|   I wanna go racing! | Scott Barrett
Nov 7, 2002 8:01 AM | | Howdy all!
I've decided to try and race some XC this winter as it's too cold to ride the road bike. Should I be looking at a hardtail or FS? I've got a Giant Rainier now, and am wondering if that would be good enough to race with. Without killing my budget ($1200+-), what would be a good bike to race with?
Thx,
Scott |
| race anything | climbo
Nov 7, 2002 8:09 AM | | as long as you are racing and having fun. Why not start with the Giant and upgrade later before you shell out over $1,000 on a new bike. |
| race anything | Scott Barrett
Nov 7, 2002 8:55 AM | | here's he question...am I going to kill myself on the hardtail? I'd like to at least be competitive with everyone else. Will the hardtail get me there?
sB |
| in my mind, yes | climbo
Nov 7, 2002 9:26 AM | | what level are you racing? How good are you? I race Expert with a single speed hardtail and it gets me there. You usually do not lose a race because you have a crappy bike. If you don't have it in the legs, you just don't have it. A better bike might get you a few minutes faster but how much better off will you be? Would you rather place 25th instead of 30th or have the extra $1,000? |
| i wanna try, i wanna try... | capt pearl
Nov 7, 2002 2:27 PM | | .. but i suck. how good do you have to be to have fun, not get killed, and not feel worse about yourself than when you started?
any special gear needed? i have a bike, helmet, and basic mtb clothing.
thanks,
capt p
"i may not be good, but at least i'm slow" |
| "There is no try, do or do not!" - yoda (more) | EricTheRed
Nov 7, 2002 2:51 PM | | Go race you will have fun, you will push yourself more than you would on your normal ride, plus you could learn some more trails and that is always cool.
Make sure you have enough water for the race, as for the rest it sounds like you have everything you need.
"how good do you have to be to have fun" - it doesn't matter how good you are, (well assuming you can be on a bike for around 2 hours) its metal its about trying to catch that MOFO that is infront of you its about pushing yourself to go faster into corners and carry more speed(well thats what its about for me, you may find other things as well that you like).
Don't have the idea that you are gonna be catching up to the pros or the sandbaggers, go to have fun and to finish the race.
have fun
-e |
| I suck.got phrases bassackwards.obviously not as starwars fan!nm | EricTheRed
Nov 7, 2002 2:53 PM | | nm |
| I suck.got phrases bassackwards.obviously not as starwars fan!nm | Scott Barrett
Nov 7, 2002 8:47 PM | | Thanks for your replies...I'm gonna head out with my Rainier and have some fun and worry about the FS bike later...I do need some new cranks though....;-)
SB |
| re: I wanna go racing! | Kleinadian
Nov 8, 2002 5:42 AM | | You might want to read what is being discussed on "Riding & Training Techniques". That is where XC racers hang out and chat.
Go race on the bike you have. Do a beginner race. See what other people (the fast ones) ride in your area. Maybe it's Hardtail country or Full Suspension country. Meet people, try their bikes etc. At least then you'll have a better idea what you want.
Don't worry about it too much. Just have fun. |
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