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I’m careening through the woods on twisty, narrow trails in a mountain-bike race
at Mammoth Mountain in California’s luscious Sierras. Twenty yards ahead is the
dust plume of my newfound archrival, Guy In The Red Jersey, who passed me on a
switchback climb a mile back. My heart clangs, sweat trickles from my helmet
pads, and adrenaline jangles every nerve as I slalom between the pines like a
tipsy skier. I never go this fast.
Red Jersey Takes a Fall
Fishtailing around a corner, I see a crowd of spectators lining the course. Red
Jersey disappears from sight, and I hear a collective groan from the fans. Seconds
later I see why. The course plunges down a rocky, rooted slope as steep as the
side of a bathtub. Halfway down, Red Jersey lies in a heap, the wheels of his
upside-down bike still spinning madly. Gulp.
I slam my butt way back off the saddle so it’s practically buzzing my rear tire
and start down. Stay off the front brake. Gingerly, I let the bike find its way,
jouncing from rock to root to rut. Easy, boy. “Alright, dude! You’ve got
it,” yells Red Jersey, a grin creasing his dirty mug. I make it to the bottom
and the crowd cheers. For me.
Another half-mile and I cross the finish line in, oh, about 40th place. But I
feel like a champ. Rock music blasts from the PA system: “...might as well
be walkin’ on the sun....” Dozens of buff, Lycra-clad riders wheel Star
Wars-looking bicycles past brightly colored banners. In the expo area, glistening
bike parts beckon from a hundred booths. On the hillside, a Border collie sporting
a red bandana leaps and catches a Frisbee. One of the racers who finished just
ahead of me snags a bottle of cold beer from a buddy. “Woo-hoo!” he cries.
Exactly.
Five Reasons to Go Off-Road
If you’ve never tried mountain-bike racing, you’re missing some big fun—even
if you’re not the competitive type. It’s part sport, part party, part
backcountry escape. Here are five reasons to give off-road competition
a shot:
- It’s beginner-friendly.
Mountain-bike racing is essentially an individual
test—you versus the terrain. Even if you finish close to dead last—and I
have—you can still be proud of surviving all the challenges the course threw at
you: logs, stream crossings, steep climbs and descents, mud, sand, rocks. And
don’t fret if you start with a pack of dozens of riders. Within a few miles
almost everyone will be riding solo as the course thins out the bunch.
If it’s your first off-road competition, sign up for the Beginner class, in which
races typically last no more than 60 to 90 minutes, and the attitude is casual
and supportive. You typically do one or two loops through varied terrain—hence
the name, “cross country,” as opposed to equally popular downhill races
(see below).
Each class is age-graded, too, so you usually compete only against riders within
5 or 10 years of your age. At most events, you’ll need a NORBA (National
Off-Road Bicycle Association) license, which costs $35 and is good for a
year—but beginners can buy a one-day license at the event for a few bucks. Get
more info from NORBA’s web site (http://www.usacycling.org/mtb), which also has event
and club databases. Some other good mountain bike sites:
http://www.mountainbike.com and http://www.dirtworld.com.
- Ride cool places.
Take it from somebody who has run 10Ks in industrial
parks and done road-bike races around shopping malls: For primo locales, nothing
beats mountain bike events. I’ve been to dozens, and almost every one boasted
superb riding amidst fine scenery. (Heck, in some cases, race day is the only
time all year that mountain bikes are allowed on the property.) Doing a race
is the perfect excuse to escape the city and explore new trails. Bring a tent
and sleeping bag and make a long weekend out of it. After the event, stick
around and hike, ride (if your legs don’t protest), fish, or read a trashy
novel at your campsite.
- Party on, dude.
Mountain biking has a deserved reputation as the wild
and crazy cousin of tradition-bound road biking. Though off-road racing has gotten
slicker as corporate sponsors moved in, the sport still clings to its fun-first
roots. With the exception of a few overly competitive jerks, most racers in the
Beginner and Sport (intermediate) classes try hard but don’t take things too
seriously. Afterward, just ask a question about equipment or relate a crash story
and you’ll make an instant friend.
Many events also feature casual activities for non-racing friends and family, such
as kids’ races, Huffy tosses (yes, it’s what it sounds like), and poker rides
in which you pick up playing cards en route and the best hand wins. Take time to
play spectator for any other races on the program, such as the Expert or Pro
cross-country, and crowd-pleasers like the downhill, dual slalom, and the amazing
observed trials (sort of a bike obstacle course).
- Getting better all the time.
There’s nothing like competition to
jump-start your fitness and bike-handling skills. Racing invariably makes you
work harder, and riding fast over new terrain sharpens your reflexes and skills
much more quickly than cruising the same old trails at home. Ride as long as
you can behind a better racer over technical sections. Watch what line she takes,
how she moves her body, when she brakes and shifts. It’s the best way to improve.
And the fitter and more skillful you get, the more fun you have. Besides, you
might get a taste for competition and come home with a trophy someday.
- Going downhill.
Allergic to hills but addicted to thrills? Try downhill
racing. It ain’t easy—think “sprint” rather than
“marathon“—but downhill mountain-bike racing offers a rush similar
to alpine skiing. Many events are even held at ski resorts, where, yes, you get
to ride a chair lift to the top. Downhilling is the ultimate path to bike-handling
excellence, too. Just don’t forget your body armor.
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