Know Your Limitations

Mt. biking is a combination of skill and fitness, with a heavy emphasis on skill (in other words practice).

Road cycling is just the opposite; the emphasis is on fitness.  Let me tell you this: all the fitness in the

world won’t help you get around a slippery, root-strewn, twisting, single-track trail.

And you can have the most shredded, muscles popping out, veins all over, nastiest (in a good way),

legs ever known to man—legs honed to perfection by years of dedication and sacrifice, but if you lack

the common sense to realize your limitations, you won’t be riding down that steep, rocky, drop-off having

descent—you’ll be sliding down it on your face.

Let me give you a typical scenario: You’re an accomplished road cyclist and triathlete who has decided to

do an Xterra because Xterras are “cooler” and more adventurous than road triathlons.  You ask a couple

of your mt. biking buddies if you can join them for a ride.  How hard can it be, you think to yourself? 

After all, mt. bikers aren’t in shape.  They have some body-fat and wear earrings on weird places.  No

problem.

This notion is confirmed as you negotiate the first long climb at what feels like “zone 0” to your twisted

tri-geek mind.  You crest the hill with your heart rate at “I’m reading the newspaper at breakfast” level

and start the descent…then all hell breaks loose.

The front of the group quickly drops out of sight.  Shortly after that, the woman in front of you drops you

like a bad habit—before you reach the first set of switch-backs—for which you come in too hot and ride

right over the edge.  The good news is that your short cut has left you back in contact with your group. 

You proceed to mount back up and descend, but before you know it, not only have the riders in front of

you disappeared, but also even the dust clouds from their skidding wheels that you were using to navigate

have evaporated.  You look far down the mountain yet see no movement.

As you stiffly continue to descend, you finally come to a short steep downhill, at the bottom of which waits

your entire group.  The hill looks frighteningly steep…but if the mt. bikers made it down safely, you can

make it (listen to your first instincts…use the force, Luke).  Half way down, you start to get a little jiggy

and slam on the front brake in a panic.  The next thing you know, you’re sliding down the second half of

the hill on your face to the cheers and jeers of your mt. bike friends.

So the lesson is: know your limitations.  My motto is: When in doubt, get off and walk.  It’s not the most

macho thing to do, but it’s usually faster.

Practice as much as you can.  Ride with an accomplished mt. biker and ask him/her to help you (not kill you). 

Watch how she corners, when she brakes, how she shifts her weight on climbs and descents…ask questions. 

The more you repeat skills, the better you’ll be and the more you’ll learn what your limitations are.

I don’t want to totally ignore the fitness factor, but the fact is that a lot of the time there is a terminal velocity

on the trail.  Even at terminal velocity, you may be well below your fitness capacity.  This is why the technical

aspect of mt. biking is so important, and why you should practice your skills as diligently as you train your

aerobic system.  We’re all fond of free speed, and if you teach yourself to become a technically proficient

mt. biker, you will gain a lot of free speed. 

Just remember…nothing is really free.  Plan on taking a few spills while

you’re practicing your skills.  Keep your freezer stocked with frozen peas,

and slap a couple of bags on your sore spots after the ride.  Let the

peas do their work, and tell yourself the bumps and bruises are a small

price to pay on your road to Xterra success.