Enduro Racing Tips and Advice

[Nick JacksonMember]

With the Transmoto 12 hour only a week away I have been thinking strategy for the race , do I go out hard as possible to get as best time i can while fresh or have a steady lap or 2 to get familiar with the track then put in the fastest lap I can ?
Do I carry the usual trail tools and spares to be prepared but have the extra weight or go light and hope all is ok ?
After a break between laps when other team mates are racing what’s best to stay fresh , sit and relax , or keep busy and not stiffen up ?
Magnesium tablets ?? Powerade ??? Amphetamines ??

Their are a lot of old bulls that have raced and are still racing , it would be great to hear some tips on how to stay the distance and advice that worked or failed !!

Thanks

Nick

[DeanMember]

ride fast enough that you dont fall off The falling off is the part that slows you down and gets in your head :blink: smooth and in control is the way uses a lot less energy. When waiting for your team mate relax have something to eat and drink,make sure you have a piss, when your racing you dont need to think about all the other stuff you gotta concentrate on being smooth. Enjoy it for what it is,remember your priorities as well, family friends income,your there to have fun and a challenge,your not racing for “sheep stations”

Ollie

[GregMember]

Ollie wrote:

ride fast enough that you dont fall off The falling off is the part that slows you down and gets in your head :blink: smooth and in control is the way uses a lot less energy. When waiting for your team mate relax have something to eat and drink,make sure you have a piss, when your racing you dont need to think about all the other stuff you gotta concentrate on being smooth. Enjoy it for what it is,remember your priorities as well, family friends income,your there to have fun and a challenge,your not racing for “sheep stations”

Ollie

Plus 1 and ride yourself into the race don’t force your pace

TB

[Nick JacksonMember]

Ollie wrote:

ride fast enough that you dont fall off The falling off is the part that slows you down and gets in your head :blink: smooth and in control is the way uses a lot less energy. When waiting for your team mate relax have something to eat and drink,make sure you have a piss, when your racing you dont need to think about all the other stuff you gotta concentrate on being smooth. Enjoy it for what it is,remember your priorities as well, family friends income,your there to have fun and a challenge,your not racing for “sheep stations”

Ollie

Thanks Ollie , sound advice that I’ll take on board mate

Nick

[nathan steeleMember]

A huge bowl of pasta the night before race day! The carbs will give you the energy needed to get through the day of racing

Keep your fluids up, as I found at upper Horton you can’t go a 25km loop without a drink for hours on end and only drinking at fuel stops, camel pack is the go

Tools … leave them at the pits, if you happen to brake something or get a flat, solider on to the pits and send your team mate out

Fitness …. dear God I hope you have been training haha

As for pace get into a groove and get a feel of the track before going out and cracking a lap at speed, only asking for a mistake going to hard to soon

And at the end of the day have fun

[Aaron WildeMember]

I would only take minimal tools when in pony x ironman. I would ride back to the pits for any tire related issue. But I run heavy duty tubes with 16 psi and have never had a flat in a race. If it was a big enough failure to warrant heavy tools on the track well f it its over. I would carbo load the night before the race and eat pancakes and fruit. Best excuse ever :laugh: I would drink lots if water. I took that tip from josh strang. Seemed to work. I would avoid caffeine as I would be peaking out anyway so the last thing I needed was a stimulant or a diuretic to make me have one more nervous piss. On race day eat healthy regularly and small so you don’t get a downer. Go as early as you can so you can sign on and take your fuel to the fuel up area etc so you can relax and conserve energy before the race. If you are prone to blisters on your hands tape them with strapping tape but don’t make it too tight or you will cut off the blood supply to your hands which sucks. You can also spray deodorant on your palms to stop them sweating as they tear up more easily when wet. Bit random with the reply but some of that may help. Try to have fun also as not too many people are doing this stuff for a living. Good luck mate!!

[Aaron WildeMember]

One more thing use the sighting lap to explore areas off the main riding line as you won’t be going fast and you can avoid that rock stump cliff etc :laugh: this will be very important later on the race when the braking and acceleration bumps get crazy so you can be confident to go out into the rough which will soon be the smoothest line.

[Matt BakerMember]

Go as fast as you can at all times (if you try and go fast you will crash just get back on and go fast again, I have set some of my best laps times even with a crash because I wash pushing it harder)

The loop at Transmoto should only be about 20 – 25 mins, don’t need a camelbak or tools.

I have read that you must hydrate for a few days leading up to a race and eating carbs the night before is no good, you have to eat them a few days before too.

Gatorade, energy bars, energy gels, bananas, honey etc. Don’t forget to eat some real food too.

