Skip to main content

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. 




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. 
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Six Gap of North Georgia

     This challenging and breathtaking route will take you on a rollercoaster ride of peaks and valleys. The Gaps has sections with sustained grades of 9 to 12 percent, so be ready for some serious climbing. As the ride progresses don’t forget to pay attention to your surroundings, as you will be experiencing some of the most stunning landscapes. The  entire loop including the short 3 mile US 129 connector is 77 miles long. The southern loop is 35 miles and the northern loop is 38 miles. Each of the six segments includes crossing through a mountain “gap” or low pass, hence the name Six Gap. Four of these gaps are at points where the Appalachian Trail crosses the roadway. Woody’s Gap - will reward your hard day’s efforts with a long and scenic descent.     The Six Gaps is a tough but fun ride and is one of my personal favorites -- take on the challenge and you won’t be disappointed. 230 Washington St Weymouth, MA 02188 (781) 337-7125                         Please follow us:  Facebook I
Post a Comment
Read more

🍁 Maple Is My Staple 🍁

   🍁      Maple Is My Staple  🍁      Bike wheels are prone to wear and tear over many miles ridden. So, if you’re a cyclist, replacing your wheels is inevitable. However, getting replacement wheels can be difficult with the many options available on the market. Good carbon fiber wheels are supposed to be strong, durable and lightweight. I opted for a set of  Maple  and couldn’t be happier with one race season under my belt on these wheels. Here are a few reasons why. Maple offers excellent perf ormance for it’s price, specifically designed for their toughness. These wheels have been battle tested in New England on rough trails and rougher roads. This has provided Maple with the ultimate proving grounds to create wheels for everyday use and not just specific wheels for racing or training. The most affordable “one wheelset” is extremely versatile and can handle any terrain encountered through gravel, cyclocross, rocks, roots and sketchy stuff that you probably shouldn’t ride but
Post a Comment
Read more

Race Recap 2021 FLE # 7 - 30 /60 mile - Santos Classic

     The 2021 FLE #7 - 30/60 mile MTB race took place on a 6.8 mile loop of pure single track at the famous Santos MTB Park. Santos boasts 81,290 acres of pure off-road riding bliss. Santos is the largest and best known mountain biking park in the Ocala, Florida area.       Unles s you like the heat, humidity and energy sucking wet trails, you were very lucky to miss this race! I don't do well with extreme heat. The temperature that was displayed on my Garmin at the start of the race was 92 degrees and relative humidity of 77 percent. From the first climb until my back wheel crossed the finish line the fun was out of the bag -- the party was on survival mode as it was a sweat fest. My sweat drenched my kit and was dripping into my eyes. I wasn't anywhere near muscle fatigued, or any other type of worn down, it was just hot, hot and more hot. This was my first mountain bike race that offered such extreme riding conditions.      I knew with all the recent rain that it would be we
Post a Comment
Read more