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