1. Select a location to have a race.

2. Obtain permission to race at your desired location. You might consider contacting the land owner, local government and or police. A verbal approval to have the race at the specified location might due but it is better to get it in writing.

3. Consider the race:

The race route

The distance and or length of the race

Decide on racing categories that you will you offer.

Plan the start times for each group? Faster riders usually start before slower riders. Will you need medical support on site the day of the race?

4. Try to secure sponsors to help you keep your costs down and be prepared to offer the sponsors something in return. As an example you can put their logo on flyers, a banner, or on a website, etc.

5. Make a race flyer and distribute it to bike stores, schools and send it out via email. Also post it on mountain bike classified sites. Make sure the flyer includes:

Location and directions to the event

Categories and race distance

Prize list

Entry fee

Last possible time to register

Contact information

Any special notes

6. Consider the other stuff:

How many volunteers do you need?

Order race numbers

Order trophies

Get water, Gatorade, food

Order start/finish and or marketing banners

Work with law enforcement if necessary

Prepare a press release to be sent out 30 days in advance

Reserve additional equipment that you might need – tables, awning, PA system, etc.

7. Develop a task list and train your volunteers. The more you communicate to your volunteers the more organized your race event will become. You can not do it yourself.

On the day of the race stay calm and know what you need to do. Everyone is there to have fun so enjoy your day. When the mountain bike race is over do not forget to walk the trail and make sure there is no trash on the course.

Experience with full suspension and hartail mountain bikes, bike parts and organizing race events for mountain biking.

by JJ Servant

An individual aspiring to participate in the mountain bike race should ensure that his actual preparations involve becoming part of mountain bike club, taking steps like checking on the biking equipment, researching the track and getting information to help him face the possibilities during such events.

Membership of a Mountain Bike Club

This is an essential step towards your goal of participating in a mountain biking race. Joining a Mountain Biking Club can prove beneficial to you.

A few benefits are that you get to interact and learn from other biking enthusiasts. You will also benefit from their training methods which will include a trainer or companion who will ride with you on actual trails thus providing the necessary practice and experience that you may require before participating in the race.

If you join a Mountain biking club then you become accountable to the other members. Being accountable to other members will encourage you to give your best each time, to focus on your goal and will always keep you high spirited and eager for your training sessions. Thus the accountability aspect can be advantageous to you in the long run as a mountain bike racer.

Another significant advantage is that you will be able to share the experience, advice and information of the other members of your club. You will thus not only learn more about mountain bike racing but also about various races and the locations where they are held.

Preparing yourself for the race

As mentioned before, preparation of your equipment should be an important part of you pre-race preparations. Basic equipment like shoes, money, extra clothes for a change and towels should be packed and kept ready. Also to be considered is the possibility of changes in weather that you may to experience during the race and equipments to match probable weather changes should also be packed.

Practical Tips to be adhered on the Day of the Race

It is not only important to have your equipments ready for the day of the race but it is equally important to get physically prepared as well. For instance, you should hydrate your body by drinking adequate water before the race and also have a breakfast high in carbohydrates. Breads like bagels, waffles, pancakes etc. are high in carbohydrates and are ideal to be eaten for breakfast before participating in a strenuous sport like mountain bike racing.

Once the necessary physical and equipment preparations are done, the next task should be of mapping the track to safeguard yourself from eventualities. Mapping helps you to be aware of the type of track you may have to ride on and help you get ready to face tracks with loose gravel, water, pot holes etc. The final step should be doing a few warm up exercise which will help your blood circulation, muscle loosening and toning of your body to avoid serious physical injuries.

by Andrew Caxton

Check your bike and equipment to be sure they are in good working order. Do your tires need airing? Will you need to take your air pump with you? Check your hand grips, computers, chain and all gears weeks before your race. Replace or fix the problems.

Having a water bottle holder on your bike is a necessity. It is important to keep fluids at arms length when riding in a bike race. You don’t want dehydration to spoil your race.

Check the weather in the area your bike race is. Depending on the length of your bike race, a change of clothes may be necessary. Don’t forget your rain gear. It may be a great idea to have a flat rack on the back of your bike to hold a small bag or backpack to take some of these items with you.

Speed and safety are obviously the two main factors in a bike race. Be sure not to overload the bag you put on your flat rack. If you find you won’t need the change of clothes or rain gear, leave them at the starting area or with someone.

