Training for a 3-hour x-country

[NordieBoy]

So what should I be doing before race day?

I've been doing the shorter stuff (watching youtube clips of races) and also longer as well (Shane Watts DVD's).

The race gear all matches and works well with the bike.

I really want to win this one but am up against Topo on the DRZ400 and Zerax on the KDX200.

What colour energy drink should I use?

So much to do and so little time!

[topo]

So what should I be doing before race day?

The race gear all matches and works well with the bike.




That blue snoozuki beanie does NOT!! match a red honda, doesn't matter which angle you look from:shit:

Mr Rax is a best man at a wedding tomorow so it's just up to us tomorrow:Punk:

[NordieBoy]

Mr Rax is a best man at a wedding tomorow so it's just up to us tomorrow:Punk:

Depends. What time is the weeding?

[morg_nz]

I think you raise some very important points..

Firstly, competition as its most basic form is purely psychological - If you arrive at a race with matching gear and accessories, you must be serious - maybe even sponsored? Also, if you put the brand of the bike you own on your gear, you will look even more serious (thats how they do it in the pro's anyways). Also, if you fall off with a pile of other riders, and get separated from your bike, at least one of the support crew will put you back on the same brand of bike!

Secondly, and probably more importantly is the energy drink issue. I recommend researching what energy drink sponsors your bike (i.e. rockstar suzuki, monster kawasaki). if however you ride a honda, you may be in trouble as there is the red bull honda team, but also the woodstock honda thor team. Personally, I prefer the woodstock sponsorship, but some of the PC brigade may take exception to you 'cracking a woody' on the start line

Anyways, best of luck - and remember you can match your gear to your hearts content and will never look like a tosser, because there will always be someone at a race with a KTM, KTM undies, KTM socks, KTM umbrella, KTM jacket, KTM tools, KTM belt bag, KTM friendship bracelet and KTM toaster!!

[Woodman]

I knew a guy from the Isle of mann, and he said that you could tell the pros cos they had someone else wheel their bike to the start line.

baked beans bananas and berrocca for breaky and you will be good to go.

[vazza]

KTM friendship bracelet

Where can I get one of these said 'KTM friendship bracelets'?

[noobi]

Where can I get one of these said 'KTM friendship bracelets'?

here ya go

[morg_nz]

Where can I get one of these said 'KTM friendship bracelets'?

Im sure its in the KTM power parts catalogue?

[vazza]

here ya go

Nah thats the GasGas friendship bracelet. That looks gay

[noobi]

Nah thats the GasGas friendship bracelet. That looks gay

Hence why its for a KTM

;)

[NordieBoy]

Bugger that!

I need to watch more long races. My endurance was not up to scratch.

Severe hand cramps, left leg cramps...

It got worse when the race started.

[NordieBoy]

Totally buggered after that race.
The I had to ride for an hour to get home.

Topo lapped me once and Javahead lapped me twice?

But more importantly...........



I passed someone! :woohoo:


They were on a KLX300 but it still counts!
I think I ended up in front of the G450X bimmer as well but he kept falling off.

I had to have 2 goes at one hill on the first lap and got stuck in a bog (go around the bog!) and got completely cased out in a steep clay uphill rut.
As I'm at the top gasping for air, Topo comes past. But not from where I came up.
2 bikes after me and they'd closed that section of the track as it was too hard :( Bastards...

Some of the downhill bits were 1st gear, clutch out, front and rear brakes on as hard as possible and still picking up speed. Thank doG for berms at the bottom.

I didn't need to refuel either :D That must have pissed some people off, having to pass me again after the pits.

I fell off once in a low speed tight right hander front washout which twisted the forks but it was only a couple of km to the finish so I just went for it.

The wet, slick clay climbs had remarkably good grip considering I'd done the same sections before in races and had real problems.

The engine was sweet but it would have been good to have some suspension travel.
The hand cramps were so bad I didn't know if I would be able to grab the brake or clutch or even be able to hold on at the bottom of the hills.

Good fun :D

[topo]

Nice one Nordie, had a blast!

Felt much better than the last one up st arnurd, not only did i actually complete the 3 hrs this time but was actually looking forward to doing more laps each time i went through the control. it was the most fun track ive ridden on yet (maybe it was the new tires).

can't wait for the next one.

[NordieBoy]

it was the most fun track ive ridden on yet (maybe it was the new tires).
It was the tyres.

[NordieBoy]

Holy crap I'm sore today...


Almost feels like I've done a 3-hour cross country over rough terrain with no training on an old crapper with no suspension and no brakes.

:doh:

[warewolf]

(maybe it was the new tires).New tyres are the best performance mod you can make to any bike.


no suspension and no brakes.
Funny how at the 6 hour the TSS front end was 'the schizz' and now it is relegated to 'no suspension.'

I thought after the 6 hour you worked out what was wrong with the brakes... which implies you bothered to fix it??

Speaking to Sij ('Berg FE450) today, he says he really enjoyed it. Helped pull Nordieboy out of the bog, and also Wazza (G450X) after several off-piste excursions.

[NordieBoy]

Funny how at the 6 hour the TSS front end was 'the schizz' and now it is relegated to 'no suspension.'
The 6-hour wasn't nearly this rough and I didn't ride for 3 hours in one go :D
I was riding much faster/harder than I've done in a 3-hour before. Every so often the front would "clunk" at the top/bottom of the travel whereas before that's what happened over all bumps. I wouldn't have lasted half the race if I'd done that pace on the "old" suspension. I'd also put some Vibranators in the bars to reduce vibration.


I thought after the 6 hour you worked out what was wrong with the brakes... which implies you bothered to fix it??
The brakes are probably about as good as single leading shoe XR drum brakes are going to get. It just wasn't a drum brake friendly track. They were constantly wet from the nicely spaced out river crossings and bogs. The enduro-cross section wasn't friendly to low ground clearance bikes either. I kept caseing out on the skidder tyres and the first of the 3 log sections.


Speaking to Sij ('Berg FE450) today, he says he really enjoyed it. Helped pull Nordieboy out of the bog, and also Wazza (G450X) after several off-piste excursions.
I think he looked forward to the rests off the bike :D
That's the first time I've ever been stuck in a bog.

In a bit dryer weather it would be an awesome track. However with all the wetness it was merely really good.

Almost the whole track would be ADV bike friendly in the dry except for the small steep section straight down through the trees and then a small drop off to a 90 degree right hander in a bog at the bottom. I kept thinking I was going to go over the bars at the bottom of that one.

[NordieBoy]

I beat 7 people!

And 2 were still racing!

[warewolf]

Champion!

You realise you have now set a precedent, and last will no longer be acceptable :D

[NordieBoy]

I've never finished last.

I've been last to finish though :D