XC Mountain Bike Racing the Intensity is Always Present!
While XC racing focuses more on distance and endurance over technical challenges of negotiating difficult terrain on or over complex obstacles, there is another factor that is often over looked or under emphasized. That element of racing is the mental game. At the higher levels of competition most competitors have a similar combination of skill, talent and fitness. To out-perform competitors or simply ride your best you must be mentally tough.
Control what you can, don't worry about the rest. This is excellent advice especially when embarking on an endurance XC race or racing in the elite ranks. So, what can you control before and during a race and what should you worry about less? With the help of all the Class Act Racing athletes, We've put together a list to help prepare you for your next event.
Things you can control
Prepare Your Bike: Get in the habit of performing maintenance checks and safety checks on your bike. This should be done prior to the start of a race.
Training: This is key to a good result. Train as you fight. Consider a coach or a training plan.
Nutrition: Being mindful of how you fuel your body. A good nutrition plan will help aid with recovery.
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Things you can't control
Other Riders Performance: You cant control how well another rider does. If your competition beats you you must be happy with your performance and determine how you can approve for the next time.
Mechanicals: Tires go flat, parts break. Get comfortable with fixing common issues on your bike. It's much harder to fix your bike when freaking out.
Crashes: All riders crash at some point. These can occur due to other riders, terrain changes and weather. After a crash it is key to access your health and condition of bike before moving on.
After reading this article you probably realize that XC racing is more intricate and psychologically demanding than you had initially imagined.The most important part of your racing is the mental toughness. You have to race your own race, believe in yourself and have the self-confidence to focus on yourself and not your opponents when you’re under pressure. You have to be able to handle last minute negativity and self-doubts.
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