MTB0007 Posted June 18, 2013 Posted June 18, 2013 I usually do half marathon "races"- rides --But the chance to ride with top names was just too much -- so I had a moment of brain fade tonight and entered the Masters XCO race in Pietermaritzburg in Aug..Now I will def need to do serious hill training - and make sure I can at least do laps..Anyone with a few tip??? Donovan Le Cok 1
Stefmyster Posted June 18, 2013 Posted June 18, 2013 I did my 1st XCO race this past weekend and man was it fun. In fact, it is what I will be focusing on from now on. Interval training should be a huge priority in my opinion. You'll sprinting up and down with little/no resting and an insanely hard start means a solid warm up on the day is needed. The top guys are about 5 times as fast as they look on TV so be prepared for that mentally They ride at threshold all the way. It's a great form of racing, just be prepared for some seriously intense riding at threshold. Â Good luck and remember to enjoy it!! PeterF, Brian Fantana and Dan Dob 3
stringbean Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 If you only entered now no need to train.Seeding on the line will be according to when you entered the event so at the moment you have at least 50 people ahead of you on the start line.When the front guys come round to finish lap 1 of the 5 km course maybe you would have started by then.Not trying to be mean but that is the reality of starting so far back.If you gt laped you get taken off the course.
Padawan Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Laped or not you participating in an XCO World Champs in your own back yard....fantastic. "feel the burn" and good luck. Brian Fantana, Tumbleweed and jannosmit 3
Iron Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 my training was on track for this , but alas i small injusry has slowed things down . however i will still be racing and if it goes south i will gladly sit under a tree and enjoy the boys bleeding just to say i was at another world cup ( made it as a open pro years back so this is going to be a old age repeat of that ) .
DJG Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 which age group bud? I'm toying with the idea as well to just go for the heck of it! Have until month end to get an entry in (should be 30-34 group).
CAAD4 Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 my training was on track for this , but alas i small injusry has slowed things down . however i will still be racing and if it goes south i will gladly sit under a tree and enjoy the boys bleeding just to say i was at another world cup ( made it as a open pro years back so this is going to be a old age repeat of that ) .my training was on track for this , but alas i small injusry has slowed things down . however i will still be racing and if it goes south i will gladly sit under a tree and enjoy the boys bleeding just to say i was at another world cup ( made it as a open pro years back so this is going to be a old age repeat of that ) . This ain't no World Cup, this is the World Champs you are riding my man!
Iron Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 This ain't no World Cup, this is the World Champs you are riding my man! My Bad , yes the World champs , sorry
Grebel Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 my training was on track for this , but alas i small injusry has slowed things down . however i will still be racing and if it goes south i will gladly sit under a tree and enjoy the boys bleeding just to say i was at another world cup ( made it as a open pro years back so this is going to be a old age repeat of that ) . World Cup? Pffft this is World Champs man! A once in a lifetime opportunity for some. Just getting your name in the starting list is an acheivement in my books regardless of how many laps you do. Good luck to everybody that enters! SwissVan 1
nigelhicks Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 The Masters XC Course is cool rode it lots on the weekend ... Lots of singletrack! TONS of tight switchbacks ... and only 2 real climbs ... the track as it stands now is about 9km long i think but Nick says he may shorten it a bit to about 7km ... also he said he will be adding in some proper tech stuff soon with A, B and C lines to get you through or around the obstacles. Look out for some gap jumps and rock gardens! Grebel 1
SwissVan Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 I usually do half marathon "races"- rides --But the chance to ride with top names was just too much -- so I had a moment of brain fade tonight and entered the Masters XCO race in Pietermaritzburg in Aug..Now I will def need to do serious hill training - and make sure I can at least do laps..Anyone with a few tip???  Get a XCO training program from a good coach aiming to peak for the event, hill training is ok but also focus on the intensity. Start getting used to riding at your lactic threshold level for the estimated time that your age group will race for. Do this by doing LT interval efforts during training, ideally on an indoor trainer so you can ride the whole time at the required effort and recover between the efforts. IF you are not used to LT intervals build up to them gradually. Warming up before the start is important but you might end up waiting in the start zone for 20 minutes, so get used to doing this and still starting fast and then maintaining your race pace every lap Do a few regional or better national level XCO events, ideally on the same course that worlds will be held on (home advantage is meant to be abused). Knowing the track really helps a lot.
Spinnekop Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Get a XCO training program from a good coach aiming to peak for the event, hill training is ok but also focus on the intensity. Start getting used to riding at your lactic threshold level for the estimated time that your age group will race for. Do this by doing LT interval efforts during training, ideally on an indoor trainer so you can ride the whole time at the required effort and recover between the efforts. IF you are not used to LT intervals build up to them gradually. Warming up before the start is important but you might end up waiting in the start zone for 20 minutes, so get used to doing this and still starting fast and then maintaining your race pace every lap Do a few regional or better national level XCO events, ideally on the same course that worlds will be held on (home advantage is meant to be abused). Knowing the track really helps a lot. Seriously tempted to do this.But I don't believe in my ability to race with the big guns........
SwissVan Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Seriously tempted to do this.But I don't believe in my ability to race with the big guns........ Liar...  Its an easy decision....as far as i know you are fit, can race with the top guys in your age group on the road and ENJOY doing it So If you've got a mtb, can ride XCO type courses (there is still time to learn) and don't do it then you are missing out on a really great racing experience. Enter enter enter before its to late and you hate yourself forever
gummibear Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 I usually do half marathon "races"- rides --But the chance to ride with top names was just too much -- so I had a moment of brain fade tonight and entered the Masters XCO race in Pietermaritzburg in Aug..Now I will def need to do serious hill training - and make sure I can at least do laps..Anyone with a few tip??? Â Congrats and enjoy the race.
gummibear Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Seriously tempted to do this.But I don't believe in my ability to race with the big guns........ Like i said to a friend.....Enter,you don't know what will happen on race day.At best top guys miss their plane and you get a medal
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