GNCC 11th October - Woodhill

**Rupe** · 12th October 2008, 20:21

Originally Posted by barty5

sweeeeeeeeet beter than the 22 i thought i had not bad for an old bastard a rupe

Yeah good effort, wasn't easy to move up the feild so you did a good job, unlike me who kept crashing. If the next one is fast with jumps that doesn't really sound to good for me, but will have a go anyway.

**dammad1** · 12th October 2008, 21:43

Originally Posted by rupecopp

Yeah good effort, wasn't easy to move up the feild so you did a good job, unlike me who kept crashing. If the next one is fast with jumps that doesn't really sound to good for me, but will have a go anyway.

They are not big jumps though, alot of ski jumps going up some fast open uphills, they are totally awesome and you can hit them tapped without any real worries, really good place to pass people as some are a bit tentative over them and I am certainly no expert on jumping.

I wondered what happend to you Reckless, I didn't see your name on the results and thought you mustn't of turned up.

**barty5** · 12th October 2008, 22:30

Originally Posted by dammad1

They are not big jumps though, alot of ski jumps going up some fast open uphills, they are totally awesome and you can hit them tapped without any real worries, really good place to pass people as some are a bit tentative over them and I am certainly no expert on jumping.

I wondered what happend to you Reckless, I didn't see your name on the results and thought you mustn't of turned up.

im likin the sound of this round more and more roll on the 8th

**Reckless** · 13th October 2008, 08:33

Originally Posted by dammad1

I wondered what happend to you Reckless, I didn't see your name on the results and thought you mustn't of turned up.

Turned up, stuffed up, then spent the rest of the day giving the others jelly beans in the pits. It was a good learning experience for my first time out. I learnt, you gotta stay on the bike for the first lap to even score. One guy next to me in pit lane did the first lap, rested for an hour then took of for his second lap?? So it was good to go to my first enduro and learn the ropes. What I should have done was go along and watch one or two races last year so I knew what to expect.
No probs though, gonna practice racing

in the future not just riding. LOL!! Hopefully pain doesn't come with it!!

One of my problems is the bike usually feels good under me but on most rides (even casual days) the first 40mins (or lap) everything feels strange, track wise, nothing seems 2 be quite clicking, I'm just not seeing things right. Then I get into the groove and everything flows, see the corners better, anticipate better etc etc. Then i get tired and I make a few mistakes but it still feels good. Its the first bit I didn't get through at the GNCC when I hit the tree and burst the water hose?

My question for you experienced guys is: Does this first odd feeling bit go away with heaps practice/experiance or will I always have to manage that as part of my race plan??

**Ktmboy** · 13th October 2008, 09:03

Ah, this is commonly refered to as the "Red Mist"

. Everyone going hell for leather in the first 15 minutes. But you're not going to do good when you fall off 6 times in the first lap.
I started from grid 6 which is not ideal and by half way through I reckon that I'd passed at least 20 riders. Passed being not quite the right word. More like they had the red mist real bad and 60% off them fell off literally in front of me.

Stay calm and remember that its at least 2 hours long.

**chop** · 13th October 2008, 09:12

Ktmboy sumed it up well i think... I am still one to push and shove in the first lap.. Some days everything feels strange and sat was one of those days for me.. The best advice i can think of is to stay claim and remember you have 2 hours (or more) try and keep to a steady comfortable pace and try and set consistant lap times and the rest will come with time if you hear a faster guy come up behind you move over if its safe but dont stop then try and follow some lines and see how you go if they dont work for you back off and trust your judgement of your ability.. One thing myself, ktmboy and the lads have always and will always have in the back of our minds is to finish first first you have to finish!! be a survivour not a train wreck theres more glory in finishing a hard event than watching everyone else come while you nurse a sore body or ego..

**Reckless** · 13th October 2008, 10:19

I accept what you guys are saying and agree! The years karting have probably ingrained in me that once the guy in front gets away you never generally catch him up. Which probably isn't so much the case in this sport. Hehe! problem is even the bloody girls got passed me?? Although I generally I took the long way round when I heard a bike behind me to let the fast people past as the grids where not in speed order as they will be next time. I can get along OK on the bike can keep a few of the guys on here in sight even on a fast loop. Probably the sand and forest is where I'm at my worst though!
BUT Back to the point even on a family trail ride with no one to race I generally fell awkward for the first wee while. This simply never happened in my kart and not on the road bike either? So If I go out the sandpit every Sunday, Ardmore Wednesday and Harrisville Saturday till I die. Will it go away? Did you guys have this when you started and its gone, is it still there or was never there??

