How to get into racing?

[bakkeb]

I've decided that I'm ready to start racing this year but I have no idea how to. What levels are there ? How much experience do you need? Do you need a sponsor? I definately want to do XC but I'm also interested in Cycle-cross. Help me fellow MORC members.:etard:

[Kevin Leis]

I raced for the first time last year, It was great. I started with just two events. I should have done more. Soon there should be a news paper style brochure out at bike shops that lists most of the events for the season. At least there was last season, it listed road and X/C races and rides. It contained all the contact information as well. Pick some events, put them on your calender, register, then train and have a good time. I found my two races to be highly motivating. There is nothing like the high from finding out you're not as slow as you thought or as humbling as watching people blow by as if you were standing still. Plus, racing makes riding the trainer indoors much more bearable. Also, I found that it was much less intimidating to race on a trail that I was very familiar with.

[nigel]

There are quite a few good events in MN and WI to race..... As far as knowing what level to race at, well there are...distances are rough guesses

beginner--(6 mile)brand new to racing, and often riding

sport--(12 mile)ride pretty good, like to race, can keep up a good pace

comp--(18 mile)soon to be expert guy, fast

expert--(24 mile)really fast, some should not be racing here since its no competition (you know who you are)

You might wanna try a beginner race just to see how the "feel" of racing is.....but if you ride a lot and have decent technical skills your a sport guy. you want to move up to the proper level as you get better.....or youll be a "sandbagger" who races easier levels than they should just so they can win! Thats no fun for anyone.

I would do a bunch of fast group rides too, that might give ya somewhat of a feel for trying to pass and stuff in singletrack. It really does take getting used to, and youhave to practice some moves. But then again you might get it right away too :)

The worst part of any racing is the start......its like 200 people funneling into a doorway!! So you want to get a good position in line, or you may want to hang back who knows. All I can say is get out and try one for sure! might wanna do beginner just to be safe...you might even win it, then you know you need to move up :)

Im sure they'll be plenty O' group rides this spring on the site here, hook up with as many as you can and ride with people faster than you if possible, then you get the "chase" feel down, and you can be chased as well to feel that.

ok i ramble too much....thats all for now

Douglas

[denis-on-enduro]

RACING IS A PAIN IN THE @SS! ACTUALLY ITS PRETTY FUN! LAST YEAR I DID A RACE AT BUCK HILL, AND MAN WAS THAT THE EXPERIENCE. ON THE 2ND LAP I WAS COMING DOWN THIS FAST SECTION WHERE U COME BACK OUT FROM THE WOODS... AND BAM I HAD TWO BROKEN LEGS.. CRACKED RIBS THEN I PAYED MY 20 BUCKS JUST TO PUNCH THE LIFT TICKET AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!


ACTUALLY I WAS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM ALL NIGHT TILL 2 IN THE MORNING WITH A CONCUSION AND A SHOULDER THAT NEEDED SCRUBBING. BUT HEY OUT OF IT I GOT A FREE T-SHIRT A TRIP TO DQ AND A NICE 3 OCLOCK BREAKFAST AT PERKINS...

AND ALL I KEPT ASKING..... "IS THE RACE OVER"

MAN I THOUGHT I WAS HIGH! :etard:

[legoshoe]

This year is the year. I finally plan to do a few races (Mostly at kato in the citizen class). Last year I had to many events holding me back but I'm making these races priority, meaning no vacation involving the chance of catching a TROPHY walleye can stop me!!! (hopefully)

A question to put out there: Do you think doing the 24 hours of afton on the 1st year of racing is too extreme? I'd be interested in doing it this year but this town doesn't have mountain biking in it's vocabulary so none of my friends in town ride like I do so I'd have to search for 3 others to do the 24. Cause there is no way I'm going solo!!!!!!

[dennis porter]

For a taste of racing without licenses and high entry fees, I suggest doing some of the Penn Cycle Thursday night races. They are only $10 bucks. Very relaxed fun atmosphere and you can get a cold Summit Beer after the race. Plus, they have a drawing for good schwagg at the awards for those that entered the race. You do need to stick around to win if your name is drawn. They change the course every week too. Three categories Beginner 1 lap, Recreational 2 laps, and Advanced 4 laps. Racing starts in May. Great fun and a good start for racing.

Dennis.

[noise_is_life]

Another good race to start out with is the Cable Classic in Cable, WI. It's held on some of the same trails as the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. There is a 17 and 27 mile race (although this year the longer race was only 23).

I've done it two years now, once the 27 and once the 17, it's a good time.

Cable Classic (http://cable4fun.com/caorc.htm)

[nigel]

Originally posted by legoshoe
A question to put out there: Do you think doing the 24 hours of afton on the 1st year of racing is too extreme? I'd be interested in doing it this year but this town doesn't have mountain biking in it's vocabulary so none of my friends in town ride like I do so I'd have to search for 3 others to do the 24. Cause there is no way I'm going solo!!!!!!


