Posts
540
Joined
1/29/2018
Location
Bethania, NC
US
Edited Date/Time
1/20/2019 10:25pm
Wanting to get into harescramble racing this year. Not looking to go kill it or win a championship hell even win one race. I want to do it to better my abilities and make friends along the way and maybe gain more places to ride offseason. Anyways, what do I need to do to “prepare” as in deciding what class to run in and setting myself up say a week ahead or even a few days before the race?
Mando bike stuff: hand guards, I prefer flag style
As far as class enter in whatever class you race moto in. If you dont race moto just truthfully evaluate your skill level pick a class and see what happens.
There are three things I’d take for sure. Hand guards or bark busters, skid plate, and hydration pack (Leatt makes good ones). You’ll probably need to stop for gas.
Prepare to hurt afterwards. Harescrambles can really kick your ass.
The Shop
If you find yourself with a spare $1000 bucks laying around then a Reckluse auto clutch, oversized tank and radiator fan kit can make things a lot easier on you.
I’d say your first race is a race.
Try and get a good start and run the pace of the guys around you....if you don’t get a good start push hard (sprint) the first 5-10 minutes, and pass as many people as you can-before everyone gets spread out-then run the pace of the guys around you.
You’ll never know how hard you can go-and for how long-unless you push yourself. So push yourself and see where you’re at. Then do another race as soon as possible, and apply everything you learned from the first race-if you bonked to early, then maybe back it down a bit...if you had more left in the tank, push a little harder...if you smoked everyone in your class, then move up a class.
Hand guards, skid plate, IMS tank, spark arrestor (if required by the club sanctioning body) and probably the must haves (maybe not the tank if you are running shorter loops...but smaller tank means more pit stops no matter the loop length.
Hydrate...I start a week before the race, and try and drink as close to a gallon of water/day.
Easily my biggest mistake is riding too fast for the first 20 min and wasting energy. Be smooth and wait to use that energy when you can actually make moves.
Ride the novice class then, and if you have never actually raced before, you should seriously consider the beginner class. Either way, prepare to get your ass kicked by several riders even in these classes, but don't get frustrated if you do, because some of them are likely much better than the class they signed up for and probably should be riding the next higher class.
Getting winded can be because you are physically not in great condition, and/or you are getting nervous. I had this problem when I first started racing as well, and just kept focusing on my breathing and deliberately breathed slowly and as normally as possible while racing and the problem went away fairly quickly, but I have no idea how others that had this same problem got over it.
As others mentioned, these are more of an "endurance" type race, so don't try to keep up with anyone for your first race, just view it as a long trail ride the first time around. Crashing is rarely fun, and it's far easier to do when one is tired but is still trying to go fairly fast.
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North Carolina you NEED hand guards, radiator guard/brace, an oversized tank doesnt hurt, and premium coolant doesnt hurt with the 4 strokes being so damn hot in the woods.
You need tears offs, a camelbak, and low expectations. Good luck and have fun.
Spend a few minutes researching camelbaks. They're useful for moto, bicycles, hiking, ect ect. KTM radiators are already kinda braced from the factory, but KTM hard parts sells a good brace. Steel rectangle that borders the radiator from the front. Very strong and doesnt block any air flow.
First race, just enjoy the experience.
Conditions day of race and course, adjust tire pressure for tube pinching or wet, etc. Suspension adjustment if comfortable. Figure out if you will need fuel to finish. Stash a bottle for a quick hit if needed. You will be surprised at the manic pace you will be running for 2 hours. If you are not in shape, be cautious.
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