Im going to be racing at Rhetts Run this Sunday. This will be my first race and not really sure what to expect. Any suggestions would be helpful. I know its hard for me, but I dont want to look like a moron and do newbie mistakes.
Couple questions.....do people setup pit areas with tents, what the standard here?? Looks to be short laps (2.5 miles)....do you stop in at scorers table each lap or do they score you as you go by? Looks like they have 3 classes (beginner, sport, expert)...Im definitly a beginner but really looking at last years times in the sport class I think I can top 10 my age group. Hard to judge but my mileage times in non race situations are close to this class. Any suggestions???

Where do we start!
When do you plan on getting down there? Preride is a must. This course is not the most technical on the planet, but it's tough enough to pose a problem for beginners as it has some tricky-rocky sections and has a lot of up and downs.

You will be racing a minimum of 1 hr. If you go through the start/finish at 59 minutes 59 seconds- you go out again. This can be good or bad. If you go out another lap you will finish ahead of any racer that couldn't get out before the hour limit, as you will be one lap up on those that got stopped. Say you have someone that is charging fast on that last lap but doesn't make the cut-off and you do. Your out and their done and they can't catch you. This time limit can suck if you end up with a flat or mechanical and your trying to catch up and can't get out for another lap.

You don't stop as you go through. They record your number as you pass. There will be a running clock so you have an idea of how much time before you have to stop.

With this course, it's important to start fast because it's almost impossible to pass till you get to the bottom to a short road section on some gravel. There are some other areas later in the lap but if you don't start fast you'll be buried behind slower riders and the fast guys will motor away. Get used to fast starts or plan on getting beat a lot. This will only get you ready for cross which requires super fast starts also. This is less important in longer races but your only going an hour. You can either use a camel back or water bottle. There are some areas that you could use to drink on some of the gravel sections but you will need to pay attention. If you came into the race super hydrated, because the race is so short, you could get by with minimum water and nutritional needs. If I was racing only an hour, I wouldn't even carry a bottle, but that's me.

You'll start in an open field that will funnel down to single track and a downhill with lots of rock and tricky sections. This section is pretty interesting when it's wet and slick. All that downhill will end with a quick right turn and steep uphill with erosion logs built in. Lots of people screw the turn up and stink it up in here. If you know what your doing you'll make some time up here.

You'll need a spare tube, CO2, a quick link and a multi tool/chain tool. The problem with an hour race is that if you have a mechanical, your probably off the podium anyway. It's better to have your bike ready to go and running tubeless so you shouldn't be dealing with the flat tire issues. Broken chains are generally caused by shifting under pressure and getting into too high a gear. That's why you preride, so you'll know what gear you need to be in.

I think the best thing we need to do is get that bike ready to go and then I'll go race too. I'll jump in the marathon class and get a good three hour workout out of the deal. I need some more base work anyway and the beginners start right after the marathon riders head out.

It would be best if we ride the course on Saturday sometime!

If there is others reading this and your interested in racing this weekend, how about giving us a shout!

Thats going to be a problem for me....Im going down Friday night and have a wedding rehearsal. Have my kids with me all day Saturday and then wedding and reception Sat afternoon and evening. Kids are coming home with Margie Sunday morning and Im staying. Was planning on doing a easy preride early Sunday morning....website says pre-ride ends at 10:30am.
I have all the items you mention (co2, tubes, quick links, chain tool and multi tool) so thats not a problem. I can send Cory to KC tomorrow to get parts to make bike tubeless if needed, if not I can race it this way, it not that big of deal to me. i just want to go and have a good time and get the first one out of the way so I know what to expect at the next one. The 2nd race I will be going there to win!!!

I'm heading to KC tomorrow so let me know what you need. If it's just valve stems, I can pick some up. If there is anything else you need call me. I'm leaving early cause I need to be in the city at 9:00 am.

Just get me whatever I need to be tubeless and I'll get u some cash when you get back. Im getting ready to head to the Y here shortly to get in a quick workout....then I think its beer 30!!!! I need 2 unwind!!!!!

I picked up two valve stems and I think I have enough Stan's to get us through this project. Get ahold of me and we'll get em on and aired up.

