What it's like to race XC -- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!
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- čas přidán 13. 05. 2019
- In this video, we take you through the day at a typical cross country mountain bike race -- how to register, how packet pickup works, how early to show up at the start line -- as well as answering pressing questions such as "will there be toilet paper in the port-a-potties?" and "what the fudge does cat 3 mean, what if I only have two cats?!?!"
Did we forget to cover something important? Tell us in the comments!
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A consistent message the two of you share is “have fun” be supportive and hang out.
Great advice as well as explaining the unknown stresses for beginners.
I don't know what I'm doing here... your warmup is my workout :D
You two have become my favorite CZcams channel. Congrats!
Being benduros favourite youtuber is a high award among bike youtubers
Another great video. This was very informative and fun to watch. Excellent quality. thank you !
Thank you for creating such a helpful video. I watch a lot of mountain bike videos and your channel is my favorite. Seeing the two of you work together and teaching all of us is seriously a joy. Keep making great content.
Great video, excellent event background really informative and your experience and the way you share it with others just comes across and shows the fun
I wish I had seen this video a couple of years ago when I started "racing", great content guys, cheers from Argentina!
Thanks so much for doing this video! Just bought my first hardtail (partly because of y'alls awesome inspiration) and am thinking about signing up for my first "race" this summer. This content was great! Y'all rock!!!
Wow...awesome. I'm retired and I have been riding for years. Soooooo...I have decided to race for fun and meet some riders who are at my level to ride with. Great advance on racing!!! Yall (southern word!!) are awesome!!
Passing in my races is just yelling "on your right" and zooming by
Great channel, helpful content, awesome vibe! 👍
Very sound advice. Thanks so much for the content!
Agree. Hills always feel shorter the second time. I have spent a lifetime pre riding XC courses…at least the big climbs or technical sections. At times, the knowledge I gained has been critically important for me on race day. I also love your advice of arriving with plenty of time before the event! Don’t create more stress if you can avoid it. But your best advice was in regard to not worrying about looking cool because “nobody cares.“ Super advice you two!!!!
Thanks guys this was a massive help. I have my first race in a week, only about 10 miles.and I’ve only been riding for about two montgs
this was fabulous information it is really going to help me with my first race, thank you.
John from MAD Racing Colorado Just Informed Me That You Guys Will Be Here Next Month - So Stoked!!
Cheers
I know that I’m late to the video but thank you so much!! My first every bike isn’t even built yet and I signed up for a local XX race haha! Can’t wait
To the point for xc race, great share!
You guys keep killing it! Taco Tuesday !
thanks for sharing. yall awesome!
Very informative guys thanks a lot
Interesting your warmup. I'll do 30 minutes of DDP YOGA alone to clear my head, stretch and get my heartrate up.
A very helpful video. Maybe do a long format POV video of an actual XC from your perspective where you fast forward through anything that's repetitive or dull and have it play at regular speed during what you consider "key points" for a beginner? Thanks :)
Good Info guys......Thanks!!
❤️ so much great info 🙏 thanks guys 📸🚴🚴🔝👍💪
Gracias Amigos!
Me encantan sus videos!! I am not a biker but I love watching your videos! Mucha suerte amigos =)
Gracias Sandra 😊
I'm just about to sign up for my first race ever (Battle of CamRock).This video was super helpful!
Awesome! Good luck!
I wish more people used your passing rules I’ve been in races where people refuse to move and other where they move past you whenever they feel like it.
Very good, thank you
You guys are awesome! I want to race XC. I've never raced before & I'm in my mid 30's. I just want to be in better shape & love riding bikes. Been riding mountain bikes off & on since I was a kid but my 1st real bike I bought was a 2011 Jamis Exile II HT 29er. Awesome XT bike for $900. I still have it and loan it out to friends that want to go ride. I'll be looking for a new bike soon and trying my luck at the beginner class here in Phoenix when the weather cools down! Thanks for all the advice
Right on!
I would say go and ride the trail at least once before the race or competition. Drinking is a hydration via camel pack or water bottle solution. Eating is secondary you can eat anytime after you will not die while competing.
40 minute warmup is good - i would consider doing a portion of your warmup off your bike as well. Dynamic stretching, body mechanic drills, etc.. can reduce your injury risk substantially.
Great video. At a minimum I like to look (maybe pre-ride) the first and last 1/2 mile of the lap. That way you won’t crash in a hectic start scenario and you also know how the lap ends (maybe sprint for the win :)) keep up the good work. 👍
Great idea!!!
Thank you a lot
Sooo true bout the hill climbs! Luv my Dakota race to knock them down!
Thank you
The race briefing also generally tells you how the course will be marked so if you think you have gone off course you know what to look for. I think this is everywhere but it might just be the races I’ve been at
Good point! Not all course markings are created equal so it's good to pay attention to this 😂
Love the cats! Too funny.
My first ever race is on Saturday! This is helpful!
Good luck!
@@sydandmacky Thanks I was 1 second away from top 5. Such a fun experience
No way! Congratulations! 🎉
I don’t know if I could get more awesome. But I’m gonna try you guys!
there is no upper limit to the awesome 💁
For passing, you should also definitely let them know what side. As in ON YOUR LEFT and when they move over or acknowledge you pass. I can't imagine someone stopping or even slowing down much to let someone pass unless they're stalling out on a tight climb or going too slow on a tight gnarly downhill? It's up to the passer to pass not hog the course because they are faster, you just give them a bit of room (don't purposely block them) but don't mess up your timing or safe line to do so, you are also racing and some sections are just not pass friendly.
