first dh race, any tips?

[crazyguy]

this weekend will be my first downhiull race and i will be racing begginer just to get a feel so im not stuck in a class to high for me any tips on what to bring and ridng tips and such

im thinking i should bring lots of water like a camel back and tubes and tires lots of tools

what do u guys think help is much aprecieated


-Matt

[Midas]

I reccomend not to push too hard at your first race, if seomthing scared you in your trial don't hit it in the race, you would have higher odds of messing up.

[GIANT BOY]

Just go fast and try to take the smothest line!And have a really good breakfast and warm up ride!!!

[brock]

Relax

[Infamous]

just relax and let it flow. forget that its a race and just ride.

and GOOD LUCK!!

[cHuck]

Be well rested, do a couple of practice runs to get a feel for the course. Don't tire your self out. Stay hydrated......RELAX.........cHuck

[Kevan]

Dont hold back, be confident with what your doing, easy on the breaks, go smoothly into corners. and DO NOT break your collerbone on the last jump :(

[JAM]

Have fun! your not going to be world champ your first time out so do what you know how to do "ride" fast but with in your self.

[synchro]

Treat this as a learning experience, don't even think about where you will finish. Try to soak up the whole experience and put more energy into taking car of the little things like race forms, your start time, prep, what to bring etc. Look at this as a test ride for your fist race, which will be the next one. You will ride a lot better once you have been thru the system once and know how things operate.

[BRASSBALLS]

Originally posted by brock
Relax

i disagree!
it's a race, push your limits and you'll be happier for it in the end!
if you want to relax, go for a trail ride.
when you think your going as fast as you feel comfortable, fo faster. limits are made to be pushed!

[brock]

Originally posted by BRASSBALLS
i disagree!
it's a race, push your limits and you'll be happier for it in the end!
if you want to relax, go for a trail ride.
when you think your going as fast as you feel comfortable, fo faster. limits are made to be pushed!

You're right.

You should take it to the limit, and then push a little more, because when you crash or make a stupid mistake, your time will actually be better. :rolleyes:

[BRASSBALLS]

brock


if you hadn't noticed? it's a race. that means you try and get to the bottom the fastest. your not out there to relax and take your time. like i said before, if thats your style go for a trailride.
you don't go and spend all the cash(gear,bikes,sign in fees,etc...)
to go and have a nice relaxing trail ride. thats what freeriding is for.

[brock]

brassballs

could we get a link to your race results please?

[jeffro]

If you're anything like me, you'll be a bundle of nerves at your first race. Don't listen to Brassballs, you've gotta get in the groove for a DH race. Take your time on your trial run, it will help you be faster in the race. Look at all the possible lines. Figure out where you might screw up and walk back up and reride that part of the course until you're comfortable with it.

When you do start, realx and feel the flow and you'll be much faster than if you hammer it right out of the gate. Go as fast as you are comfortable with--this is your first race, there's always time to win next time after you have some experience. Racing DH is about being smooth, consistent and fast, in that order. You have to know how to brake, how to turn and how to jump with speed. Practice, practice, practice.

[Jimmbo]

Originally posted by BRASSBALLS
i disagree!
it's a race, push your limits and you'll be happier for it in the end!
if you want to relax, go for a trail ride.
when you think your going as fast as you feel comfortable, fo faster. limits are made to be pushed!

I think he's saying relaxed in relation to just flowing it, gettin in the grove instead of being all sketchy and uptight. You can still push your limits in a relaxed state of mind (think one with the bike, lol). Becuase ultimately I find I can concentrate better when im relaxed.

[Fast&Smooth]

Originally posted by brock
brassballs

could we get a link to your race results please? :cuffs: OWNED! :woot:

[gimped]

I kind of agree with you Brassballs, but the best races I have ever put in have been the ones where I was totally relaxed going in. All that nervous anxious energy will cause you to tense up and crash more than anything else.

Don't ride too much outside of your limits because chances are you will crash.

Bring way more tools, clothes, and bike parts than you will ever need. If there's something wrong with your set-up, you'll find it in a race run. Get your bike overhauled by a shop (unless you can tweek it yourself). Make sure your shifting and tire pressures are spot on. Make sure your chain guide is solid so you won't drop a chain. It sucks to have a chain jam in the last section of a race run when you know it was preventable.

Study the course, walk it, know it. I try to do as many runs as physically possible (because I need to).

[crazyguy]

thanks for all the help guys ill have my dad look over my bike because he worked on ikes for 25 years

wish me luck!

[BRASSBALLS]

i raced a few of the island dh races last year and also raced MX for 9 years, bmx for two. so don't start this talking shit !
i agree if it's your first race then maybe take it easy, but if your not willing to push your limits, then maybe just freeriding is better for you.
racing anything is expensive. time,money,gear,bikes,etc...
when i was racing mx my parents were spending in upwards of $20 000 a year on it, theres no time to sit back and relax.