**barty5** · 13th October 2008, 10:53

Originally Posted by Reckless

I accept what you guys are saying and agree! The years karting have probably engrained in me that once the guy in front gets away you never geneally catch him up. Which probaly isn't so much the case in this sport. Hehe! problem is even the bloody girls got passed me?? Although I generally I took the long way round when I heard a bike behind me to let the fast people past as the grids where not in speed order as they will be next time. I can get along OK on the bike can keep a few of the guys on here in sight even on a fast loop. Probably the sand and forest is where I'm at my worst though!
BUT Back to the point even on a family trail ride with no one to race I generally fell awkward for the first wee while. This simply never happened in my kart and not on the road bike either? So If I go out the sandpit every Sunday, Ardmore Wednesday and Harrisville Saturday till I die. Will it go away? Did you guys have this when you started and its gone, is it still there or was never there??

I think you allways get that feeling to a certain point everyone is different i get it for the 1st 5-10 min till youu get the feel for the ground your riding on and as with forest sections this depends on how tight it is. Once i get past that you then kinda know what to be expecting and can ride a lot quicker and second lap you start to remember where different things are etc etc

**telliman** · 13th October 2008, 12:14

and the main thing is enjoy it like its not a race,race yourself if need be but dont try and race at someone eleses pace.its still just a day on the bike!(or in your case 20mins,)haha.
but riding ardmore and harrisville aint gona do much good in terms of practice for a gncc event in tight twisty forest(sand) races.

**chop** · 13th October 2008, 12:15

I still feel like that most of the time... Try to look ahaed and enjoy your time on the bike have a play around before you go out to get the feel for it. I used to vomit before races and then flounder around for the first lap until i settled.. Its nerves and not knowing whats around the corner that does it to you just try and remember as long as you ride within your ability nothing is going to jump out and hurt you also try and remember first and foremost your there to have FUN!!! If you see us out and about feel free to come for a ride and or have a chat im sure one of us may have an isight for you. The feeling does go away to some extent after time

**cheese** · 13th October 2008, 12:22

Its probably to do with some of the adrenalin rush you get before a race too. I get a bit nervous and take a while to settle in. I think that you just have to ride at your own pace and remember that you will pick up half of those guys that race off ahead on your second lap.

**dammad1** · 13th October 2008, 12:53

I always find it takes a little bit to settle in, but the biggest thing about the GNCC's is to get through the first lap safely at a comfortable speed, you see it all the time, guys charging hard on the first lap only to break themselves or thier bike or they just tire themselves out and their lap times in the latter part of the race really suffer. Smooth and consistent is the key.

Can't wait for the next round!

**Reckless** · 13th October 2008, 13:01

Interesting replies! I wasn't actually that nervous not like starting the final round of a national karting event. I did have the intention of riding my own pace as well but maybe I pushed harder than I thought I was. Well I must have unless that tree has movable roots

. Big difference I suppose compared to a trail ride where you can always stop to wait for someone or have some road sections to rest, it was just full on. LOL!!.
That answers my question though. Good to know from Dammad, Barty and chop the awkward feeling disappears with experience to a certain degree . So now I have to ride and ride get as good as Barty to cut my awkward 30mins down to 5-10mins. Now where's that bloody bike the days awaisting, more practice needed. Oh shit I forgot I broke it.

That's what you get for playing with guys 20 years younger or 20 years more experienced. To late now though, I don't wanna rest till I've got this MX thing sorted!! I reckon I'm a bit better than that showing! Next time I'll sort it!
CYA out there!!

**telliman** · 13th October 2008, 14:11

thats the way mate, you sounded a bit disheartend in your earlier post which racing can do to ya but you;ve got that spring back in ya step again,go for a run mate,nothing wrong with a bit of fitness away from the bike!