Ok, a few little tips. Not sure what your budget is. If you can get some new tyres to start out with and whilst you are at it get some extra heavy-duty inner tubes. Fresh oil in the motor, a fresh air filter. Fit some wrap around hand guards, KTM Black ones will fit any bike, look cool and are very strong without having metal bars in them. A good buy they are. They only cost £35 too.
Don’t have suspension set hard, floppy is better to start out.
Run tyres at 13 PSI front and 10/12 rear. If very sloppy run the rear as low as 6 and avoid sharp rocks.
a Camel back (Halfords) is a good investment. Don’t be tempted by the Platypus system, they are crud.
Don’t do the trail riders thing of carrying spare tubes, tyre weld, tyre levers spark plug, spanners, screw drivers spare levers, 8 mars bars and a tub of Swarfega. You dont need any of that crap, you can usually limp back to the pits for tools or a flag a marshal. Unless its a huge lap on a time card enduro. In which case a small selection of tools can be handy.
Have a good feed the day before and stuff your face on the morning of the race and scoff a couple of Mars bars just before the off. Drink until you slop.
Once you are happy you have a decently prepared bike that will last the distance you can think about the race.
At beginner level a hare and hounds race is not won/lost at the start. Take off as quickly as you feel comfy with and feel your way into the race, if you see a bit coming up that you think you can ride fast on then ride it fast, if you are not sure of some obstacle then rather than dive in get stuck or crash, wait up a mo and see how it is done, then have a crack at it yourself, if it is tricky then a cautious attempt will usually result in failure, so attack it, better to burnout than fade away. If you do make it you feel great. If you dont, think about why you failed and learn for the next lap. If you feel tired and fancy a break then find some ware conveinent and pull over, a couple of mins at the side of the track can work wonders on your spirits and body, but get back into the fray as soon as you can. Take the opportunity to have a good drink from your Camelback and if you have a Mars taped to your bars or in a handy pocket, scoff it. NEVER NEVER stop at the pits for a rest, you will spend ages in there, too many people and loosers having a break to talk to and things to fiddle with, it's also far to easy to call it a day and pack up if you are in the pits. Only ever stop at the pits for fuel or repairs, NEVER a rest. Good tip that one, this is psychological sport.
Do not make the novice mistake of wearing thermals all the normal kit plus a winter enduro jacket, you will cook yourself, turn red, fog your goggles and explode into a ball of steam. If its cold just wear all the normal riding gear and maybe a body warmer with a decent zip that you can operate with gloves on. You will soon be warm if you are working hard enough, if you are still cold, go faster.
Wear good anti mist goggles, UVEX and ProGrip anti fogs are my current choice. The usual Scott/Smith MX goggles are crap for enduros and tearoffs are banned. Buy a roll off system and fit it to the goggles. Need to drill little holes for this.
Break the race down into time chunks. Four for a four hour and three/two for a three hour race. Then you can say to yourself that "I only have 20 mins till I finish this chunk” Then do the same on the remaining chunks and before you know it you are at then end. Four hours sounds loads, four lots of one sounds easier!
Don’t be put out or off by people shouting you out of the way, find a convenient place and move over to let em past. They are not angry with you and they don’t think you are a twat, they are just in a hurry and are urging you to let em pass. Some riders are ignorant beyond belief and think that if the faster riders are that good then they can find away past by riding off piest, we wont, that is too dangerous, riding at speed in bracken or long grass is a last resort, un cooperative riders do get the treatment if they persistently ignore requests to pass. Please don’t be one of them, you will loose.
Above all have fun and try to enjoy the race, getting to the end is a fantastic feeling, only doing half and stopping because you have had enough is not a good feeling, you will kick yourself all the way home and wonder why you stopped. Plus no BJ from the adoring Missus. By passing the finish line you will have beaten all those stood in the pits having a sandwich telling their mates what bits were hard and how good they were through them.
It’s a tough sport, which requires a good strong mind as well as body, in fact I would say the mind is more important. I am quite successful, not because I am fast or talented, which I am not, I just try harder than most.
Have fun
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