From not being able to ride 500 metres three years ago, one reader is ready to try his first MTB race but needs some advice from other readers.
– By Hendrik Jansen
About three years ago I realised I had to do something about my health as I am an office worker and I was living a very unhealthy life, like so many around me. I grew up cycling and it was my only means of transport until I left school, some 28 years ago, and I didn’t realise how unfit I really was after so many years of doing nothing.
I had a three-year old Raleigh MTB and I told my wife one afternoon that I had decided to start cycling again the next day. I pumped the wheels and made sure everything was ready for the next day after work. Arriving home I changed into a t-shirt, shorts and tackies and told her that I was going for a quick few kilometres. Man, I nearly died before I had done 500 metres! Initially I thought there was something seriously wrong with the bike. After about 10 minutes I turned back home and barely managed to reach it. My wife said something like “that was quick” but I didn’t have any breath left answer her. Fortunately it made me think.
I could have parked the bike and forget about it but the next afternoon I forced myself to go for a ride again. It took me almost a month before I could do five kilometres without blowing a gasket. I kept on pushing my target up. Earlier in the year I decided to treat myself and after a lot of research I bought a Momsen 329. I realise that it is not top of the class but I really enjoy my bike.
Sometimes it is still a struggle to overcome my inherent laziness but lately it has become much easier. I live in a smallish town, Potgietersrus, and there are not many people around here who cycle, especially MTB. I found a partner in a colleague and we try to motivate each other. One of the benefits of our rural area is that there are so many lovely places to cycle. I can be out of town within five minutes of leaving home on my bicycle and I try to make best use of the opportunity. I’m happy to report that we now manage to do 40+ kilometers without serious health problems.
I am looking for some advice on doing my first MTB race. Because I have not been exposed to any MTB races so far I’m a bit scared to try it. What do you suggest? Where should I start? What sort of time should I aim at to do a 40 kilometre ride in order to prevent me from making my name #@$% in front of other people?
Do you have any advice for Hendrik? Please post your comments below.
Great story and well done on coming so far!! I would say just go ahead and enter and enjoy the race. Don’t go for any particular time. Especially for your first race…
I know when I first started doing races, I would average around 10km an hour for the more technical ones. So that would make it 4 hours to 40km? Sounds painfully slow I know – but I certainly wasn’t coming last! Obviously if it’s more jeep than single track, the times would be faster.
Just do it, dont worry about other people, one thing about MTB’ers is we stand together and help each other.
Hi Hendrik – well done so far on your perseverance, my advice for what it is worth would be; to enjoy the spirit of the ride, not race, enjoy and talk/chat to the people that ride with and around you and to soak in the atmosphere of the event. We are all brothers linked by a common interest- cycling, revel in this as it is not common, especially in this day and age. Welcome to the cycling brethren and enjoy it above all else.
Just enter and have fun. Just prepare yourself and your bike. Get spare tubes and chain breakers in case you break your chain, tends to happen at technical areas.
Don’t worry too much about your time. Ride. Enjoy.
Just enjoy the ride. I promise you you won’t be last. Not by a long shot!!
Hi Hendrik, pls come and enjoy us at Polokwane game rides on weekends, you will enjoy it. sat at 6 am and sundays at 3 pm. wellcome to mtb
Hendrik, many a good word may be passed on this page. The reality of it is this… Some MTB races are easy and others can be very hard and then those in betweeners, if you want to call them that. You have to do a race. My advice would be to do a shorter race first, an 18 to 20 km. If you enjoy it, and the gas is in the tank… Your next one’s distance is up to you. It is essential you enjoy the first one and 40km’s can be a long way. IT IS ESSENTIAL YOU HAVE FUN AND ENJOY RIDING THAT COUNTS.
Hi Hendrik, what a coincidence, my name is also Hendrik and I took up cycling 4 months ago. I am 61years old and like you I huffed and puffed and battled after 40 years of smoking. I bought myself a Momsen 129. I have now done 4 mountain bike races although I have limited myself to the shorter fun runs (20km to 30km). Will be attempting the half marathons in the new year. I have now done approximately 900km since the beginning of June.
I rode in the Crater Cruise over the weekend. 28km on Saturday and 17km on Sunday and in both cases I finished before about 100 other participants. My advice to you is just to enter any one of these races and just to ride at your own pace and you will be surprised how well you do. Mountain bikers are a nice bunch and will stop and help you if needed so don’t worry about making a fool of yourself….it won’t happen.
I’ve already entered the 25km event in the 94.7 cycle challenge. Even if I do come stone last I’m racing against myself and nobody else. Come join me!!!!
I was in the same condition about four years ago. On my first race my goals were 1. Don’t crash 2. Finish the race. 3. Learn and enjoy as much as you can.The BUG has bitten