Might be wise to invest in some roll offs for your goggles, good chance it will be muddy and you can’t go very fast when you can’t see.

And remember to breath. (thanks Mal )

[Matt BakerMember]

Also try your best to beat Scottys lap times

[scott bockingMember]

LC4skin wrote:

Also try your best to beat Scottys lap times

I am reading this :laugh:

STM

[MalMember]

LC4skin wrote:

Go as fast as you can at all times (if you try and go fast you will crash just get back on and go fast again, I have set some of my best laps times even with a crash because I wash pushing it harder)

The loop at Transmoto should only be about 20 – 25 mins, don’t need a camelbak or tools.

I have read that you must hydrate for a few days leading up to a race and eating carbs the night before is no good, you have to eat them a few days before too.

Gatorade, energy bars, energy gels, bananas, honey etc. Don’t forget to eat some real food too.

Might be wise to invest in some roll offs for your goggles, good chance it will be muddy and you can’t go very fast when you can’t see.

And remember to breath. (thanks Mal )

Ah yes BREATH, BREATH, BREATH!!! Consciously make yourself breath deeply. Oxygen feeds your muscles and if you don’t breath it’ll be arm pump city before you know it.

Carb loading the night before will do more harm than good. I learnt the hard way and then was told (and read) the correct way to do it. Now I’m not fast by any stretch of the imagination but I can last a full event now.

Start 3 to 4 days from the event with small high carb meals (lunch and/or dinner) and slowly increase the size every day. Do the same with water to hydrate the body as well.

Through the event eat small amounts often. I eat bananas, oranges and peanut butter sandwiches (only half at a time) and energy gels.

Start with 2 laps each if you want and see how your times go. When I did it the Pros were doing 4 laps each in a 2 man team (about 90min a session). I would suggest 1 lap each and get your transponder change over silky smooth and quick. You’ll have quicker times by being fresh for every lap.

Rest between laps. Lightly stretch the large muscle groups and massage the really sore ones (forearms especially).

Leave the tools in the pits, it’s a quick pony express style of event.

If you want off bike training, get on a rowing machine and do 500m in under 2min with 60-90 sec rest x 5 morning and afternoon if you can.

And as everyone has said have fun, you’re not going to win a sponsored ride.

Oh yeah BREATH!!!!!!

Enjoy.

[ianMember]

Aaron wrote:

One more thing use the sighting lap to explore areas off the main riding line as you won’t be going fast and you can avoid that rock stump cliff etc :laugh: this will be very important later on the race when the braking and acceleration bumps get crazy so you can be confident to go out into the rough which will soon be the smoothest line.

this is a good point aaron as some of the track changes so much as the day goes on and as fatigue settles you want to be able to conserve energy and if you think your buggered wait until you come off and have to actually pick your bike up and then you will understand how buggered you really are the last thing you want is to picking your bike up so ride fast but smart

[Craig HattonMember]

Hi Nick
Enjoy it-most important
Start with 1 lap each so you both get to see the track. I doubt there will be a sighting lap. the lap isn’t long and has a complete mix of riding. You will love the paddock part, especially if it has been wet, power slide to the moon.
Don’t forget it is 12 hours and a fast lap amongst 10 wont get you any prizes, except bragging rights (STM).
This is billed as a fun event of which it will be and you will return for another go.
You wont need tools (oh wait, its a honda), take some valves 😆 . You are never more than 2km from the pits and easy access back.

Wish I was going

Hatto

[Matt HobbsMember]

Alot of what the guys here have said is spot on.

I’ve ridden a few 24 hour Trials here is SA, and what I’ve found is not to go out to hard, too early. All the fast guys leave their fastest lap for the last quarter. Save your self and your bike in the early stages. The amount of times that you pass that dude who was going 100mph past you not long after he passed you as he is on the ground or trying to fix a damaged bike is not funny. Ride your own pace and stay upright.

As far as preparing your self. Drink heaps for a few days leading in, as well as pasta/ rice for a few days too. The night before is a little late to start. Eat bananas during the day. Also force yourself to eat and drink at every opportunity. Cans of cold baked beans are great! If not you’ll end up with headache before you know it. If you regularly drink coffee, drink it at the same rates, or you will get Caffiene withdrawls later in the day. Use talcum powder in your gloves to keep your hands dry and prevent blisters, and a smear of vas up your crack will minimise monkey butt better than powder down the dacks.

[Alan HeatherMember]

LC4skin wrote:

Also try your best to beat Scottys lap times

Now that is a good tip we did that in every pony express we did and it works a treat and good luck boys

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