Heck no its not extreme at all!!! I think that 24 hour races are actually a ton more laid back and more fun of an atmosphere than weekly or series races!!! Do it, youll love it and then you'll end up doing it every year!! Im sure you'll be able to find a few other to ride it with ya too.....ya got 8 months after all *winks*

Douglas

[BrightYellow]

Where are the Penn races held? They sounc like they could be pretty fun.

-D

[nigel]

They are every Thursday at 6pm at Buck Hill........the website does not have the 04 season up yet....but it will soon im sure!

www.penncycle.com

[yetirider]

Originally posted by nigel7780
Heck no its not extreme at all!!! I think that 24 hour races are actually a ton more laid back and more fun of an atmosphere than weekly or series races!!! Do it, youll love it and then you'll end up doing it every year!! Im sure you'll be able to find a few other to ride it with ya too.....ya got 8 months after all *winks*

Douglas

I have to agree, 24 hr. races are MUCH more laid back than the NORBA stuff or even Chequamegon (even though that seemed pretty laid back to me!)

If you can get a group together, it is a great time! Plus, to me anyway, there is more of a sense of accomplishment. Solo isn't quite as bad as you would think! :crazy: Nobody is going to question you if you want to take a 2hr. nap at 2:30 in the morning whereas in a team, when it is your time to go, the peer pressure is on to go!

[SickBoy]

I guess you could say I race a little bit.

I'd say if you're getting into it, just pick four, maybe five big (weekend) events spaced out over the course of the summer and make sure you can have enough time between them to think about what skills you can work on to make yourself better (and have time to practice those skills).

The thursday races are good, I did a lot of those (almost every thursday for three years) until I got into doing competitive road group rides on weeknights. The thursday buck races are low key and they have more giveaway schwag than a lot of weekend races. I think I won the mack daddy prize like four times. those are good to do whenever you can, if you're just getting into racing.

[bakkeb]

THANKS A LOT GUYS. I LIVE IN EAGAN SO BUCK HILL RACES ARE PERFECT. I'LL TRY THEM FIRST. I FOR SURE WILL DO THE 24@AFTON. I ALMOST HAD A TEAM TO GO BUT THEN I COULDN'T CAUSE FOOTBALL GOT IN THE WAY. THIS YEAR FOR SURE.:banana:

[Minnetico]

I am glad someone brought the subject up. This will serve as motivation for me to get on the trainer or even do some winter riding. :banana:
As for suggestions about getting started, I agree with all the comments in this thread. I started racing last year and decided to try the Citizens class first. My first experience was at Afton Alps (not the 24 hrs event) and I found it so interesting that I ended up moving up to the Sport categorie and doing more than 10 races by the end of year, including one 6 hrs solo in Green Bay, WI.

So I would definitely encourage you to get into racing. Besides the posts in the MORC page, I would also suggest to check the Blast or Pork Shop Racing sites for other MTB racing events around the Twin Cites.

BTW: Has anyone heard of any updates on the future of the Minnesota Championship Series for 2004? I know it's still kind of early but I though I would ask!

[legoshoe]

I think I'm going to make it my goal this year to ride the 24 hours of Afton. It's realistic, got 8 months to get 3 people and to prepare for it so why not. The hardest part will be finding a team.

So come August, if anyone is short a person or two, give me a holla. :banana:

[GearDaddy]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
Another good race to start out with is the Cable Classic in Cable, WI. It's held on some of the same trails as the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. There is a 17 and 27 mile race (although this year the longer race was only 23).

I've done it two years now, once the 27 and once the 17, it's a good time.

Cable Classic (http://cable4fun.com/caorc.htm)

Yeah, this is a good event. I've done it a few times (and the reverse direction "Fat Back Boogie" in the fall) and have lucked out with great weather. The last time I did the Cable Classic there were 400 people at the start. But things spread out nicely. The course actually has nothing in common with the Fat Tire 40. That's a good thing though because the course is probably 50% singletrack rather than a big wide ski trail. Plus, there's a ton of great riding in the same neighborhood. Make it a weekend trip.

[ostertoaster85]

Hey Travis,

I'll form a team with you if I can convince my parents that it's not a stupid idea to ride my bike at 2:30 in the morning. Also, I'm going to be starting college next year so I don't know if that will make it hard to do the 24 of afton because it is so close to the start of the school year.

If I can, however, I want to race the 24 of afton but I need a team.

P.S. If you can't get a team, volunteer to help out. That's a lot of fun. That's what I did last year.

[legoshoe]

Originally posted by ostertoaster85
Hey Travis,

I'll form a team with you if I can convince my parents that it's not a stupid idea to ride my bike at 2:30 in the morning. Also, I'm going to be starting college next year so I don't know if that will make it hard to do the 24 of afton because it is so close to the start of the school year.

If I can, however, I want to race the 24 of afton but I need a team.

P.S. If you can't get a team, volunteer to help out. That's a lot of fun. That's what I did last year.

I'm in the same boat as you are. Parents think it suicide and college. But it's on a Friday and Sat. which shouldn't be a problem with school. But if I can get some miles in and build some endurance for the century down here, I'll see where I am. But it's all for fun so bad or good, it's still all good. :banana: