Lap Racing and the "fear" around it

[knippie]

I get the idea that there is a lot of myths around lapracing (xco) or is it just fear of the unknown?

I would like to hear your ideas and fears or dislikes regarding lapracing.

We're busy with the XCO series in the Western Cape and we have 8 ladies in total participating.

What is up with that?????

[TNT1]

Sorry, what is the question?

[Bianchi 1]

IMHO lap racing is for the pros/serious racers as it involves 2 hours of flat out racing around a generally very technical course. Unfortunately for the weekend warriors out there (like myself)there is very little in terms of fun in this type of racing. The less serious "racers" prefer the 40 - 50 km half marathon events as the fun/social aspect is much higher on our agenda than the technically demanding format of XCO.

 

This is my take on the matter, and make no mistake I love nothing more than watching top level XCO racing as it is very exciting for the spectators.

[Frosty]

Ask me next week Monday, and then I'll tell you (from a novice's perspective)

If it's anything like a criterium (the intensity, not the technical bits), then I'm in for the time of my life.

[eitan]

I would like to know more about it - also the categories, cost etc. Can my 8 year old son participate as well?

[SwissVan]

I get the idea that there is a lot of myths around lapracing (xco) or is it just fear of the unknown?

I would like to hear your ideas and fears or dislikes regarding lapracing.

We're busy with the XCO series in the Western Cape and we have 8 ladies in total participating.

What is up with that?????

 

Yeah that has always been the case (low number of entrants for XCO type races).

Personally I believe it is all down to intimidation....

1. The more technical sections especially steep downhill’s, drop offs, uphills etc..... can intimidate even experienced riders, imagine how the less experienced riders must feel.

2. The average rider wants to have a fun race at a pace they are comfortable with and with other people like themselves, not a real race effort on a difficult course with serious riders who are competing to win.

 

A possible solution would be to have categories for unlicensed riders, and to have “chicken run” options at all the intimidating sections.

 

Personally I enjoy the challenges of XCO lap racing, however I know a few seriously experienced cyclists who simply won’t do a XCO race because they feel their technical riding ability is not good enough.

[RocknRolla]

for someone wanting to check out what it's about, there is the Sports Class to enter into.

 

basically 2 laps of the course. it's not competitive at all. The course is technical, but the only way to get better at technical sections, is to ride technical sections.

 

in my mind they call in mountainbiking for a reason, else it should have been called longboringdirtroadbiking.

 

the nice thing about this is, that your 8 year old can easily participate, and you can ride with him/her in the sports class. I rode with my son a while ago, and i must say, it's great to do it together!!!

 

there are places to "practice" the skills needed to ride xc. Rietvlei, Fountains etc (here in JHB)

[Tankman]

fear? only fear I have of lap racing is kotzing my lungs out on the second lap right in front of the spectator area! The mechanical area would be better!

[TNT1]

fear? only fear I have of lap racing is kotzing my lungs out on the second lap right in front of the spectator area! The mechanical area would be better!

 

The only fear I have is how many times I will get lapped.

[Lamber]

 

Love this!

 

in my mind they call in mountainbiking for a reason, else it should have been called longboringdirtroadbiking.

 

 

there are places to "practice" the skills needed to ride xc. Rietvlei, Fountains etc (here in JHB)

 

I take all my newbie friends (roadies) to Fountains as part of the conversion program- yet to fail

[Ratty]

A few things seems as you are asking for comments:

 

a) a lack of advertising of the XCO events, which seems to have got better this year.

B) website - no offence, but its not the greatest. Info isn't always updated etc. Hard to find results.

c) not responding to emails sent.

d) price - can be a factor for some as its more expensive than entering most fun rides.

 

 

I did my first race in sub-vets ladies this year and it was an absolute blast. There was one really fast girl, but other 3 of us weren't that quick and there was a great social vibe. I have a friend who I will be dragging along so there will be another girl to come play in sub-vets.

 

What I enjoyed is the more personal feeling to it than doing fun rides. You aren't just one of the numbers and you get to know the people you are "racing" with. I'm looking foward to doing more.

 

 

And the more technical the course, the better for me :-)

[Guest Iron]

Personally i miss the good old days of lap racing and wish there was more of it , its the best form of the sport, imho.

 

Long marathons are boring as hell!

[Weight Weenie]

Only XCO race I've done was the 3 hour one at Rietvlei and I nearly died after a hard group ride the day before.

 

Both bottles were finished halfway through, had to stop and make my recovery drink as a bottle

Really did not want to do the last lap, went up that cement hill and let my legs dangle from the pedals, big mistake ! Cramped so bad I nearly fell off the bike

 

Even Oom Bennie came in before me

Hehe must have been that custom fox fork

[Tumbleweed]

Personally i miss the good old days of lap racing and wish there was more of it , its the best form of the sport, imho.

 

Long marathons are boring as hell!

 

 

I did a bit when I started MTB in the 90s. The races out East were better subcribed than the ones I took my kids to in the middle of the last decade.

[sputnik-f1]

Here in the UK it is the most common type of XC racing. We don't have the wide open spaces like SA and USA to do the marathon thing.

When I entered my first race I was very confident because I thought I was fit, how hard can it be? Big mistake!!

I cramped badly on the last lap and thought I was going to die. Riding at your limit for 2 hours on a technical course needs getting used to. Also, one gets swept into the competitive frenzy with 100+ riders also going balls out!

But what a buzz, I was back for more a month later and better prepared. Been doing it for the last 5 years and not regretting it

 

Zipping around non stop singletrack for a couple of hours , whats not to like?!

[Bike Mob]

Lap racing is awesome, you get to practise before hand, ride the race and can hone your technical skills because you get to repeat the track each time and get better at it.

 

The WP XCO series is far from technical, I would prefer way more technical sections, the courses are mostly on wine farms with some steep climbs, and flowing singletrack sections to catch your breath.

 

Ride the sport class and see what it's all about, then join your age cat and race knowing you are matched up properly.

 

The series entry fees are "expensive" per km, but the fun is huge, and it's a worthy sport and format to support, the more support; the more races and more competitors mean less entry fees...so get the sport going before you check out because of a little more entry money.

 

You can enter on the day and the people running it also ride and support their kids racing - this format is designed to boost young athletes into the XC sport - how else do you get into the WC circuit.

 

PLUS - most are on wine farms and you can save the extra money you spent on entry fees in cheap wine sales - Happy Days!