There are usually volunteers manning stands along the bike racing route. These volunteers are so helpful. You can refresh your water, energy drink or juice and at times, pick up a snack. If the weather is hot and muggy, there are times there will be a hose to cool you off.

Is the date set? Are you and your bike ready to win? Go, then; have fun, good luck and be safe.

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by Beth Adelmeyer

4 weeks before the race is a good time to draw up a clear training schedule, which is geared towards peaking for the main race. In this period training should take priority over races. For example, you should not worry about racing after interval training during the week. You can’t peak for every race.

Type of Event.

The training will be geared towards the distance of the race. If you are preparing for a 10 mile time trial, the most effective training will be riding 10 mile time trials and interval training. In this interval training you will be riding at a threshold just above 10 mile pace. This will get improve top end performance.

One Week before.

In the week before the race, the most important thing is to taper for the race. this means reducing the time spent training, leaving you fresh for the big race. Tapering doesn’t mean you have to reduce the intensity; it means reducing the volume and time spent training. For example, in the week before the race it is still advisable to do interval sessions; however, this session could be the same intensity but half the usual time period.

Tapering is one of the most helpful things you can do. In the week before a race, it is not possible to increase your fitness – that has to be done in previous weeks.

Equipment.

Equipment should be tested properly in the week before the race. It is not advisable to make last minute changes on the day of the race. From bitter experience, I know this can create problems.

Day before a Race.

In the day before a race it is helpful to ride for an hour or so. This helps prepare the body for racing. A complete rest in the days leading upto the race, can sometimes leave you a little stiff and unprepared.

On day of race.

Make sure you know where you are going and arrive in plenty of times. If you get lost and arrive late, it will add to to your nerves and stress.

Mental Attitude.

A good mental attitude is very important to succeeding in a race, its importance should not be understated. The best mental attitude is a combination of relaxed determination. Don’t waste time worrying about how you will compare. Focus on maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude. It will help to visualize bringing out your best performance. Mentally prepare yourself to ride at your limit and bring out your best ride. If you can remain cheerful it will also help. Worrying about the race, or fearing failure can be a big drain. In one way you should try to enjoy the race. If enjoyment sounds like the wrong word. Consider the satisfaction of bringing out your best performance.

by Richard Pettinger

Tour De France

Lasting three weeks and covering 3,600 kms of the French countryside, this “Grand Tour” would have to be the best known cycling event in the world. The race interestingly had its origins in an attempt by a French newspaper to boost circulation by inaugurating this race in 1903. The race has individual competitors vying for the yellow jersey, the reward for the lowest aggregate time as calculated at the end of each day’s racing. American Lance Armstrong has won the race an amazing seven times.

Giro D’Italia

This race, which first took place in 1909 was inspired by the Tour De France, and joins the latter as one of the three “Grand Tours”. A pink jersey signifies the current overall leader of the Giro, while other jerseys are bestowed upon the best mountain rider, and the best young rider (under twenty five). Starts and finishes have often centred on Milan, but this has changed from time to time. The race predominantly takes place in Italy, but often spreads into neighbouring countries. Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi, and Eddy Merckx have each won the Giro D’Italia five times.

Vuelta a Espana

The last of the three “Grand Tours”, the Vuelta a Espana began in 1935. Like the other two Grand Tours, increased newspaper circulation was a prime motivation in getting the event off the ground. The event sputtered in its early years, initially due to the Spanish Civil War and World War Two. It has been a constant event in the annual cycling calendar since 1955. In the earlier years, limited numbers of overseas riders participated in the event, but this has changed over the years. Still, Spanish riders have dominated the event, winning 29 years of the now annual event. French riders are a distant second, having won the event nine times.

UCI Pro Tour

This tour is technically a series of events, predominantly held across Europe, but with one event as far away as Australia (Tour Down Under). It includes all the Grand Tours and large stage races like the Tour de Suisse and Paris-Nice. Major one day races like the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Belgium), and HEW Cyclassics (Germany) are also incorporated. The Union Cycliste Internationale oversees the tour.

World Championships

UCI also administers World Championships, which cover various disciplines of cycling, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and Indoor Cycling Championships. World Cycling Champions in each category are awarded a Rainbow Jersey to wear for the following twelve months.