Wow!!! Where do I start???? Got to the trail about 8am this morning and was bit cloudy but the sun was shining thru....coach called at 730 and it was pouring rain in macon. When he pulled into the parking lot it started raining. We went out and pre rode the course in a steady rain but it wasnt all that bad. Race started at 11am and pretty much rained up to race time. Coach warned me about how important the start was, so i actually did get a good start and was in 2nd until the leader wrecked and I endo'd into a rock pile for my 1st laceration. Re-grouped and had 5 people pass me. The rest of the race was about the same, it was very slick and I couldnt keep from sliding off trail...in the end I had 3 more endo's, chain came off once, and broke a ratchet on my shoe. Ended up 9th and not satisfied with that. Called Margie and told her to be prepared not to see me much because Im goin to live on a bike the rest of the year!!!

Gotta start somewhere and those were some pretty tough conditions to do a first race. I actually think my 2nd lap was the slickest after all the beginners that followed the marathon class passed through and put some "glistening" on the rocks.

We probably should have put some different tires on for the conditions. The more different conditions you ride, the more success you'll have. Learning to ride in muddy slick conditions takes experience to know how to brake (or not brake) on roots and slick rocks and how to glide and unweight the bike on slick areas. I would have loved to been at that angled log jump on the first lap when the beginners came through. I could hear them crashing as I was coming down the switchbacks. I about ate it on that log the 2nd lap when it was good and slick and the surface on the other side of the log was slick and off camber. You could see where riders had flown off the trail.

Some riding at Landahl and BURP would prepare you for this kind of riding!

Check the race calendar out and plan your next opportunity to improve. I remember my first Sport Class race after I had dominated the Beginner class for a few races. It was at Dormwood in Topeka and in the rain and mud. I was running grey Umma Gumma tires at about 55 pounds of pressure (yah I said 55 lbs) and I spent more time on the ground than on my bike. I finished 17th out of 17 racers, loaded my bike, and fumed for 150 miles to home. I was so psssd. I started training like a mad man. That was spring time. Two months later I was winning the series. I raced every chance I could and spent a lot of time improving my technical skills.

Now I just wish I had the strength I had when I was in my late 20's and 30's to go with my skill set. When the testosterone faucet turns off it gets a lot tougher!

Did I mention that I can barely walk this morning!!!! Every muscle, joint, and bone in my body hurts and Im smiling about it!!! The way I look at is that everyone had the same conditions to ride in and I just got spanked...it will be a different story come end of Sept. Im ready to start hitting it hard. Im going to be on a bike so much that when people see me they gonna think that I have a bike growing out of my butt!!! Whens the next race!!!!

Looks like Warsaw....June 21st!!!

There's a good race in Little Rock, Arkansas callled 3 Legged Dog. The course has a little of everything including lots of climbing. Greg Churan lives in Little Rock so we'd have somewhere to stay.

If we could get a few more guys to go and share on gas it would be a great road trip and some good competition.

Better yet we can take my truck and it dont cost a dime in gas....one of my work perks!!!
When is it???

ooops....I better scratch that weekend...fathers day. Anything this weekend???

I don't see anything on the calendar. Haven't looked at Iowa or Nebraska but just looking at the weather forecast, it's going to be wet about everywhere in the midwest. Just like the rest of the "frig'n" spring has been.

No sooner than I clean my bike, I end up cleaning it again. I remember when we were going through draught a number of years ago and everyone was worried about the lack of water and the aquafiers drying out. I guess we can put that worry to rest! I'm ready for a normal midwest year with a dry winter/spring cycle.

Let me know if you end up with a rainy day and want to go to the city!

I finally got the Sugar all cleaned up last night after got back from Chula ride. Got everything lubed back up and thats when I noticed the front brake...pads wore completely off!!!! LOL So I do need to get to KC quickly. Got the tires changed out and ready to roll. Just looked at radar...not looking good. Looks like after lunch we should be getting rain, for the rest of week. I was planning on riding Wednes morn since Im off Wed......get to go and spend money at Rolfes office, and he mentioned that I prob need to take rest day off. LOL....at least the pain in my mouth with make me forget about the pain in my legs and back!!!

I forgot to mention a comment a guy made to me Sunday during the race after one of my spectacular crashes......He came flying by and said "sweet f'n frame dude" and my reply was..."thanks...this is the bike I use to practice my crashing technique". He bout fell off his bike laughing!!!!