My first bike race was back in 1994- L.B. Houston. I won't mention the name of my riding buddy back then (Scott Traube), but he and I as newbies jumped into this "racing thing" without asking any questions. I know I could have used a word of wisdom or two. I am just a novice and still learning, and hope I always will. Making mistakes or figuring out weaknesses, learning from them, improving the next time is one of the fun aspects of mountain bike racing for me. I think even the long time bike racer legends learn something new every race. Here are some of my mistakes.
Mistake #1- At that first L.B. Houston race, we could enter any skill level we wished, (Beginner, Sport, or Expert) To us Beginner meant, "first timer" or "you've been riding a department store mountain bike for a month". Sport meant, "intermediate" and Expert meant, "Pro". Both Scott and I had been riding for a couple of years at that point in time. We knew we were definitely not "Pro" and we also felt since we had been riding for a while, we were not "first timers" so we decided that we were intermediate level and we entered the Sport race.
Lesson Learned #1- Unless you are a Cat 1 or 2 roadie, start your first race as beginner... find out why later.
Mistake #2- We packed every bike tool and gadget that we owned or could borrow into the back of my trunk and headed to the race. From the time we arrived at the venue until 10 minutes prior to the start of the race, I un-tightened and re-tightened everything on my bike. (Nervous energy)
Lesson Learned #2- Make sure your bike is working and tuned-up the day before the race. There is no "last minute maintenance" that you can do that will make you go faster.
Mistake #3- We got to the starting line and heard the starting person yell out terms like "Senior 1, Senior 2, Master 1 Veterans..." it was like listening to someone talking in a foreign language. Needless to say, we didn't know what age group we were with, someone looked at our number plates and said "guys, you were supposed to start with the group that left 20 seconds ago." So off we went, pedaling hard, attempting to catch our age group as the rest of the racers on the line laughed at us. It was very humiliating.
Lesson Learned #3- Familiarize yourself with what age group you are in when you register and don't be scared to ask others around you on the starting line if you are in the right place. DORBA and some TMBRA races have started "staging" the age groups at our races, which helps to organize age groups and prevent situations like this from happening.
Mistake #4- Sport racers are fast, screaming fast. There is a term in mountain biking called DFL (Dead Fluting Last) and that's exactly what place I came in. In fact... every single Veteran, Master, Junior and Lady Sport racer that started after me past me, some of them passed me twice. To make a sad situation even sadder... they had started the beginner race and some of those groups caught and passed me. I remember crossing the finish line, my bike and I fell over onto the ground and I laid there for about an hour before I could move again.
Lesson Learned #4- See Mistake/Lesson Learned from #1 The Beginner race is very fast, don't let the name fool you!
Even with my humiliating experience my first race, I enjoyed the challenge and continued participating in DORBA and TMBRA races. Back then it was not formally TMBRA, but most of the same exact venues or promoters are still around today. After I graduated college in 1996, I got a job, stopped racing (96Õ Cedar Hill was my last race), and got fat, dumb and happy. I got back into racing Spring 1999 at 240 lbs. I am down to 178 lbs. today. ( I should do a mountain biking - weight loss infomercial ). I am still dumb and happy. AnywayÉ
Mistake #5- This one didn't happen to me, but a guy I know. His first race he filled his camelback all the way up with full strength Gatorade. (got really inspired watching too many Michael Jordan commercials or something) 1/2 way through the race he was on the side of the trail throwing up Gatorade. (after you throw up, you run a risk of serious dehydration/heat realted illnesses, so if you do throw up get some h2o and help ASAP!)
Lesson Learned #5- For a 10 mile beginner race take a full camelback of WATER. It is also good to have a bottle or two of extra water in your bike bottle cages. If you do plan to take an energy drink, put it in a bottle and carry 5 times more water than energy drink. PRACTICE drinking energy drinks/gel-gu packs during a hard training workout rides several weeks prior to your race.
Lesson Learned #6- The start of every mountain bike race is CHAOTIC. Your Heart Rate goes from 30% to 100% in 10 seconds. Take it easy your first couple of races, especially if you have a big age group. Get in the back of the pack and watch out for potential wrecks/pileups, the race pack thin's out after the first mile or two and you can then start passing. After a few races and you are used to the crazy starts, get aggressive and get out front (There's more action in the front of mountain bike race start than a Jacky Chan flick!)
Lesson Learned #6- Treat your bike race as just another ride. Eat a well-balanced dinner and breakfast as you do every day. Try to eat about 2-3 hours prior to riding/racing. Get a good night of sleep. There is nothing you can eat, sleep, or do that will make you any faster the next day. Take it easy the day before a race. If you pre-ride a venue, take it slow.
Lesson Learned #7- Run Mr. Tuffy's, Slime, Spin Skins, or some sort of anti-flatting deal in your tires. Beginner races are typically 45 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes long. If you flat, you have little to no chance to place decently. Sure, anti-flat devices are extra rotational weight but youÕll be happier finishing a race without flatting. (I know an expert racer who actually practices changing flats once a week as a part of his training regiment and has his time down to 2 minutes for the back wheel, 1:30 for the front.)
Lesson Learned #8 - Once you have a 2 or 3 races under your belt, start making goals for placing better, and the training you'll need to accomplish those goals. You may come in 30th one race and 15th the next but compare that to the # of people in your age class that are on the starting line with you (30th out of 100 riders is not too shabby, 30th out of 30 riders is another story). Another "gauge" I have used is "time off the leader". For the first race of one season I was 30 minutes off the leader, by the end of that season, I was 7 minutes off the leader, i.e. I had improved.
Most races have festive atmosphere. It is fun to go to races, camp out, spectate the events, and talk with people. You'll meet new friends from across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Missouri.
Most importantly... have fun! Learn something new and improve upon your mistakes/weaknesses the next race. Good Luck to you.
Aurthor: Tobin Behling