want to start racing xc need help

Dan.hkr

Just wanna 1stly say hi to every1 as this is my 1st post.

im really feeling the racing urge and feeling like i really wana start racing next year (or when the season starts) but basically i know nothingh about where to get race info from, or leagues (if there are different leagues for different areas??) or how to enter.

wouls some1 be so kind to gimme a hand here or point me in the right direction.

thanks guys / girls.

Dan
8)

stevieboy

Welcome

I just contacted my local bike shop (sherwood pines cycles) to see what goes on in and around the area. It just so hapened that they run their own series of club races/time trials etc.

Or try find your nearest Cycle Club as these will have a lot of info on events.

Google is your friend or search around on here

Steve

RideTheLakes

Try http://www.xcracer.com for lots of xc racing info.

toasty

Be careful with the txt speak as well, it gets threads locked

Roughly where in the country do you live by the way? Finding local trails and forums is a good place to scout out what's about.

benneally

Yeah im in the same position as you Dan.hkr.
I have been looking at the marin winter series as i have seemed to have missed most of the season .
http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/ws1.html
does anyone know if you have to apply to race, or do you just turn up on the day? I cannot find much information on the site.... thanks

Dan.hkr

thanks for the replies people.

i live in suffolk so any kind of races or just club ride outs really in the south east would be perfect. will check out the websites you have reccomended in a second, will also post up anything i find that i feel will be useful to others in the same boat as me.

speak soon, take care
Dan

Richiekona

The Thetford Winter Series is an excellent way to start racing, I did all 3 series last year as a beginner (2 hours) and will be riding them again this year.

Keep an eye on their website, once they have completed the dusk till dawn, they will update the site and then enter before or on the day of the event. If you enetr before you will pay less.

The races are well organised with a good range of riders from experts to beginners and are always fun.

Dan.hkr

Ahh brilliant just the info i wanted to hear, will look into it and may see you there!!!!!!!!!
better get my butt in gear n get my fitness up then give it a go!
ah im so excited! wow

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan
woop woop!!!

320DMsport

I did my first race a week ago sunday, GMBC in Grizedale, 32.5 miles and there was alot of climbing and technical downhills.

The weather was rubbish but my goal was to complete it and not come last! I fulfilled my goal and it was fantastic! such a buzz!

I'm going to get fitter for next year and try a couple myself, mine ended up being a war between myself my bike and the weather!

You will love it

hednesfordxcer

I'd love to try racing in Staffordshire area, any tips on how I enter etc?

toasty

There's a trailquest thing coming up Hed, http://www.midlandtrailquests.co.uk/, me and a mate are popping along to that for a go (the Cannock Chase one) First sort of competitive event I'll have been to as well.

You've just missed the Midlands XC races as well, as mentioned on xcracer.

hednesfordxcer

I live 10 mins ride from where Midlands XC Race took place, advertising for event must have been poor, knew nothing about it, apparantly only 18 enetered.. Not even in local paper. There's also a 5 day XC ride through midlands next June, Swinnerton's on Chase have details.

toasty

I saw mention of it on the xcracer site, went along to the first round to see what it looked like. There looked to be more than 18 at that one, saying that one of the womens catagories only had 1 entrant, she won!

There's also a 5 day XC ride through midlands next June, Swinnerton's on Chase have details.

Ah nice cheers, I'll have to hunt that down.

hednesfordxcer

have tried to register with TQ, each time it asks me what TQ means. I put trail quest and it says sorry wrong answer and wont let me register, any ideas what the initials TQ stand for?

toasty

"trailquest"

:roll:

You need to register on the front page to sign up for events as well, that's a bit simpler.

hednesfordxcer

thats what ive put, in every way imaginable, no joy. Now done it cheers

masondasyk

stevieboy wrote:

Welcome

I just contacted my local bike shop (sherwood pines cycles) to see what goes on in and around the area. It just so hapened that they run their own series of club races/time trials etc.

Or try find your nearest Cycle Club as these will have a lot of info on events.

Google is your friend or search around on here

Steve

about the whole racing malarky... do you need a specific bike for the sherwood pines one or can you use any xc bike? do you turn up on the day to race or is it an entry? can a beginner like me do the races? (help)

stevieboy

I stumbled across one of the club time trials they did at night on my usual ride. I just popped into the shop asked about entering next time round. I've been going up there for about a year now on and off but never got involved with the club until now. I expressed an interest in joining the club so I was able to enter the race the following week. All i'd say is just go up there, either one of the Pauls are sound blokes, really friendly. I know they're planning to carry on with some events through the winter as the fireroads hold up well in bad weather.

Just pop in and see them in the shop, membership is not expensive atall and it gets paid back almost instantly as you get a Club riding jersey and the usual discount of parts servicing. For the race itself you just turn up and register. The race itself was really fun, tight twisty singletrack with only a few hundred yards of fireroad. And afterward you get a nice spread of hot and cold food / drinks in the cafe put on - all for £2.

I just ride my Kona hardtail - the course is a bit bumpy in places and requires a fair bit of out of the saddle bump soaking but nothing major. Most riders were on lightweight full sussers which in honesty would be better but a HT is fine.

masondasyk

thanks steve, thinking of maybe joining when next up there, but dont really know the terrain up there and so dont know if my carrera kraken can take that. is it a problem?

stevieboy

Yeah it'll be fine mate

masondasyk

ok then thanks steve, might go up there soon then, i live in sutton so not that far i suppose.

Richiekona

The Thetford MTB Winter Series are now taking entries visit website http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/.

My entry was posted today will be competing in the 2 hour races over all 4 series.

Hopefully the course will be a bit dryer this year, series 1 and 3 last year were a real slog.

:P

Dan67

Doing my first event this year.Posted me entry. Im doing the 2hr race at thetford looking well forward to it now