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Teejay
1/20/2020 10:49am
1/20/2020 10:49am
Edited Date/Time
3/10/2020 1:55pm
I’m doing my first enduro race in March, I raced mx all of my youth until I was 22. Had a few years away from riding completely and have only ridden practice days since 2013. I’m 34 now and feel like doing some racing again but not 8 minute motos hours apart.
Anyone got any advice? They’re 3 hour races which I know will kick my ass but looking forward to the challenge. Not looking to break any records just want to have a bit of fun! Any tips or insights into what to expect are greatly welcome. Cheers.
Anyone got any advice? They’re 3 hour races which I know will kick my ass but looking forward to the challenge. Not looking to break any records just want to have a bit of fun! Any tips or insights into what to expect are greatly welcome. Cheers.
http://trainingwheelsmc.com/basic-time-keeping/
http://trainingwheelsmc.com/intermediate-computers/
Enduro racing is fun. Lots to learn in the first race or two.
Have it set up form woods riding!
Soft susp, bark busters etc....
The Shop
So prepare yourself for a long trail ride.
No, I don't ride them anymore... LOL
Buy yourself a cheap watch, attach it to your handlebar, so if you make a stop in a main pit area, you don’t loose track.
Train for base and duration, with occasional sprint thrown in. You’ll ride hard for 20-30 min, then get a break. Those small sprints can catch up to you if you don’t have a really good base. Recovery at the checks is key.
Thanks for the replies though, some good advice in there. What should I be looking at to set my suspension up like, just softer all round? I’ve bought a camelback and will be trying it out this week. Got 4-5 enduro loop practice days before the first race so can try and simulate the day. Got to remember to pace myself and be in it for the long game.
I know it probably sounds stupid but what food are you guys taking for the day?
Food. Eat normally leading up to it. Visit the dumpster morning of. Don't wait. It will come looking for you at the least opportune time.
Race day I like to have something to burn long term- oatmeal or similar. I eat fruit through the morning- oranges, bananas, grapes. And maybe a clif bar or a PB&J sammich. Drink some dill pickle juice before and after. Seriously. Your quads (and the incredible pain they can cause you when they seize up an hour after the checkers) will thank me. Right before the start I take on one of those fruit puree baby food pouches. Take one with you in your fanny pack, or at least have one for the break.
Drink from your camelback before you get thirsty.
Pit Row
Pass when you can but hold your line so faster guys can get by (I try to point left or right to let them know which side). It's a long race, 1/4 to 1/3 of the field won't finish due to mechanical, crash or fatigue. Try to find a comfortable pace but don't forget to push when you can.
March in England is probably gonna be cold and wet...maybe even snowy. You know the drill...don't overdress but take a light waterproof jacket just in case.
Not sure what bike you have but if it's got a stock moto tank...you won't make 3 hours (and moto tanks don't have a reserve on the petcock) pay attention....you never run out near the pits.
Have fun...imo it's the best bang for the buck.
Stand up as much as you can.
On a MX bike, gas up in an hour. Have small cans of 1 to 1.5 gallons that you can dump faster w/out trying to wrestle 4-5 gallons of fuel.
If you can, and it's dusty, change your air filter. A pit person is VERY useful.
Breathe. Relax. Use your legs. Save your arms.
As the race progresses, the traffic will usually thin out and you'll get your marks down.
Slime or similar in your tubes. A mousse is better, but I've done okay with extra heavy duty tubes and ATV sealant.
Mostly... just ride and have fun.
Here's a dusty hare-scramble from CO last summer. I didn't finish the last lap because my air filter was clogged and I didn't want to blow up my bike for nothing. Fun notes... the guy ahead of me and to the right in the previous line was riding with a prothetic attachment on his right hand- RESPECT!!! The guy to my right on my start was on a CR500.
https://youtu.be/aHtGtVllo2E
My son is faster than me, but notice how he over-cooks the first lap:
https://youtu.be/8WjpVNyz4oQ
.
For chest, I like either a Leatt Airlight suit or I'll take the front and shoulder pads out and wear a Fox Raptor over that. This way, the Leatt shoulder and elbow pads stay in place, the Fox Raptor gives me much better chest/back/side protection, and I get more air flow. I'll do that if there are a lot of trees with branches and I'm worried about getting poked by them. Most of the time, though, I just go with the Leatt suit.
I've got compression knee sleeves and long socks. Then I have some gel pads ShoeGoo'd on the inside of my Leatt Z-frame braces. This all makes for a good supportive knee package that's padded and braced. Knees are my weakest spot and real compressive knee sleeves make a huge difference for me.
I used to use a bladder but got tired of the hose and never took a drink while riding anyway. These days I just carry water bottles in a pack that are mostly in case I get stuck out in the boonies. At a pit/gas stop, my crew hands me an open water bottle and I guzzle/splash it down. Nice when it's hot.
For real enduros, I carry a spare set of goggles and gloves in my back- nice when the others get wet/muddy. In a lap race, I have spares at the gas stop. I like to pull the used ones off as I'm rolling in and let my hands and face get some fresh air flow for a few seconds before putting the clean stuff on. Amazing how "fresh" clean goggles/gloves will make you feel.
Food-wise, I have two Clif bars in the pack in case of a breakdown. I have bananas at the pit stop and eat one 1/2 way thru a long race. For breakfast, I usually have scrambled eggs, real butter, salmon (StarKist packets are great for this), bulletproof coffee (coconut oil, butter, creamer). That sticks with me ALL day. I don't do well on carbs- oatmeal, etc- they run out of me too fast. If I think I really need carbs, I get a nut-based candy bar... Snickers, PayDay, etc.- and eat 1/2 of it and drop the other 1/2 in my pack to go with the banana later on.
Being on keto, I drink a LOT already- electrolyte replacement- so I'm pretty hydrated. I like Ultima but I'll also drink Monster Hydro sometimes.
I spend 10-15 minutes stretching (esp my arms and shoulders), doing Tae Bo sort of leg raises and kicks, and squats, I want to be really warmed up before I get on the bike, esp when it's cold in the morning. Really helps keep me from getting arm pump/cramps.
That's how this 58-year old handles a 65-75 mile enduro and 2-3 hour hare-scramble. .
heavy duty tubes, lots of baby powder and a couple extra PSI to try and prevent flats.
Treat your first one as a learning race - just figuring it out, staying in till the finish.
Don't crash and have a good time. They are so fun!!!! Push hard your next event.
Best thing NOT to do: Do not get discouraged by how fugging fast those "trail riders"
go for an entire three hours!
My bike is a Bone stock 2016 crf 250 so standard size tank. I’ve got some handguards so will put them on.
Post a reply to: First enduro race, any advice? (Update)