| This article goes out to all you aspiring | | | | pedal quickly, but guess what - it took me a |
| mountain bike racers. I want to tell you a | | | | few tries this time and everyone was passing |
| little bit about my first mountain bike race, | | | | me.After a half mile or so, we hit a nice |
| and maybe it will inspire you to get to one | | | | steep hill with plenty of switchbacks to |
| yourself.Let's start from the beginning...I | | | | separate the field. I love hills, so I |
| picked up a form at my local bike shop, | | | | passed a few people, and chased a few more at |
| filled it out, and sent it in along with $13. | | | | the top. Then I ran into a little problem: |
| Then I re-read Ned Overend's book to make | | | | my descending skills. It's not that I was |
| sure that I would know what was going on at | | | | bad, but I was pretty inexperienced; everyone |
| the race. I had no clue what to expect at | | | | I passed on the climb would catch me on the |
| the race since I had never been to one. All | | | | descent. After trading places with the same |
| I knew was that I should pre-ride the course | | | | people over a few hills, I knew I couldn't |
| before race day.Well the week before the race | | | | keep wasting my energy like that. So on the |
| my mom and I drove out to the location of the | | | | next downhill I just let the bike go. I had |
| race looking for a state forest or a place | | | | never had the balls to go so fast, and no one |
| with trails. No such luck. After talking to | | | | could catch me anymore!The race just kept |
| a local, we found out that the race course is | | | | getting harder as it went on. Everything was |
| on private property and it is only open for | | | | pretty much mental; I've never ridden so fast |
| the day of the race. OK. The trip wasn't a | | | | or been in so much agony! At least I could |
| total waste; at least we knew the directions | | | | check my odometer and see that only 4 miles |
| and how long it would take to get there. We | | | | are left!As the race went on, I was passing |
| drove around a few back roads, and I was able | | | | people who were wearing team jerseys. How |
| to get a feel for some of the terrain I would | | | | can they be sponsored?Then I hit a nice |
| be riding.The race would be on Saturday, so I | | | | downhill along a pipe line. Very fun! Took |
| made sure to take Thursday off and get a | | | | a corner and... another hill!People start |
| decent ride in on Friday so I would be fresh. | | | | cheering for me at the base of the hill, |
| (If you take a day off the day before the | | | | which was kind of weird; I had never had |
| race, your legs may feel "dead" on race day.) | | | | people cheer for me while I was out riding by |
| Also on Friday, I tried to load up as much | | | | bike before. Anyway, this hill is freakin' |
| race stuff as possible to save time Saturday | | | | great! I couldn't feel the pain anymore, and |
| morning.I woke up nice and early Saturday | | | | I just started flying up the hill because I |
| morning and had a large breakfast of apple | | | | knew the race was almost over. (One good use |
| cinnamon pancakes four hours before the race. | | | | for an odometer!)I got to the top of the |
| Then I threw all my stuff in the truck and | | | | hill, realized that there was a left turn and |
| double-checked by MTB race checklist to be | | | | more hill! Worked out perfect since I was |
| sure I had everything I needed.We left for | | | | able to pass someone else. Then it was all |
| the race, which was just a little over an | | | | fun downhill. The feeling I had on the climb |
| hour away. The ride gave me some time to | | | | was truly euphoric. That's what racing is |
| plan my race strategy and listen to some | | | | all about!As I near the end, people are out |
| music to get me pumped up. Once we got | | | | on their porches watching the race and |
| closer I could see the riders warming up on | | | | cheering me on. After a sharp right, I cross |
| the streets. I saw so many nice bikes and | | | | the finish line. My mom is nowhere to be |
| team jerseys; I was a tad intimidated.We | | | | seen, so I take a cool down lap. When I came |
| parked over in the field with everyone else. | | | | back to the line, some guy crossed it and his |
| Walked around a little and made it to the | | | | friend said that he might have made the Top |
| registration table. They had a packet for | | | | 10 with that finish. I was puzzled. I was |
| "Levin Bloom." After they changed that, I | | | | sure there was a pretty big crowd of riders |
| changed into my cycling clothes and started | | | | ahead of me.Then I simply waited around for a |
| to warm up for 20-30 minutes. (By the way, | | | | couple hours (nothing unusual) as results |
| when I changed, I found a little bathroom | | | | were compiled, and enjoyed a nice shaved ice |
| under a pavilion. Normally you just change | | | | and some free water during the wait. And |
| at your car.)I tried to practice my start and | | | | yes, I did change out of my nasty, sweaty |
| my finish since they were in the same spot. | | | | uniform.Finally, the trophies: I got 5th |
| It's always nice to know if there are any | | | | overall, giving me a 1st in the 16-19 age |
| sharp turns or other surprises close to the | | | | category, and earning myself a nice little |
| finish, especially if you are duking it out | | | | trophy to go with my free t-shirt. Wow!Then |
| for first place.I made it back and people | | | | I went home with the first trophy I could be |
| were starting to line up so I jumped in about | | | | proud of! I love racing!Levi Bloom has been |
| three or four rows back. The race director | | | | racing bikes for about 3 years now. He is |
| had to give a quick speech at the line about | | | | also the founder and owner of Bloom Bike Shop |
| race etiquette and the like. Start! Here we | | | | and Check out for more useful bike info |
| go! I had been practicing clipping-in to the | | | | and bike repair tutorials. |