Ive got my first xc race coming up and dont know what to expext. anyone got any tips?

pedal faster 🙂

Expect to wonder where everyone went at the start 😉

Be prepared for a whole world of pain. 😀

Prepare bike and kit well in advance.
Turn up, everyone will look faster than you but don’t worry.
Warm up
Ride the course, look for lines and places to overtake and points where you’ll need to change gear. Just avoids surprises.
Listen to the marshal.
Don’t start too far back.
Don’t start too far ahead.
Race smooth
Don’t kill yourself trying to overtake, do it smoothly with efficiency.
Give it some on the last lap it’s only a few minutes of your life.
Stay around afterwards
Do better next time.

Don’t have someone hook your bars at the start causing you to crash closely followed by 30 odd people riding over you, although it does get the adrenaline going.

Sort your bike before hand. Don’t leave anything to do ‘on the day’.

Make sure you know where everything is, don’t just assume that your multitool is still somewhere in the boot of your car.

Enjoy it.

Train much, much harder as unless you’re some sort of riding god you’ll realise you’re not as fit as you thought you were 😀

You are talking about a race race aren’t you? i.e 45 minutes of speed.

Start out (really) hard and try to grab onto someone’s wheel who is a bit faster than you. I was fortunate enough to do one of my first races with a quicker mate who basically dragged me round the race as I sat on his back wheel following his lines.

Iain

Slipstream on the fireroads as much as you can. I discovered this when a fellow racer did it to me. After i did all the work to the top of the fireroad climb he poped out and ahead of me into the singletrack, with fresher legs than me. Has never happend since though! 🙂

BMX style gate start, make sure you have the legs to keep it until you’re out of sight from the start.

At least all the spectators will think you’re a hero.

Remember how many laps there are.

Don’t chase a bunch down and sit on their wheel thinking you have another lap to take them, only to find that you have just DONE the last lap 🙄

oldgit – Member

Remember how many laps there are.

Don’t chase a bunch down and sit on their wheel thinking you have another lap to take them, only to find that you have just DONE the last lap

I’ve not raced for years but I was never, ever in any doubt how far it was to the finish 🙂

I’ve forgotten in numerous crits, but never in a mountain bike race, they’re rarely more than about 8 laps, even for a very short course!

njee20 – Member
I’ve forgotten in numerous crits, but never in a mountain bike race, they’re rarely more than about 8 laps, even for a very short course!

Are you racing the Gorrick at Swinley this year?

The Gorrick Enduro?

Yes, I’ll do the 3 lap one, great event!

Cool. I’ll say hello if I see you.

I might do the 5 or 7 this year, but I’m doing the Berks 100 the week before so I may change my mind yet.

After getting beaten up on an HT in the super dry Swinley last year, I’m not sure whether the FS or the new super comfy (and light) Enigma is the way to go…..

Anyway OP my advice, ride at your own best pace, having trained and worked out your average and don’t get dragged into someone elses comfort zone. Totally agree about the last lap – give it all you have as you don’t need anymore energy than it takes to lift up a dirty burger once over the finish line. I didn’t do that last year and after I finished, discovered a 1 min 30 difference would have gained me 5 places!

I’ve not raced for years but I was never, ever in any doubt how far it was to the finish

said a wise man.

Don’t let anyone with grey hair precede you into a descent or technical singletrack section.

Don’t let anyone with grey hair precede you into a descent or technical singletrack section.

My arse.

To finish first, first you have to finish.

Garry_Lager – Member
Don’t let anyone with grey hair precede you into a descent or technical singletrack section

On that very 2011 Gorrick I was mentioning earlier, a grey hair gent pulled up beside me and said “mind if I ride next to you and chat for a bit, I’m trying to pace myself”. 10 mins later he shot off. He was doing 7 laps (100k) to my 3 😳

There are only TWO rules in XC (and CX) racing:

Try to catch the person in front of you.
Try to drop the person behind you.

😉