britsh mountain bike race series

ledger

Anybody entering the first round of the bmbrs at sherwood pines. Its my first race so entered into the open category. just want to know what to expect and what i need to take with me for the day.

SiLanc

You might find this useful, it's based on my experience of racing. over the last 18 months...

http://xcenduro.co.uk/racing/raceDay.asp

ledger

Thanks for that thought it was going to be a bit of a laugh you make it sound so serious

stevieboy

Just turn up, enter and have fun! That's what I did on my first ever race, just that the bug got me and I take it a bit more seriously now.

There's nothing to worry about on your maiden event - we've all been there.

Come say hi on Sunday if you do it, the Sherwood Pines team riders will be gathered somewhere near the action.

SiLanc

...it's not so serious and it's your first National event...soak up the atmosphere and enjoy being out on your bike.

I guess the page on my website sounds serious as when I wrote it I was reminded of all the times when say, I forgot to put my bottles in the feed zone, forgot to put gels in my pocket, left my multitool at home...the list goes on!

It can be nerve-wracking but for most of us (including me) it's just an expensive hobby...enjoy it, have fun and remember to smile

Si

ledger

What a fantastic day i had only got punted off twice by the faster lads had to stop to remove a tree from my back wheel and had to stop again to retrieve my water bottle i dropped. :oops: After all this finshed 29th well pleased:D with my first race trying to talk the wife into going to wales now to do round 3.

stevieboy

Glad to hear you had fun! One tip if you do wales - go to vicar water and go up and down the pit tip as many times as you can for a good number of weeks beforehand. I thought I was fit when I went to Margam last year, then I got up the first few climbs and discovered what a hill was!! Either that or go round the peaks.

I didnthave such a good'n, my headset bearings decided to pack down and leave it loose after starting lap 3. Didn't want to risk doing any damage to the headtube so decided to stop, especially given the rutty nature of the course.

Really peev'ed as I had settled well doing a 23:50 first lap (thanks to silly course layout with loads of bottlenecks) and a second lap of 22:40.

Must say though, there were far too many sandbaggers in the Sport, the top 10-15 were quick enough to be in the expert and even the elite. Pi55 off and race in your real category will you.

ledger

you must be local to pines then steveboy so if you see someone struggling up clipo pit tip that will be me. :oops: Off to the lakes on sat so training for wales will start there cannot wait to do the altura trail at whinlatter.

stevieboy

Yes mate, i'm the pines side of mansfield so pass by vicar water to get to the trails

ledger

do you ride for sherwood pines then stevieboy as a friend of mine has asked if i want to join

ledger

do you ride for sherwood pines then stevieboy as a friend of mine has asked if i want to join

stevieboy

Yeah I do, i'm a club member too

mattpage

stevieboy wrote:

Must say though, there were far too many sandbaggers in the Sport, the top 10-15 were quick enough to be in the expert and even the elite. Pi55 off and race in your real category will you.

Your right in what your saying, but its not quite as simple as picking a category to enter.
If you don't have a racing licence, or its your first year racing then you won't be able to race Expert or Elite.

Of course it could simply be that some Sport riders from last year have put in the hard work over winter and getting results.

CoticSoda

Well done to Daz for winning the Sport category!

stevieboy

mattpage wrote:

stevieboy wrote:

Must say though, there were far too many sandbaggers in the Sport, the top 10-15 were quick enough to be in the expert and even the elite. Pi55 off and race in your real category will you.

Your right in what your saying, but its not quite as simple as picking a category to enter.
If you don't have a racing licence, or its your first year racing then you won't be able to race Expert or Elite.

Of course it could simply be that some Sport riders from last year have put in the hard work over winter and getting results.

Yeah i know, from what i gather talking to my elder peers this is an age old situation. I'm not taking anything away from those that have more time than i do to train, but being a very fit/quick rider it's a tad frustrating having to be near elite fitness to compete in the sport category. By no means will this put me off though, i think my comments made the other day were more out of frustration about my bike's failure to allow me to finish. Roll on R1 of the midlands and R2 of the BMBS.