Olympic Cycling

The Olympic Games is arguably the biggest sporting event in the world. Cycling plays a major part in the Olympics. In addition to a road race, there are many velodrome located events. In addition to individual and team pursuits and sprints, the Olympics feature interesting events like Keirin (originating in Japan) and Madison (originating in New York, USA).

by Tim Oswald

Next you will need to get yourself a bike to ride, specifically one geared towards BMX racing, which is usually a “class” bike, which is a 20-inch wheel bike or a “cruiser” bike, which is a 24-inch wheel bike. If you need assistance with selecting the right bike, a BMX salesperson should be able to assist you. Paying only a few hundred dollars or less for a good used or new bike is reasonable. After you have chosen the perfect BMX bike, then you will need to buy the correct BMX clothing and protective equipment. You will need long pants or jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a full face helmet with a chin strap, gloves, and a set of pads for your handlebar crossbar and stem of your bike.

Once you have your membership, bike, and all of your needed gear, then you can find a BMX track to race. To locate a racing track, you can call your local bike shop or visit the ABA website at ababmx.com or the NBL website at http://www.nhl.org. Once you get in contact with your local track, make sure you find out practice and racing times, fees charged for riding or racing, and if they offer any beginner riding training programs.

If you are new to BMX racing, it is probably a good idea to get some practice in at the track and around your community before entering your first race. To do this, you can slowly start out by riding various tracks to get a feel for each of them since they are all different. You can also sign up for BMX bike racing training classes and observe other professional riders to see what their riding techniques and styles are. You could also ask some of the riders how to break into the sport and what the best way of starting out is. Outside the track, you can simply ride your bike everywhere you go to get practice in every chance you get. Plus try jumping curves and riding in and out of ditches and up and down small hills. Slowly incorporate small tricks. Once you think you are ready, you can start out by racing locally.

BMX racing typically does not involve Freestyle BMX or performing tricks, but if you are wanting to get into doing tricks, there are other competitions. Some Freestyle BMX competitions include Flatland, where riders perform bike tricks by rarely moving their bikes from the ground; Street, which involves making use of whatever objects that are available in your area to perform a trick; and Dirt, which involves jumping dirt ramps and performing air tricks.

Once you decide to enter your first race, you can ask the track operator for assistance in getting everything that you will need, including a number plate for you bike. While waiting for your race, observe and watch how riders balance at the starting gate and take the jumps and turns. Your initial race will start out with your skill level and age class, so you do not have to worry about competing against professionals.

Typically in a race, amateurs usually compete for points and trophies, while the professionals compete for points, trophies, and cash, which can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the competition. So the more competitions you enter and the better you become, the more money you will win, and there are plenty of yearly BMX racing competitions to race in. Also, the better you get at racing, the more likely BMX racing sponsors will take notice and want you to become a part of their team.

by Scott Lewis

The first authentic bicycle was made in the year 1817 by Karl Drais von Sauerbronn to facilitate transportation during an acute shortage of horses for carriages. However, this device did not have any pedals and had to be moved by pushing one’s feet against the ground. The question remains whether a bicycle without a pedal can be called a bicycle or not.

The next improvement took place in 1863 with the invention of the bone shaker or the Velocipede. The importance of this improvement can be understood from the fact that a museum dedicated to this innovation exists even today. The discomfort involved in riding this device over cobblestones prevented it from becoming more popular.

The year 1870 saw the bicycle become a lot more comfortable with the use of a big front wheel and solid rubber tires. However, even the slightest jerk would send the rider crashing to the ground. This proved to be a major impediment in the spread of bicycles.

As technology improved, bicycle manufacturing became more specialized. Ball bearings, caliper brakes, speed gears- all made their introduction as the first American manufacturer of cycles came into existence in 1878.

Safety improved and people began lobbying for better roads to make bicycle driving more comfortable. In the meantime, the rear wheel driven bicycle, as we know it today, was designed and proclaimed to be a lot safer. It was named the Bicyclette and was a French innovation.

The 1880′s saw better and better bicycles being made. The 1890′s was called a gay decade and the bicycle is credited for making quick transportation a reality. In 1896, Susan B. Anthony said that “the bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world.”

However, the idea of not using a solid piece of rubber as the tire did not come about until, a young doctor named Dunlop came up with the bright idea of using air filled rubber tube to make the bicycle faster and more comfortable. A new era was born with bicycles being used by adults and kids alike. Bicycle clubs were formed and bicycle racing became a sport.

World War I and World War II saw the growing importance of the bicycle. Of course, the automobile industry attracted all the attention and many feared that the bicycle may become a thing of the past. However, the bicycle has retained its charm and utility even today and has diversified and grown into a huge industry.

by Mon Ion

Mountain bike tires, on the other hand, can weigh over 30 pounds (though the really nice ones run between 22 and 26 pounds) and are engineered to stand up to a real beating out on mountain trails that might even give mountain goats or bighorn sheep cause to worry before going up or down. Such a bike might have front suspension and even rear suspension in order to take on those kinds of trails.

