Pro tips: how to prepare for a mountain bike race

The thrill of pitting your skills towards the clock – there’s nothing at all rather like it. But just take it from an specialist, a minor preparing goes a very long way. So if you have bought some racing prepared, and you want to elevate your match, here’s some guidance from a pro. To start with factors initially, have you got the most effective mountain bike for the task? Suitable, now you are likely to need to have to know how to race…

1. Prep, prep and more prep

The a lot more you are ready the superior. Of course, the most effective racers in the environment have a total team to support with this but that does not suggest you just cannot get ready way too. Get your bike checked and serviced top up to the race. Have a rapid search at the temperature for practice and race working day, this can support you pack the proper kit and tires.

Needles has expended the past 20 years racing downhill, using numerous nationwide champ wins to his identify and WC podium finishes… he appreciates his racing

2. Practice… but not as well considerably

Apply is like the research you do for a take a look at. The much better your homework, the a lot easier the examination. The check is the race of study course. A big blunder I see from a ton of riders is becoming in excess of-enthusiastic and executing way too significantly exercise, as very well as likely too quick right before they know the track.

The finest detail you can do is ease into it. The race operate is in which you want to go rapid, not the initial apply run. Force yourself to do some slow, straightforward runs to get to know the observe. I would break the track into a handful of sections.

Even when you are practising I would suggest you not to ride far too speedy down the complete study course all at the moment. Get to know the observe and then decide a handful of sections to test to journey a very little more rapidly to see how it feels. This will assist you conserve vitality and steer clear of unwanted crashes. You require that electricity for your race.

Remember to love it!

Near the conclusion of observe, you could want to consider a total run to see how it all feels in just one go, if you have heaps of electricity.

Bear in mind to hydrate and take in all through the practice working day. A lot of new riders are as well centered on using and ignore to take in and drink.

Danny Hart in race method (Wolinski/Purple Bull)

3. Sense the panic and visualise it in any case

Race day is when the nerves could start creeping in. Embrace it and realize absolutely everyone feels it. The night time ahead of is a superior time to go through the race operate in your head. Visualise how you want the operate to go and this can consist of exactly where you want to brake for corners or shift gears.

Continue to keep feeding on and you can go all working day

4. Consume, even if you are not hungry

Make confident you have a great breakfast on race working day even if you don’t really feel like ingesting. If the race is later on in the day try out to eat lunch two hrs right before so your human body has time to digest it all. Some cleanse carbs and a little little bit of protein are a excellent concept. Preserve it very simple and really don’t try to eat or consume things you are not utilised to.

5. Be early

The time has appear and your race is listed here. Try and get there early for your exercise and definitely for your race run. The very last matter you want to sense is rushed on race day. Get ready with lots of time to spare. Triple look at you have all your gear ready. Give your bike a tiny when above and check tyre pressure. Give oneself a great deal of time to get to the prime for a downhill race or to get to the start line of an enduro.

Visualise the system again and journey all around to hold your body warm. Loosen up a bit as you have accomplished what you can to put together. Pair of pleasant deep breaths right before your operate, and remember to appreciate it!