how to race BC Cup?

[spookymilk]

I've never raced BC Cup before, but this is what I want to do this year riding-wise. I've looked around on the Cycling BC site a bit and all I've found is some membership or something.

So, do I buy this membership and then just show up at the races? If anyone could run down and what you have to do to participate, that'd be great :D

PS-I'm 15 and I'm doing sport

[derwood]

1-buy your race license.

This qualifies you to race in BC and also insures you while you are on your bike.

2-Register early for races.

This will save you some $$$.

3-Train cardio.

I dont care how much you rip....racing is a whole different ball of wax.3 miutes feels like 20 at race tempo.

4-Soften up and slow down your suspension.

I assume you are doing DH.95% of riders runtheir suspension too stiff and fast for local conditions,but that does not translate well to the race course.

5-Have fun.

Never take yourself too seriously.If you do,you will bea very lonely person in the pits.

[sAFETY]

Originally posted by derwood


This qualifies you to race in BC and also insures you while you are on your bike.


Even better, it insures you for the moments just after you and your bike are seperated :D

Originally posted by derwood

3-Train cardio.

I dont care how much you rip....racing is a whole different ball of wax.3 miutes feels like 20 at race tempo.


AMEN BRUTHA!!

Originally posted by derwood


5-Have fun.

Never take yourself too seriously.If you do,you will bea very lonely person in the pits.

True dat. Actually, some of the most fun you can have without actually winning (I'm just assuming here as the closest I've come to the podium is while fighting for some $8 T-shirt give-away) is in placing better than someone who takes them selves super serious and thinks they're hot shit. :D

That said, most people you meet are in it for fun (especially most people I've met at races that are also on the BB).

[pano-dude]

Originally posted by derwood
1-buy your race license.

This qualifies you to race in BC and also insures you while you are on your bike.

2-Register early for races.

This will save you some $$$.

3-Train cardio.

I dont care how much you rip....racing is a whole different ball of wax.3 miutes feels like 20 at race tempo.

4-Soften up and slow down your suspension.

I assume you are doing DH.95% of riders runtheir suspension too stiff and fast for local conditions,but that does not translate well to the race course.

5-Have fun.

Never take yourself too seriously.If you do,you will bea very lonely person in the pits.
Dude you are total wrong about suspension set up. Soft yes 35% of total travel but not slower, a rule of thumb is the rougher the course the faster you need to run it without getting bucked.

[Wayne P]

I used to think the same about suspension set up when I first started, but...

Run your fork's suspension more stiff than you would normally. You don't want to have your fork diving when your over the front in "attack" mode, but you do want to have some good sag too. A stiffer fork means it will support your weight better through railing corners and steep chutes. Trust me, it works.

Don't soften up the back too much either. Depends on the course - Sun Peaks (fast course) I would run it stiff, Parksville (slow) would be softer. You definitely don't want your bike to feel mushy when you're sprinting, nor too soft to handle hard hits at high speed. And at high speed, your suspension will feel relatively soft.

Lots of preload in the front and back with good bottom out compression and rebound damping. The idea - you want your bike to "sit" into its travel (how it performs the best), but be stable enough to feel confident when the course is rough and when you're sprinting.


Get your brake levers close to the bar and move 'em in. You want to have your fore finger only on the lever at all times. Closer to the bar = more hand/bar control and less fatigue.


Shifting parts and chain guides should be working flawlessly or you'll find out the hard way. It doesn't matter that you haven't dropped a chain out riding the local mountains, because when it comes to racing, any flaw in your bike will come out.


Right tires and tire pressure for the course and conditions. As good as a Comp 16 is in the wet and loam, you don't want to run one in the dry hardpack stuff. Learn to use more PSI too.


Have fun and enjoy!

[Timmigrant]

Also if you don't want to race for year and just want to try it out you can buy a day licence for two or three races in the year. You won'e accumulate points, but its a good way of checking things out. I think the day license is about $15 per race.

[spookymilk]

1-I know how to buy the license

2-how/where do i register?

3-borrowing my dad's RM Oxygen to train :D

4-ok

5-going fast is fun, i'll try my best :D

[pano-dude]

for registration check www.karelo.com they do most of the bc cup registrations

[spookymilk]

jesus racing is expensive :(

[grj]

BC Cup racing is expensive. there are other options for regional racing that are more affordable than the BC Cup. Ripper series, island cup etc. not to say the bc cup isn't the best race series in Canada, (it is) but at $40 a pop, it can add up in a hurry.

and don't let these pit pro's scare you off with all the tech talk. just go out and ride and have a great time.

good luck

[grj]

Originally posted by Timmigrant
Also if you don't want to race for year and just want to try it out you can buy a day licence for two or three races in the year. You won'e accumulate points, but its a good way of checking things out. I think the day license is about $15 per race.

day licence (max of three per season and no upgrade points)
uninsured $10
insured $30

[ES-OH-ES]

To have fun at a BC cup you need to: Get in your time machine and go back 3 years to aviod all the premadonna's that take themselves too seriously these days and don't be afraid to get spanked in your first race, there is usually a couple guys in sport that are local hero's that don't race often and blow everyone away. Another rule of thumb is to not listen to what people on this board are saying because they don't know what they are talking about.

[Timmigrant]

I'd say give it a try and see for yourself. Everything on here is opinion, check out Hemlock, or Bear, or the Rat Race, something local. I personally enjoy the race scene, and I'm not at all fast, just like to go out and have a good time.

[Loopie]

To have fun at a BC cup you need to: Get in your time machine and go back 3 years to aviod all the premadonna's that take themselves too seriously these days and don't be afraid to get spanked in your first race, there is usually a couple guys in sport that are local hero's that don't race often and blow everyone away. Another rule of thumb is to not listen to what people on this board are saying because they don't know what they are talking about.
What the!...:lol:

[derwood]

To have fun at a BC cup you need to: Get in your time machine and go back 3 years to aviod all the premadonna's that take themselves too seriously these days and don't be afraid to get spanked in your first race, there is usually a couple guys in sport that are local hero's that don't race often and blow everyone away. Another rule of thumb is to not listen to what people on this board are saying because they don't know what they are talking about.
precisely why I stopped racing.....

[pano-dude]

To have fun at a BC cup you need to: Get in your time machine and go back 3 years to aviod all the premadonna's that take themselves too seriously these days and don't be afraid to get spanked in your first race, there is usually a couple guys in sport that are local hero's that don't race often and blow everyone away. Another rule of thumb is to not listen to what people on this board are saying because they don't know what they are talking about.
I'd be careful about saying the people on this board don't know what they are talking about. I personally have been racing bicycles and motorcycles for 25yrs. Why would you classify serious racer's as premadona's? Is Cedric a premadona? How about the local heros you talk about are they premadona's? I am sure you, as most mtber's are very peticular about your setup, and don't buy a bike, ride out of the store and never touch it. It's all about personal preference and for a newbie all you have to go on is advice/experience of others until you find out what works for you.