I agree. You should not be passing in a manner (or location) that would disrupt somebody to the point they have to slow down heavily or (even worse) dismount. Normally as I approach somebody on narrow singletrack I will announce from behind "rider up" so they know I'm getting close. It also gives them them a chance to tell me when they are ready for a pass AND which side they want me to go on. Some people appreciate the opportunity and will say "pass me on the left/right/etc." or "pass now" when they feel safe. However if they don't say anything then I will wait for a spot that opens up wider and then do the standard "on your left/right/etc" and quickly pass before the trail narrows up again.
I still haven't been to any kind of race that has started on time 😁
Great video. I have a heavy 160 mm front and rear specialized status. I want to race this 10-15 km xc races do you think this bike is good enough?
Cross Country Race PHD with Honors
When I was signing up for my 1st race my friends would have never ridden with me again if I had signed up for Cat 3. I'd say if you're a somewhat experienced MTBer, Cat 2 is the way to go. Cat 3 is typically designed for kids and brand new riders.
Also, thanks for coming and riding the Zuni Mts. Please hit up our Gallup NM trails when you get a chance!
We always recommend people start with Cat 3 unless they are fairly certain it wouldn't be a good fit (or they don't want to). It's easy to move up for the next race and sometimes harder to go down (because of peer pressure/your own expectations, etc) if you started in too high a category... While cat 3 may be primarily for brand new riders at some races, we've done plenty of races where that isn't the case and lots of people want to spend some time racing there before moving up to the more competitive cat 2 category!
Not sure about other places but here in So-Cal you will get SMOKED in CAT 2 unless you have racing experience AND are training a few hours every week. There is nothing wrong with racing CAT 3 if you don't meet that criteria. If you've never raced before in any other other cycling discipline, then definitely sign up for CAT 3 for at least one season. If you end up on the podium multiple times, then you will know when it's time to move up.
Geezus your friends sound terrible. Certainly if you're a fit, experienced rider and have already ridden lots with others outside racing, then you'll already know if a higher category is appropriate for you.
Very late to the party as I've only just found you guys through a BKXC video. You mentioned in the video the average time of an xc race being about 2 hours do you happen to know if this is roughly the same across the pond in the U.K. Done a few charity rides this year and fancy having a go at the real thing. Great channel learnt a lot already keep it up.
Welcome! Haven't raced any XC in the UK, but I would guess it's similar. You could always check results from last year's event to get an idea based on the category you plan to race.
The 3rd cat 😂
Good video guys. Question: what are your thoughts on racing with a hydration pack?
If the race is long enough or there aren't feeds where you can get replacement bottles, then definitely. Dehydration is worse than a little extra weight! We shoot to drink a minimum of 1 bottle/hour.
@@sydandmacky thanks! Keep up the good work
Wanted to try some energy chews/hydration mix but wow that's expensive. For pros it's obviously okay but I can't imagine eating a bag of chews and drinking a bottle of hydration mix on my Sunday ride. You would end up paying so much for it. I guess it also depends on what your priorities are🤷♂️
Did you guys use a GoPro for this vid? The quality looks good!
The talking sections are with our vlogging camera which is a Canon g7x mark 2 and the rest is a mix of rylo and go pro 7
Your gps unit. Is that a ‘landscape’ mode of sorts? What brand? Cant see if it Garmin for sure. Do Wahoos do that? My bolt is old and i have a stem mount to keep it behind the bar. Thx. -U10
It's the Stages Dash in landscape more. There's a link (and discount code) in the description.
What is a good budget full suspension beginner race bike?
It's weird how different USA racing is to the UK. For example "packet pickup" is called sign on and is in the morning and closes 30 mins before the race
Some races are like that (smaller ones, generally) but the big ones usually have it the day before.
Damn Macky, put on some sunscreen. :D
I have a question. What do you guys carry (if anything) in terms of an on-the-trail repair kit when racing?
Plugs and CO2, tire lever, quick link, multi tool (with chain break) and tube attached to the bike.
@@sydandmacky Awesome, thanks!!
Can you do this on enduro races?
Yup, that'll be coming in a couple weeks. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!
Is there any shame in racing with a camelback? I’ve been racing cat2 for a few years and starting to take it more seriously. I prefer the weight on my back and not on the bike. I noticed almost everyone going with bottles in cat1 & 2. Any real advantage either way?
Definitely no shame! We use packs for longer races. Whatever you're comfortable with is great. Personally I love the feeling of not having anything on my back, so I'll go without when I can, but it really is personal preference.
Do you think a scott genius could enter a beginner xc category? Is it way too much bike??
I race on my 2018 Genius 700 tuned. I use my 29er dt dt swiss set. Clydesdale or CAT 3. Use whatever you have, have fun. Check my XC video people ride xc and trail bikes.👍🏽
Also the because of the twinlock it makes the Genius virtually 3 bikes one. Full lockout climbing or flat fire road Full open during rowdy decents. Its awesome. But its less about the bike more about the racer.
You will get people on all sorts of bikes in a beginner category, especially at a local race, so we say "run what ya brung" and enjoy the day 😊
the closer you get to the race destination you'll feel like you're gonna puke if it is your first time
If i would do your warm up i would be so bad in the race, because then i would already be done fitness wise... 🙈
😂🤣
Can you take subtitles for bahasa?
Anybody else catch the link above his head?
Plan ahead and please DO NOT BONK...I bonked ONE time,and I thought I was really going to just die. I was sick,I was confused, I could barely move,much less ride a bike..He came back for me and I was sitting on the ground,wondering what happened...NOT something you want to experience.....
First
Why do Enduro Racers wear baggy shorts and jerseys VS Cross Country Racers wear tight fitting gear? Seem's like you want loose fitting gear for cooling. Just like in Motocross, loose fitting.
Why in the world are there 6 down votes?
Some people are grumpy?? 🤷♀️
They mad cuz their entire workout, is S&M's warm up.