[BRASSBALLS]

Originally posted by Fast&Smooth
:cuffs: OWNED! :woot:

have you ever raced? dh,Mx,bmx?????
before you shoot your mouth off,fill us in on your extensive racing background!

[m33p]

Originally posted by gimped
I kind of agree with you Brassballs, but the best races I have ever put in have been the ones where I was totally relaxed going in. All that nervous anxious energy will cause you to tense up and crash more than anything else.

Don't ride too much outside of your limits because chances are you will crash.

Bring way more tools, clothes, and bike parts than you will ever need. If there's something wrong with your set-up, you'll find it in a race run. Get your bike overhauled by a shop (unless you can tweek it yourself). Make sure your shifting and tire pressures are spot on. Make sure your chain guide is solid so you won't drop a chain. It sucks to have a chain jam in the last section of a race run when you know it was preventable.

Study the course, walk it, know it. I try to do as many runs as physically possible (because I need to).

All that and just think "flow". If you can flow in and out of sections you'll be faster and a lot smoother.

[corey@nsmb.com]

Originally posted by BRASSBALLS
i raced a few of the island dh races last year and also raced MX for 9 years, bmx for two. so don't start this talking shit !
racing anything is expensive. time,money,gear,bikes,etc...
when i was racing mx my parents were spending in upwards of $20 000 a year on it, theres no time to sit back and relax.


I'd think with so much experience that you'd offer a little more encouragement to somebody new to racing. I can't think of anything more discouraging in your first race than going in all wound up, trying to ride like Steve Peat, crashing as a result of pushing yourself too hard, and placing horibly because you had to limp your way down to finish your run.

The first experience with racing doesn't have to be a record breaker. It is supposed to be fun, go in with a good attitude and don't set expectations too high. Set goals you know you can achieve to help get your head in it.

I think I run better times if I go in feeling calm and collected (nearly impossible for ANY competitive event, but you know what I mean) than if I go in all wound up looking to break the course record in my first race ever.

In the races I have been to, I see the guys who are pushing over their heads crashing and having worse times than the guys who ride within there limits, or just on that edge, and who are able to have a consistant and COMPLETE run.

Look to learn from the guys who know there stuff. Learn to pace yourself and to run lines you feel work best for you.

Experience has taught me this. You may see the pros air over a particular section to cut a corner. It looks fast as hell, but it is tech and high risk for the average joe. You can try it, but there is a good chance you will eat it.

The reality is, the pro's link up a dozen of these on each run, and their skill set is Jedi. One section, if you clear it, will save you next to nothing. You may be better off sticking to the line you are comfy with and not risking a bail on a line that could have saved you a tenth of a second. A crash will cost you 30 seconds.

Last year was my first attempt at DH racing. I learned a lot. I got beat badly at every race, but I had FUN!!! And I learned a lot about what I can do to improve my times in regards to pace, consistency and fitness.

My advice may mean jack, but it is just the experience of one n00b racer to another. Its all about good times!

[gimped]

Brassballs, chill out. I am giving the kid the other side that many people don't share with your personal experiences. There isn't one side after all. My side is that I perform much better, go way faster, when I'm relaxed. I don't know why you would be so easily offended at something so trivial.

[BRASSBALLS]

yes maybe, but i am also givinghim another side. ther are going to be people at the races that take them very seriosly! in the island series we run at like 30 sec. intervals. if i'm taking my time and just having fun and the guy behind me catches up and i make his time slower because of it. he's going to be pissed.
all i am saying is that a lot of guys that race,takie it very seriously, thats racing. go and have fun but keep the other guys in mind.

[brock]

Well BRASSBALLS, before I fugured out that racing was not my cup of tea, I did enter a few. The results were as follows:

1. 8/6/00 Crystal Mt, WA - DH
( Nat. Champ. Series ) Downhill Men Sport Senior 25-29 13/20
+42.49

2. 8/27/00 Schweitzer Dirt & Rock Tour
( NORBA ) Downhill Men Sport Senior 19-29 7/20 7:50.90 +24.70

3. 4/22/01 Becon Bomber - WIM Series #2 Downhill
( NORBA ) Downhill Men Sport Master 30-39 2/19 5:01.40 +18.80

4. 5/6/01 Chelan MTB Festival - WIM Series #3 Downhill
( NORBA ) Downhill Men Sport Master 30-39 1/20 4:13.70
Won by 0.30

5. 5/12/01 Cascade Mountain Bike Challenge
( NORBA ) Downhill Men Sport Master 30-99 1/14 7:08.00
Won by 1.00

6. 6/23/01 Squilchucker ~ WIM Series #5
( NORBA ) Downhill Men Expert Master 30-39 3/13 4.00
+2.00

7. 3/23/02 2002 Sea Otter Downhill
( Sea Otter ) Downhill Expert Men 30-34 30/66 1:48.80
+9.50

They are not the greatest in the world but I do have some experience. Granted it NOTHING compared to your vast experience. :rolleyes:

If you'll notice, Gimped said a lot of what I said.

