Minnesota State Championship Series
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For Beginning Mountain Bike Racers
04/02/08
By Dana S
How do I get started racing in the Minnesota State Championship Series?
Mountain bike racing is not just for the highly trained and talented. It is an exhilarating physical activity that can add to your health and quality of life. Racing is as much about fun, shared experiences and making new friends as it is about
competition. The MN State Championship Series (MNSCS) is open to all and welcomes new female and male participants of all ages and athletic abilities.
Mountain bike racing is not just for the highly trained and talented. It is an exhilarating physical activity that can add to your health and quality of life. Racing is as much about fun, shared experiences and making new friends as it is about
competition. The MN State Championship Series (MNSCS) is open to all and welcomes new female and male participants of all ages and athletic abilities.
To prepare for an individual race or to take on the whole series, it’s recommended that you ride your bike a couple times per week, although it is not necessary. Riding with more experienced cyclists will help develop your skills. Ride a variety of terrain/courses, but remember that you want to devote the majority of your riding to increasing fitness. Avoid spending all of your time on trails with features that are above your riding abilities.
The MNSCS has developed a class for first time racers. There is a “First Timer” male and female class to give those new riders who would like to give racing a try without being intimidated by race distance and course complexity. This class is similar to the one in the WORS Series and will not count in the Series scoring. This class will be sequenced in with the Kids Comp races, and generally will be run on the Citizen Race course. It will be approximately half the mileage of the citizen course. (distance will vary by race venue). Salem Hills is a good beginner course and it’s the also the first race of the season, what a good time to get hooked.
Once you have decided upon an event, it's time to plan specific race preparation. All racers can benefit from pre-riding the race course. Pre-riding the course consists of riding the designated race course prior to the day of the event. Pre-ride the course whenever possible, if it is not an open trail, pre riding information can be found on the events page. If you can pre-ride the course the day before, you will learn the terrain and give yourself added confidence for your first race. Make sure to warm up well and avoid hitting the trail too hard to avoid burn out for your race the following day.
At least a day in advance of the race, check over your bike to make sure everything is in good working order: check your wheels, drive train (chain, crank set, cogs, shifters, derailleurs) and brakes; this is not the time to make any significant changes affecting the fit of the bike such as changing your seat or handle bar positioning or replacing or upgrading components. You will want to ride any new set-up for at least a week before competing on it.
Get plenty of rest, nutrition, and hydration the night before your race. Eat a good breakfast 3-4 hours before your start time: include complex carbohydrates (pancakes, bagel, toast, potatoes, oatmeal, cereal, etc.) and a little low fat protein (eggs, peanut butter, lean meat, nuts), as fat takes longer to digest. If About an hour before your race, have a light snack (power bar, fig cookies, etc.), to give your body a little energy boost. Make sure to drink plenty of water leading up to your race but you should stop 30 minutes before the race. This will give you time to use the bathroom just prior to the race start. Experienced racers start hydrating days prior to their race and most make a habit of drinking several bottles of water every day. For a race under 60 minutes, you may not need food. However, some people use energy gels like Clif Shot or Hammer gel to keep there energy up during a race. Energy Gels are packed with complex carbohydrates which keep your energy from waning. During longer races, it is recommended to ingest the gels every 20 minutes with fluid to maintain hydration and a steady energy flow. Generally it’s good to drink a mouthful of fluid every 10-15 minutes regardless of thirst. Water is fine for anything under 60 minutes, but to maintain top performance in long races or on hot days, it’s recommended to use sports drinks with electrolytes. Being a beginner, it can be tricky to drink from a water bottle while maxing out on the trail, if this is the case try using a hydration pack (Camelbak), it allows you to keep your hands on the handlebars, continue your focus on the trail, and avoid unnecessary stops.
Arrive at the race an hour or two prior to your start so you can get registered, change clothes, and get in a good warm up ride. A good warm up ride will greatly improve your race and you will feel better and be faster on the trail. When you register, the race registrar will direct you to fill out forms and pay your entry fee. If you have registered online, you should still visit the registration table to sign a release form and pick up your race number. After registration, change into your race clothing and prep your bike. Final bike prep includes putting your race number on your handlebar, checking tires and suspension for proper air pressure, checking for clean shifting, and checking your brakes. The contents of your saddle bag or shirt pockets should/could contain a quick chain link, chain tool, multi-tool, tire lever, spare tube and pump or Co2 air dispenser, along with any food or gels. Lastly, top off your water bottle or sports drink.
You should arrive at the starting area 5-10 minutes prior to the start. Usually there is a scheduled racers meeting just prior to the start, so listen for instructions given at the registrars table. Mountain bike races start fast, so be ready to work hard after the countdown. Usually the hard initial pace slows a bit after a high intensity start and the riders find their comfort zone. Beginner races are usually short enough that you can maintain hard work for the duration depending on your fitness.
Most importantly, have fun. Mountain bike racing is a great way to spend a day and the people you meet along the way make it even more rewarding.
Tag(s): Series News & Events
