargy at the start of the race, it's the most exciting bit! When else can 20 people race for a single gap without upsetting each other. Last man on the brakes can often get the hole shot.
The bike handling skills up the front are pretty decent so a bit of shoulders and elbows are a giggle. I think this is compared to road racing where contact often precedes something deeply unpleasant.

Its always easier to be overtaken than it is to overtake. Waiting in line to clear a singletrak section is a great way to lose places and time.
In a team event this does matter , in a solo , not so much.

Being able to track stand at the start will give you a few feet headstart on your competitors as you are able to put the power down from the first pedal stroke.If there are railings at the side at the start I also use them to lean against to get the same benefit. It is all very well saying you can make the places up later in the race but I found that when I have been racing against guys I know are similar in speed to me if I start behind them I will never catch them up again. They have got through the inevitable first bottle neck way quicker and then have a minute or so headstart.
One thing that does annoy me about racing here in Germany is that is acceptable to go screaming off before the start gun has gone off. 😐

Lots of the UK commisaires will insist every rider has at least one foot down at the start - I know a couple of them will insist on it and then as soon as the foot touches the ground will fire the gun!

Racing for position off or near the front of the start line to avoid the queue helped me start to podium occasionally. The wait may be the same for everyone who is waiting but it doesn't help you try and catch the leaders who aren't. It's a lot more painful to manage decline rather than negative splits but it's more competitive (unless you really over do it)