"but the best races I have ever put in have been the ones where I was totally relaxed going in. All that nervous anxious energy will cause you to tense up and crash more than anything else.

Don't ride too much outside of your limits because chances are you will crash. "

He probably does not know what he's talking about either.

[pete@nsmb.com]

Originally posted by jeffro
If you're anything like me, you'll be a bundle of nerves at your first race.

When you do start, realx and feel the flow and you'll be much faster than if you hammer it right out of the gate.

Racing DH is about being smooth, consistent and fast, in that order.

Very good advice. You will be super pumped and will pedal until you're winded unless you relax. Unless you're in super good shape, try to pick a few places on the course where you can catch your breath back before you drop the hammer again. You'll be surprised how much smoother and faster you can go if you treat it like a regular ride (ie be mellow in your mind) but sprint out of every corner.

If you feel yourself getting out of control, better to slow down and pull it together than to crash.

[pete@nsmb.com]

Originally posted by BRASSBALLS
yes maybe, but i am also givinghim another side. ther are going to be people at the races that take them very seriosly! in the island series we run at like 30 sec. intervals. if i'm taking my time and just having fun and the guy behind me catches up and i make his time slower because of it. he's going to be pissed.
all i am saying is that a lot of guys that race,takie it very seriously, thats racing. go and have fun but keep the other guys in mind.

He's racing BEGINNER. He wanted advice for his first race. If he holds anyone up, it will be another BEGINNER. You're completely right, but coming from a position of a LOT of race experience, and racing in a competitive division. When you're new to it, your mind and body do things you're not used to feeling - like a massive and immediate rush when the timer says 3-2-1 GO!

You guys shouldn't even be arguing - one of you is giving advice based on your mindset when you have racing experience, the other based on being a beginner.

Try to think back to your first breakthrough in a race and why you had it - that will help this guy feel what you felt, and decide if racing is going to be for him.

[Zaskar]

k...well i have to say a bit of both arguments. my first race was bear mountain and i was riding a hardtail i had ridden for prolly about 13 hours before. first time on hydro disc brakes. first time with 24" wheel. movin from an 18" azonic ds1 to an XL (13.5" ??) 01 Norco 250cc etc.

i was thinken "wow i have this cool new bike". and i chilled and relaxed goin down the practice runs. basically just took it easy down. didnt wanna crash and hurt myself.

race run comes around. you're shitten your pants at the top as you're watchin all these hardcore racers stretchin and tunin their bikes while you stand there soiling yourself. its the kinda experience that really beats your ego down BUT it is a necessary thing for moving from freeride to race.

the light is changing. it goes green i book it out of the gate (well..line). im haulin down. thunk. sheolace catches on a stump. rips my shoe in half. my whole legs is torqued around as it shoots me 360 degrees off my bike in to a pile of rocks. no chest armour at all. i check the next day, huge bruises all over my back/abdomen. knocks the wind outta me. i sit there for like 30 seconds regaining the ability to breath get on the bike. im goin down. still kind shakin. takin it nice and easy since i was HURTING. and i still placed like 8th from the bottom hahaha

the morale of this story. it was first race. i got the snot beat outta me by my bike. i went too fast on my race run and too slow on my practice. BUT, IN THE END I HAD A RIP ROARIN ROMPEN STOMPEN HO DIGGITY OF A GOOD TIME! so just go out there and giver and dont worry about all the timing bullshit. just concentrate on the course ahead of you. and pump with your knees like mad.

[gimped]

Just remember it usually takes a long time to learn how to go fast properly. Most people can go fast in the stright sections. That's not where the race is won or lost, just so you know. It's when you get into the nasty sections where the race is usually determined. So if you want to relax when it's straight 'n flat, then do it.

[Reggaeman]

Speaking as a relative n00b racing last year the best thing you could possibly do is go out, relax, have fun, meet new people and ride your bike! Don't get all stressed over little things your first few times out. You'll have more fun and do better if you just relax, hit the lines you praticed, and remember at the bottom of the course thier will be a cooler full of beer; so get to the bottom in one piece!

[NS imposter]

Don't hit any trees!

[gimped]

I took a header into a tree at Silverstar 2 years ago. Apparently right after it, I was speaking jibberish (more than I usually do) and had tree sap oozing into one of the vents on my helmet.

That explains a lot...

[APT]

Always remember, it's all about having fun especially your fisrt season. After the first season on different type of courses, you will learn alot and you should have an idea on your strengths and weaknesses.