READY TO RACE

Our tips on how to turn up at the start line with that extra competitive edge

It’s boom time for mountain biking, the sport is alive with new riders and there are more races and events catering for us than we’ve seen in decades. So whether it’s your first ever race or you’re getting back to it, here’s our quick guide to making your race day less stressful and potentially more successful.

EAT EARLY

Your ride isn’t fuelled by what you eat between stages, it’s mostly down to the glycogen stored from the previous evening and your breakfast. Stick with what you know for those two essential meals, so no experimenting with fasting, spicy burrito breakfasts or oddball hotel food. Eggs, porridge, and Greek yoghurt are your best options. Make sure you eat at least three hours before you start the race, otherwise your blood sugar levels will spike, then crash. Bad idea. Of course, take gels or energy bars with you on the ride, and use them as and when you need them.

BE BOLD, GO OUT COLD

During a race you’ll be riding and working harder than your usual Sunday casual ride. Don’t wear too many layers or thick clothing. You’ll sweat to death. But pack a lightweight jacket. The only times you’ll want to be wearing a jacket is during rest stops and in the queues for the stages. So take a jacket for that, not purely for riding in.

TYRE CHOICE

Nothing wrecks a race like a flat tyre, so prevent it almost at all costs. Basically you want a front tyre that grips hard and a rear that rolls fast but doesn’t puncture very easily. There are a few that’ll do the job, you can see a comprehensive rundown at mbr.co.uk, but the Schwalbe Rock Razor is a classic fast-rolling rear tyre, and the WTB Judge is practically bombproof. Naturally, go for the tougher sidewall option, or failing that add a tyre insert, like a Cushcore.

CABLE MANAGEMENT

Cable routing can make it tricky to attach a number board; if you normally route your cables crossing the head tube then you might want to swap to running cables that don’t cross the head tube i.e. cables on the left hand side of the frame go to the controls on the left hand side of the bars.

WEAR A WATCH

It’s all too easy to lose track of time before and during a race. This can cause rushing and panic at the start. It can also cause you to miss your allocated start time on the timed stages of an enduro, for example.

Strap it to your bars if you don’t want to wear it - pad it out with a piece of foam. Don’t rely on your phone. You won’t look at it often enough. And if you try to keep your phone in your shorts pocket you’ll either crash on it or it’ll bounce out somewhere never to be seen again.