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1st Hare

Posted: 10:13 pm Mar 11 2007
by paceyman
My neighbor and I trail ride several times a month and we've decided to enter into our first hare scramble. I've got new rubber on both ends, knuckle savers, FMF knarly pipe and turbine silencer. Seems to be running pretty strong. For the first hare, any suggestions on what to expect other than a sore arse and arms? :cool:

Thanks

Posted: 01:06 am Mar 12 2007
by canyncarvr
Most wrecks happen within the first couple of minutes. Don't worry about not being in front right off the bat. 70 miles and four hours (HS hereabouts) has a way of evening a lot of things out! The guy that's running strong on lap four will pass a lot of riders!

Eat light. Drink plenty..by the time you are thirsty, it's too late. Eat a banana before the start.

There is one thing of primary importance...have a good time!!!

Good luck!

Posted: 08:25 am Mar 12 2007
by krazyinski
Ride your own pace

Start fast then slow down and regroup

Set a pace thats good for you

Start working on fast and smooth

Keep reminding your self to pick your head up and take in as much trail as you can see.

loosen your grip let the grips kinda bounce or rattle around in your hands as much as possible.

Try to roll the throttle instead of twisting it

Shift up 1 when approaching a large section of whoops

hold on with those knees and legs they are much more capable of holding your weight than your arms.

Slip the clutch and drag the brakes and gas it all at the same time to keep that tire from locking or spinning.

keep your feet on the pegs

If some one is on your six let em by

To finish first you must first finish.

Posted: 08:47 am Mar 12 2007
by Green Hornet
Pace yourself & be consistent. Either be towards the front of the pack or the rear,during the holeshot. If you get caught in the middle, Well you see what happens in the 1st turn in SX/MX. I try to line up on the most outside of the turn, so I can take it wide & avoid the pack trying to hold the inside line.

Posted: 08:56 am Mar 12 2007
by AZRickD
Krazy has quite a list.

Race at a pace that is reasonably fast and fun for you over the two or so hours you'll be on the bike.

Think 80% and smooth rather than 95% and herky-jerky (and wat tired).

Rick
Channeling other racers

Posted: 10:54 am Mar 12 2007
by KDXer
Like CC said eat a banana or two. I always eat around 3 or so the night before a decent ride. I haven't had cramps since, touch wood.

Posted: 12:28 pm Mar 12 2007
by KarlP
Physical fitness is key.
I'm through underestimating how much effort it takes to ride at pace for 3-4 hours!! It takes more than I got usually, that's for sure.
There is a big difference between riding a couple of days a week for an hour or two, probably stopping every twenty minutes to wait for someone or talk.

Try this: pick a loop you like, it should be half and half single track and jeep trail. Ride it at pace for 2 hours non stop. Get gas and go another 2 hours. I bet you'll eat a big dinner and go right to bed. {{where you'll probably see trees coming at you just as you're drifting off}}

To get ready for the last Enduro I entered I rode an 18 mile loop near here, it takes 1:14, every day for two weeks, lifted weights, and walked 2 1/2 miles every day. I rode that same loop 3 times around on the Saturday and Sunday before the event and then again on the Friday before it. As a result I still had some steam left at the end of our Enduro but not much. The Enduro was 67 land miles, most of it pretty tight single track. It took 3 1/2 hours, counting gas and resets.

Most important though, have fun!

Posted: 01:49 pm Mar 12 2007
by crf_kdx
My son and I ran our first (KORHS) hare scramble last weekend. He's 15 and rode a '04 CRF230F - I'm 47 and rode a '05 KDX200 (what else!). We rode together in the beginner class . . . I'd rather run with the old farts but I want to ride with junior on the first few races until he gets his sea legs. Sadly, after about 1.5 to 1.75 hours we bailed and, hence, collected DNFs. We probably get out to ride 2 to 3 weekends per month covering 40 to 60 miles riding per outing through the national forest in eastern KY. We've also been lifting weights for about 6 months to get ready for this season. Anyway, the course last Sunday was quite greasy producing a number of challenging sections. After several spills and too much pushing of the bikes rather than riding we were gassed (okay, at 47, I was gassed but junior was hacked off and not in the proper frame of mind to ride well anyway). The spills really, really zapped our energy.

