can'trideforshitonthefirstloopitis.

[motor_mayhem]

as generally a below to average mxer I consider it an obligation to ride the first lap pretty crap (track or trail) otherwise you could end up like those people in that mountain bike lemmings video that circulated recently. The only time I think I've been reasonably on it from the get-go was when I wanted to be faster than someone I was riding with.

[Jay GTI]

that Bel ray just out of huntly is such a hard ride in the dry. I've never been so beaten up.

Give the riverhead hundred a go in clubman. 50km track.

Looked at that, but even with the clubman class there's a couple of things that put me off. First is the use of the word "extreme" in the title of the race, second is the fact there's the question "are you hard enough" on the bottom of the flyer....

Althought I really enjoyed the last trail ride I did at Riverhead.

[scott411]

Looked at that, but even with the clubman class there's a couple of things that put me off. First is the use of the word "extreme" in the title of the race, second is the fact there's the question "are you hard enough" on the bottom of the flyer....

Althought I really enjoyed the last trail ride I did at Riverhead.

most of the Bel_rays are slightly harder versions of mr motorcycles trail rides, done faster and more times, sometimes the get a bit rough, but thier are much harder races,

[gwynfryn]

I rode the Waitamata 2 man (in a team) series last year as my first foray into racing. I would recommend it as a first race, nothing to technical, though as always Riverhead was slippery.
My lasting impression was of hearing a bike behind me then a flash along side as Sean Clarke passed through the trees off the main track.
Oh yeah the arm pump spread through my body and even my feet were cramping at the end.

[Jay GTI]

most of the Bel_rays are slightly harder versions of mr motorcycles trail rides, done faster and more times, sometimes the get a bit rough, but thier are much harder races,

Yeah I've now marked myself down to do the first one, cheers for the pointer.

I rode the Waitamata 2 man (in a team) series last year as my first foray into racing. I would recommend it as a first race, nothing to technical, though as always Riverhead was slippery.
My lasting impression was of hearing a bike behind me then a flash along side as Sean Clarke passed through the trees off the main track.
Oh yeah the arm pump spread through my body and even my feet were cramping at the end.

The first one is in Woodhill Forest, which isn't my favourite place to ride, but will be a good starter as it's local and I do know the terrain. 2nd one is Riverhead though. Funny, I don't seem to have an issue with the slippery conditions at Riverehead, even had people asking me for riding advice last time I was there, for some unknown reason...

[BoristheBiter]

Yeah I've now marked myself down to do the first one, cheers for the pointer.



The first one is in Woodhill Forest, which isn't my favourite place to ride, but will be a good starter as it's local and I do know the terrain. 2nd one is Riverhead though. Funny, I don't seem to have an issue with the slippery conditions at Riverehead, even had people asking me for riding advice last time I was there, for some unknown reason...

We all have our favorite terrain.
I personally love Woodhill also love Maramrua but for some reason Riverhead has me riding like a numpty.
I think it was the first place a rode as a newbie and still have flashbacks of sitting in a bog all day.

WMCC do a fantastic track at Woodhill, think of the blues at the sandpit and that is what to expect.

[raglanash]

Raglan ROCX on Jan 18th is a good one too. 4 hour. 20k ish lap.

[Jay GTI]

WMCC do a fantastic track at Woodhill, think of the blues at the sandpit and that is what to expect.

Is it the same sort of area/terrain of the WMCC Family Day trail rides they do out there? I stopped going to those ages ago, as there was far too much weaving in and out of cutty grass and tussock in 1st gear, not my idea of an enjoyable ride.

Raglan ROCX on Jan 18th is a good one too. 4 hour. 20k ish lap.

Cool cheers, will add it to the list for next year.

[BoristheBiter]

Is it the same sort of area/terrain of the WMCC Family Day trail rides they do out there? I stopped going to those ages ago, as there was far too much weaving in and out of cutty grass and tussock in 1st gear, not my idea of an enjoyable ride.

um yes, if you don't like that then maybe not a good one to start with and the Woodhill 2 man is the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMGHyobUaFI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LXiLMWOfTk

[nzspokes]

um yes, if you don't like that then maybe not a good one to start with and the Woodhill 2 man is the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMGHyobUaFI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LXiLMWOfTk

I like the family days but not the sandpit.

