Posts
217
Joined
3/25/2018
Location
Port Isabel, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
4/13/2018 6:01am
So I'm like most of you guys who show up to chat be safe and just have fun but lately I have been inching my way into the A class.
What do yall recommend to get faster and make the most of your ride days?
Normally I do sprints of 2-3 laps and I slow down as soon as I start to make mistakes. Before a race I will practice starts, figure 8, circle ruts and I finish every practice with 2-5 laps all standing. On Mondays I try to work on forearm and grip strength, I do box jumps and rowing.
I rarely try to ride for endurance because I hear you can learn bad habits that way. Enduro racing has changed my style a lot.
I have learned a lot about suspension since I got air forks and I think that has helped. Also I usually only test and make changes on a rough prepped track
What do yall recommend to get faster and make the most of your ride days?
Normally I do sprints of 2-3 laps and I slow down as soon as I start to make mistakes. Before a race I will practice starts, figure 8, circle ruts and I finish every practice with 2-5 laps all standing. On Mondays I try to work on forearm and grip strength, I do box jumps and rowing.
I rarely try to ride for endurance because I hear you can learn bad habits that way. Enduro racing has changed my style a lot.
I have learned a lot about suspension since I got air forks and I think that has helped. Also I usually only test and make changes on a rough prepped track
before a recent knee injury, I was cycling 3-4 times a week and trying my best to ride once or twice on a good trails area close to home. alot of foam roller work and trying to practice stability with bodyweight. I was hoping to start adding in some weight work and swimming, but depending on how my physical therapist reccomends recovery it might just be swimming and upper body work for a little while.
Thats good that you are working on forarms! we have a string tight to a weight and roll that up and down a few times and boy does it build up some muscle cramps! shoulders core and legs i would work on building a solid physical foundation and learn how to meal prep.. amazing what a difference it makes when you show up to the track already hydrated and well rested nutritionally.
mountain biking is supposed to be a great cross over training, but if you have access to a rower or ski machine those are great cardio builders as well!
The Shop
Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Detailed schedule for practice and upcoming races? Video access to check form? Any local faster riders to speed check and chase? Best advice is to stay off the ground, as much as possible, as physical setbacks can be the biggest hindrance.
I'm usually near the front of my class (+40 INT ), but I have nothing for the A guys. At this age, I've sort of come to accept that my speed is just my speed, and that I will never get enough consistent seat time to get faster. But I can work on conditioning so that I can at least ride at potential.
The point on endurance training is relative - I think you need to be training to the level that you expect your body to perform on race days. That brings confidence. I race two classes and my practice days generally have more motos than my race days, but I don't try to replace two 15 minute motos with one 30 minute one. Once you get the the point of fatigue where you lose your pace, continuing is counterproductive and you are increasing your risk. If you are a weekend warrior like me and are having problems with keeping your pace, I think you have to address your cardio with off-the-bike conditioning during the weekdays.
It's a pretty intense sport to try and build speed in later in life, unless you have a way to ride multiple times during the week.
I have no idea where that speed went...but I’m sure having a hard time getting it back. In races this year I feel like I’m running my old pace, but I’m not even close...it’s like my brain and body forgot what that speed looked/felt like or something.
It’s frustratig...
Those 2-3 lap sprints are killing you! If you can’t sprint for 10 laps on a track your about to race 6 or 7 laps on.....you will never make the A class work.
https://www.litprolive.com
Pit Row
Good luck!
I am nowhere near A-class speed, but just a couple of weeks ago I was enlightened.
In the previous seasons, I busted my ass in the gym 5-6 times a week, not riding a lot though. I got in an awesome shape, but my riding didn't improve much.
This season, I don't work out nearly as much, but I ride my dirtbike 2-5 times a week. Any track. Rutty, beat up, even a turn track in the field near my house. 3 20 minute motos after work, and I can tell you, that I was never faster and at the same time in more control, than I am now.
Nothing, NOTHING beats seat time.
I believe the only one thing separating a slow guy, from a fast guy, is seat time, and the amount of fuel burnt through their bikes.
All the other stuff your doing sounds good.. full throttle or full brake- (no coasting) lol.
Good luck.
The old saying goes jump for show corner for dough. My advice is to first work on corners, every guy out front has Corner speed, nothing is more important. Iy first starts with the approach, gliding through the turn and then exiting all while covering the brakes, throttle and body position. Someone who knows how to corner well is typically at the front of the pack.
When I was fast, I practiced right turns one day left turns the next day for a half hour straight working on proper technique and breaking and body position, and then I went out and did my laps.
Whatever your weaknesses are, figure them out and practice them continuously. Have somebody film The Fast guy and then have them film you and see the differences and work on those differences.
Like I said doing sprints and doing laps does not necessarily make you a better rider, it will make you a little faster and then you will Top out until you figure out how to ride the motorcycle, and that's where practicing with a purpose comes into play.
You can't become better if you're out of shape och too weak because that limits the amount of riding and level of pushing you can do. And it becomes way more dangerous to push hard if you are tired after 2 laps going 110%.
Then you can't become better unless you know you're weaknesses and work on them (and know how to work on them).
And of course suspension set up for you and knowledge of how to adjust it.
Good luck!
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