First race lesson learned: keep the wheels moving (read: stay upright) even if that means going a bit slower.

Second lesson learned: ripping it up on familiar trails for two straight hours is much easier and not really comparable to ripping it up on an unfamiliar hare scramble course.

Posted: 03:08 pm Mar 12 2007
by OldRedd
I have 3 harescrambles under my belt. I'm 22 170 lbs. One of the most important things to do first is to ride, ride, ride. When you think you rode enough, ride some more. I didn't know what to expect my first time on a 1998 XR200 :rolleyes: . From my experience you should be in pretty decent shape (i.e. light weights, cardio), but I think that actually getting out and riding at a decent pace many weeks prior to the race is the best thing for you (besides, riding is a great workout itself). Eat plenty of carbs 1-2 days before the event and more importantly drink LOTS of water 2-3 days prior. Also, get a hydration pack. I usually fill mine with Gatorade because it has lots of salt and potassium to prevent cramps. Bananas are excellent to eat before too.

Though it's hard not to want to go all out right from the get go, you really need to pace yourself. I usually go at a medium pace the whole time. This way, you're saving energy. You'd be surprised how many people you can pass if you just maintain a decent constant speed. You'll notice that those people, with the exception of the A class :roll: , that go all out in the beginning start to REALLY slow down due to fatigue.

In any event, it all depends on how seriously you want to take it. For me, it's just fun and though I do try to do the best I can, I know that there is always someone faster out there. Ride, practice, mentally prepare, get plenty of sleep the night before (very hard to do), and just have fun!

Posted: 10:30 pm Mar 12 2007
by paceyman
Thanks all for your great points and tutelage. I definitely need the cardio and work ethic to make it. Luckily for me, the races that we will be in are only 1.5 hours. Having said that, it's still a lot for a 40+ kid that has been behind a desk for the last 15 years and only riding for 9 months. I also am planning on some good riding shorts.

What size Camelback do you all recommend? :cool:

Posted: 07:30 am Mar 13 2007
by Green Hornet
One more thing...IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT PLACE YOU FINISHED, but HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU BEAT :lol:

Posted: 07:31 am Mar 13 2007
by Green Hornet
>|<>QBB<
paceyman wrote: What size Camelback do you all recommend? :cool:
I don't know, H :wink: ow much beer you drink

Posted: 02:28 pm Mar 13 2007
by OldRedd
I don't know, H ow much beer you drink
Haha!! :partyman: I usually put whiskey in mine. J/K.

I have the 2 liter Camelbak pack. Seems to work out for me. I believe there is a bigger one yet? I try to space how much I drink out. I never, unless I really have to, drink anything on the first lap. Remember the key too is to pre-hydrate as well. :supz:

Posted: 04:31 pm Mar 13 2007
by skipro3
strap on some 1/2Liter water bottles to the bike as well. There is never enough water to rinse out the wounds you will inflict.

Posted: 05:58 pm Mar 13 2007
by kawagumby
Don't think the cardio is key, it is not - IMO. I used to train wrong by cycling for hours in the hills and could never figure out why I didn't improve. Then I watched Mr. fitorfat on public tv and learned about endurance.

I was very successful in my later races - I trained by riding my motorcycle for longer and longer periods at race speed. I'd come in for pit stops and go, just like the race I was training for. That's it. No more biking, no more running, just ride the dang motorcyle until 3 hours is what your bod is used to. What kills you is the loss of concentration when you tire - that's when you make mental mistakes and miss turns or crash.

For starters don't do what I did in my first race, get all fired up and crash into a tree at the bottom of the first long downhill. Man, did I look good for fifteen minutes though. Specators screaming and scrambling to get out of the way....ah, such good memories. I still have a leaf from that tree taped to my garage furnace of shame and glory.

Posted: 07:49 pm Mar 13 2007
by scheckaet
I still have a leaf from that tree taped to my garage furnace of shame and glory.
:mrgreen:
that's the spirit!