[Lawrence]

I think this is very common among all sports and physical activities. As well as dirt biking I do a lot of windsurfing (high wind stuff) The first run out into the harbor when its blowing 20 knots is always stetchy for me. Basically just like warming up your bike you need to warm up your body, and get it used to full on sudden exercise. I do one quick run out come back to the car, re-fuel the body, let the nerves settle, let the muscles wake up then go back out. The same can be applied to any sport. Do a quick short easy loop, come back to the pits for a 5-10min rest, get a drink, eat small energy snack then hit it again. Otherwise you are asking a lot from your body to go from relaxed state to 100% physical work and 100% concentration all at the same time. No matter how fit you are you should always ease into it.

[BoristheBiter]

I like the family days but not the sandpit.

You just need to get off the main trails and hit the blues.
Nice flowing trails, not much deep sand, more technical than fast.

Endless ride at south head next weekend too.

[nzspokes]

You just need to get of the main trails and hit the blues.
Nice flowing trails, not much deep sand, more technical than fast.

Endless ride at south head next weekend too.

Im doing the fun day on sunday but i have my kids the following weekend. Over labour weekend i might hit the Moto X park if they have the enduro loop open.

[Jay GTI]

um yes, if you don't like that then maybe not a good one to start with and the Woodhill 2 man is the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMGHyobUaFI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LXiLMWOfTk

It's not enough to put me off though, I need to start somewhere and this is as good as any. Those vids a great help though, cheers for those.

I think this is very common among all sports and physical activities. As well as dirt biking I do a lot of windsurfing (high wind stuff) The first run out into the harbor when its blowing 20 knots is always stetchy for me. Basically just like warming up your bike you need to warm up your body, and get it used to full on sudden exercise. I do one quick run out come back to the car, re-fuel the body, let the nerves settle, let the muscles wake up then go back out. The same can be applied to any sport. Do a quick short easy loop, come back to the pits for a 5-10min rest, get a drink, eat small energy snack then hit it again. Otherwise you are asking a lot from your body to go from relaxed state to 100% physical work and 100% concentration all at the same time. No matter how fit you are you should always ease into it.

Overwhelmingly the advice I'm getting, outside of this discussion as well as on here, is it is a natural warm-up cycle and I need to develop myself both mentally and physically to cope. Physically I'm doing the right things, but mentally I have to work on keeping things at a warm-up level and not push it when I'm feeling like I'm riding like a fool. First loop I feel awkward, so I ride awkwardly. I ride awkwardly, which makes me uncomfortable, so I can't relax. Because I'm not relaxed, I'm riding all tensed up, which makes it worse and I go around and around until my cold muscles can't cope any longer and it's back to the ute time. The mental aspect is going to take some working on...

[BoristheBiter]

It's not enough to put me off though, I need to start somewhere and this is as good as any. Those vids a great help though, cheers for those.



Overwhelmingly the advice I'm getting, outside of this discussion as well as on here, is it is a natural warm-up cycle and I need to develop myself both mentally and physically to cope. Physically I'm doing the right things, but mentally I have to work on keeping things at a warm-up level and not push it when I'm feeling like I'm riding like a fool. First loop I feel awkward, so I ride awkwardly. I ride awkwardly, which makes me uncomfortable, so I can't relax. Because I'm not relaxed, I'm riding all tensed up, which makes it worse and I go around and around until my cold muscles can't cope any longer and it's back to the ute time. The mental aspect is going to take some working on...

Ask anyone that competes and they will all have a different routine for starting the day.

Mine starts the night before and i just want quiet on the morning.
The big thing i found was to do slow speed warm ups in the car park. Figure 8's at full lock, both puts your body and mind in the right gear and warms you up as well.

But you will find what works.