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Dirtworks 2012
Hey,
Long way off till the event, though I want to start early.
Finishing my last year of school this year, I'm looking into racing in the Dirtworks Classic next year as one of my first races, and was keen to hear some suggestions people had in terms of training for the event.
Firstly, being my first race longer than 20km, should I just do the 50km event or should I gun it to all 100km? I've been quite fit the past two years, and am capable of 100km, though in a race situation I should get used to this type of race over a shorter distance.
Secondly, how seriously should I take the first one? I'd thought that I should get used to the course the first year, but also thought that I may as well give it all since it's only on once a year. Any suggestions?
Thirdly, I wanted to know what to do to train in the long months before. Currently, along with numerous rides I do, I go to the gym, run 5 days a week, plan to get a road bike, as well as play squash. I want to know what other people do to build up their bodies ages before an event to see if there's any other measures I can take... like doing a training ride around the public parts of the course.
Thanks for that - Tristan White.
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Hey... young bloke like you, with all that time to train, go for the 100 - no point wasting time on the 50
Just do plenty of long rides in the lead up. You can string together 60-70 kays or more in a Northern Beaches tour. Do something that distance a few times to get your nutrition and hydration sorted and you'll be set.
Go the 100
Go the 100. And so bloody refreshing to see a young bloke writing with perfect grammar. I am guessing that you will make a success of anything you do. Train hard tiger.
First things first - get yourself an entry! It sells out within 12hrs of opening every year!!!!
My advice (and its really no more relevant than anyone elses) is that if you want to be a bike 'racer' you should learn to 'race' over these sorts of things - and therefore start with the 50km and actually get stuck in.
If you want to be a bike 'rider' and get round, and have some great fun, make friends, and generally enjoy yourself, then do the 100km. No need to go hard, just ride it easy. Take it in.
In two years, I've taken 90mins off my Dirtworks time, so even if its slower than you expect, you can always go faster.
Make sure that whatever you do, you enjoy it. Its not your job (yet?!)
If you want go fast around the 100km course, then you'll probably need 12hrs of training (pure bike riding) a week. For 4 months.
Gulp!!
I'd like to just get used to the track though the first year, and enjoy it. I'd probably say I want to be "between" a 'racer' and a 'rider' - to do some casual rides to get my mind off studying, but also spend other time training for these such events to balance it out.
Next year, I'd like to do various training rides and other cross training procedures, but won't make it my life's goal - I'll have just started at uni then anyway!
Any race will be a learning curve no matter how hard I take it, for I'll know what it's like being with such competitive people. I've done a few school-based races, and even though some were only minutes in length, I've learned a hell of a lot through them.
Though, Rob, I don't have "heaps of time to train!" I've got to study for the HSC until November and next year I'll be having to go to uni possibly with a part time job as well. But I'll MAKE some time!
with club races - this way you will be exposed to the 'competition' side of MTB and you can gauge yourself against other riders of similar age or ability. Clubs are only up to about Rd3 of the XC season so you've still got 4 mths of racing to go - try Western Sydney MTB or CC MTB Clubs.
Good luck with your studies and training!
Having to sit the HSC this year and already playing squash for my school, I haven't got any extra time to do these races, though I have done several races at Yellowmundee in the past year for school, so I have had that type of experience. Would like to keep doing it, but haven't got time.
1. Do the 100. I did the 50 once and it sucked. Too much firetrail, dirt road and fire road. Total waste of time, and money. These things aren't cheap these days.
2. You don't really need to 'know the course', although riding through the Great North Walk a few times will help you immensely. Also, if you have a GPS you are most of the way there as you can study where the bad hills are and prepare for them.
3. In the 4-8 weeks before the race, if you did a few 60-80km rides, you will be fine. A decent athelete can push the last 20km or so in a race to get to the finish, no worries. No need to practice with 100km training rides. And finally, when you are racing, however much you eat and drink on a social ride, double it for when you are racing.
I'll try some training rides in the weeks leading up to it, I think. I want to do the sections with rocky stuff on GNR. Hills are one of my strong points in a race so it makes sense that I take the opportunity to prepare for them, though I personally haven't got a GPS, nor do I intend to get one, but I'll get an idea from other riders where they're from. I drink around the rate of .5L/hr, so I guess this sort of racing would warrant 1L/hr of fluid.
I've only done a couple of races and have found it a great help to ride the courses beforehand. I would at least try to get down the OGNR section of DW. There are a few ways to do this and you're looking at a 90+km loop if you want to ride all the fun bits.
TBH I think someone who's generally fit will finish a 100km event without too many issues. It's only as difficult as you want to make it. Pacing yourself at a sustainable level is the tough bit and that just comes with practice.
I reckon you want to have done at least one 100+km ride to prove it to yourself that you can do it. A few longer rides to practice managing your food, hydration, comfort etc are useful. Otherwise the amount of prep work really comes down to what you want to achieve out of the event.
I did the 2009 dw100 as my first ride of more than 30 odd ks. So i can confirm that it's true that anyone who's generally fit can complete this one. The problems come when you are out to set a better time than the year before
Get your ticket and enjoy the day out, it's a sensational course and fantastic day on the bike. I wouldn't miss it for nuthin (as for finishing it this year... Bugger)
Dirtworks is going to my first 100ker too. Recently being put out of all sporting action except cycling has made me aim for new goals. A few questions so I can get things into perpective to those who have already competed in a dirtworks. I am doing this more socially than actually racing but what would your average speed have to be around to compete the course in around seven hours? What/how much food do you bring along. What tools are helpful or a waste of time? Anything else that might help me out to think about the long long lead up I have?
Thanks. I like to plan ahead.
"what would your average speed have to be around to compete the course in around seven hours?"
hmm, i reckon a bit slower than phil here:
http://nobmob.com/node/21249
its easy to ride the GNR beforehand, which i highly recommend before doing it in race mode.
Food and hydration is a matter of whatever works for you personally. The Hammer nutrition web site is obviously a little product biased but it gives you some ballparks to work with in terms of cal/hr and ml/hr.
Spares: tube, pump/inflator, patch kit, multi tool, zip ties, chain links. I also carry a couple of tyre levers because mine are too tight to remove by hand.