That tires are also specifically made for much more rugged environments. They are also an integral part of the mountain bike and the bike wheel and are built to be much sturdier and flat-resistant than would ever be seen in a typical road bike tire and are also heavier, thicker and wider and their outer treads look like they could blend in while on a monster truck.

Usually, even the best mountain bikes make use of what are called “clincher” tires. These tires come with a separate inner tube, and the tire and its tube fastens onto the bike wheel to create a single unit. The inner tube is also inflated to a certain pressure (and always make sure it is inflated properly to correct pressures). A mountain bike tire and wheel combination tends to be a bit heavier than a road wheel combination.

On road bikes, tires come in two different types: the classic clincher (an inner tube and a tire that fastens onto a rim) and the more exotic tubular tire. Tubular is lighter, can be inflated to much greater pressures (up to 180 psi) and is actually glued onto a bicycle wheel. This glue is industrial strength and really holds a tire onto a wheel extremely well.

Professional road cyclists all normally prefer to race on tubular tires due to their light weight and high pressures, though recent improvements in clincher tires (which just about every professional road cyclist trains on) has resulted in a tire that is extremely well-suited to racing. The downside to a clincher is that it could take a few minutes longer to change a flat than on a tubular.

In all cases — whether mountain bike or road bike tire — keeping them inflated to their recommended pressures is extremely important. Not only are the tires more efficient when they are inflated properly but they are also safer. Additionally, keep in mind that clincher tires are less susceptible to pinch flats when they are inflated to the correct pressures.

Remember, also, that mountain bike tires are far sturdier overall than road bike tires. An added benefit is that while a road bike cannot be ridden with any surety on mountain trails or in an off-road environment it is generally the case that a mountain bike can be ridden over smooth pavement and most any road. This is one reason why the mountain bike is sold in greater numbers than the road bike these days.

by Doru I P

The organisation of BMX racing is facilitated by a number of regional and international sanctioning bodies. These sanctioning bodies provide a set of regulations governing the conduct of the races, stipulate age-group and skill level categories among the many racers, and maintain some kind of points accumulation system over a racing season. The sport is largely participant-driven with the typical racer age of around 13 years. Professional ranks exist for both men and women, where the average age is higher.

A BMX bicycle is a strong, relatively quick-handling, lightweight deriviative of the standard twenty”-wheel single-speed youngsters bike. Variations include larger twenty-four” wheel BMX bikes and infrequent multi-speed bikes.

While BMX racing is an individual sport, racing teams will often be formed from racers in different classifications for camaraderie as well as often for business exposure of a sponsoring organisation or company. BMX racing rewards strength, quickness, and bike handling skills. Many successful BMX racers have gone on to leverage their abilities in other types of bike and motorcycle competitions, particularly track cycling in the more explosive sprint events.

BMX Racing became a medal sport at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and after a successful debut will continue to be a medal sport in London 2012.

by Edward Smith

When I started out, the total lack of a comprehensive guide or material was my biggest frustration and I went through the tons of material to find the right information and tips to help me prepare for my first bicycle race. There was just no Beginner Bicycle Training guide available anywhere at that time forcing me to go through the whole experience on a “trial and error” basis.

This was also the reason why we compiled a comprehensive beginner bicycle training guide and a site where everything is covered in detail. I want to share some tips to people who wish to start.

The most important thing to remember when you start off with your bicycle training is to always keep it fun. Bicycling is the type of activity or sport where you will make a lot of good friends and share a lot of great times, and you can continue to do it for a great many years.

Having said this, you also want to prepare yourself adequately, and make sure that you cover the following to make it enjoyable and safe for yourself and your fellow cyclists:

1. Train right. It is important to follow a systematic training program that will allow you to become cycling fit without any risk to your health.
2. Get the right equipment as this crucial to not only your training, but essential to make cycling safe and enjoyable. With a bike that does not fit right you might injure yourself, risk your safety and you will not get full enjoyment of the activity.
3. Learn and train with the correct cycling techniques and etiquette.
4. Learn to do emergency roadside repairs, e.g. changing a tire.
5. Another major aspect to successful training is nutrition and hydration. This cannot be overemphasized as this will remain a critical aspect to train more effectively.

by Leroy Van Der Heyde