So i had a race this weekend-- a mountain bike race (yes I know).

I withdrew midway through because I was getting my @$$ beaten. I did well on the first climb (man was that long)... then the course totally wasted me- mega technical (and technical riding is my weakness). Felt like crap and knew I was out of the points, so I quit.

Some of the newbie racers on my team started giving me crap later on for not finishing (they were all racing a category or two down)... "What? At least I finished my race." I didn't feel like explaining myself.

I'm just posting this becuase I've willfully (vs. getting pulled) withdrawn from a one day road race once before becuase the team leader was so far up the road I couldn't help anymore and becuase I didn't want to tire myself out for a crit the next day that I felt I had a chance of winning.

I feel like I do it becuase I race to win, not to finish. Should I have finished?

I was going to say YES - at least practice the technical part or try to start figuring it out, until I saw the section about the crit the next day.





I'm just posting this becuase I've willfully (vs. getting pulled) withdrawn from a one day road race once before becuase the team leader was so far up the road I couldn't help anymore and becuase I didn't want to tire myself out for a crit the next day that I felt I had a chance of winning.

I feel like I do it becuase I race to win, not to finish. Should I have finished?

I was going to say YES - at least practice the technical part or try to start figuring it out, until I saw the section about the crit the next day.

heh. I wouldn't have pulled out if I just had a crit, and I wouldn't have pulled out if I just was in the "groupetto" (or whatever you call the non-climbers in a one day road race with a 2 mile climb). Both kinda made me like "no way."

I was kinda pissed off about that crit. Only about half of the field made it to the finish. And some guy touched wheels in the 2nd or so row coming out of the FINAL turn and took me out. Left turn into about a 200m opening stretch, I was behind him on the outside with the open lane infront of me. I felt like I had an awesome chance at a podium.

I don't get it. What made you think you could win a mega technical mtn bike race in the first place? Why did you enter the race?

It sounds like you were in the wrong category... :)

Was this the race out near Gettysburg by any chance? Michaux?

I don't get it. What made you think you could win a mega technical mtn bike race in the first place? Why did you enter the race?

It sounds like you were in the wrong category... :)


Eh. I do well when the course isn't like that.

I don't get it. What made you think you could win a mega technical mtn bike race in the first place? Why did you enter the race?

It sounds like you were in the wrong category... :)

Actually I came in 5th this past weekend.

Dropping out is ok if:

1. You are going so slow you will mess up others (I did this once).

2. You are rider for a team and your work is done for the day, and you have more work tomorrow.

3. Things are getting a bit to dangerous (did once after dodging disaster all day, after the last near death experience, I said "that's it" and called it a day.).

Otherwise, take your whipping and stay out there for the practice. IMHO, of course.

I dropped out of a crit this Sunday. It had rained most morning but the start was dry. First lap, third corner (downhill from wide onto narrow road) 6-9 people at the front slide out like it was holiday on ice. Subsequent laps consisted on graping a fistful of brake in that corner, accelerate 100 m, another slippery turn, sprint up 300m hill - repeat. After 10-15 minutes, with holes opening up constantly but being out of reach to do anything about it, I finally said F it and DNF'ed. 5 minutes later the field comes together and I just stand there looking stupid wanting to race - lesson learned (again).

Cruzer2424,

You should have finished your mtb race. You clearly need the practice in technical terrain (by your own admission), so why not take advantage of the situation and go for it.

I would also reconsider the "race to win" attitude. It seems that you race only when you can win. If you enter a race, give it an honest effort. That mental toughness to continue even when disaster looms will help you one day.

I'm reminded of an anti-war protest from the early 70s (which could maybe apply today): Withdraw now, like your father should have! :)

Hey, it's bike racing. As I've said before on this forum, and others, it is racing. It's not about finishing. If you want to feel good about finishing start doing triathlons and running events, where more than likely you're not even close to winning, but it's about the effort and the finishing.

As to what other people are saying about finishing because then you get practice, hogwash. "Practice" is for days when you're not racing pure and simple. One day of pain and suffering in a race ain't gonna make you better on technical terrain, but training your weaknesses, like we're all supposed to do pre race time, is how you get better. Racing is for winning, or if you have a specific target to attain, such as, "I want to finish top 10", and sometimes that goal is "finishing with the group, or helping a teammate out in a road race". You're much better off pulling the plug, and saving the gas to fight another day. I will say that if you're only racing one day, then yes, you might as well finish, or pull out, and do some training. You're there, might as well get some miles in. All of these folks who say you should finish, are probably the folks who have never tasted victory on a bike, and they're out there for the moral rectitude of racing (whatever the hell that means). Bike racing is about winning, it's not about finishing.

when i read the title, I thought this was a sexual post

Hey, it's bike racing. As I've said before on this forum, and others, it is racing. It's not about finishing. If you want to feel good about finishing start doing triathlons and running events, where more than likely you're not even close to winning, but it's about the effort and the finishing.

As to what other people are saying about finishing because then you get practice, hogwash. "Practice" is for days when you're not racing pure and simple. One day of pain and suffering in a race ain't gonna make you better on technical terrain, but training your weaknesses, like we're all supposed to do pre race time, is how you get better. Racing is for winning, or if you have a specific target to attain, such as, "I want to finish top 10", and sometimes that goal is "finishing with the group, or helping a teammate out in a road race". You're much better off pulling the plug, and saving the gas to fight another day. I will say that if you're only racing one day, then yes, you might as well finish, or pull out, and do some training. You're there, might as well get some miles in. All of these folks who say you should finish, are probably the folks who have never tasted victory on a bike, and they're out there for the moral rectitude of racing (whatever the hell that means). Bike racing is about winning, it's not about finishing.

What he said... but seriously bagging out early and resting for your next hard workout or race will have a better pay off in the long run...

maybe its just me but unless you physically (or mechanically) cannot finish then you should not quit

Do whatever you want. Who cares what the rest of us think?

What he said... but seriously bagging out early and resting for your next hard workout or race will have a better pay off in the long run...

Interesting advice, I'll have to remember that for all my hard training rides...:rolleyes:

To the OP it's a mountain bike race...why not finish ya lazy bum? A mountain bike race is usually a solo effort anyways, so what's the difference if you're in first or last?

There is plenty of merit in not finishing a road race when you're out of the running or done your work for the day and you need to save up energy for a race in the next day or two.

Silas

maybe its just me but unless you physically (or mechanically) cannot finish then you should not quit


Eh. Everyone has their viewpoints. I'm not going to critisize anyone for theirs... Just share mine.

Eh. Everyone has their viewpoints. I'm not going to critisize anyone for theirs... Just share mine.

yep thats fair enough :thumbsup:

personally i will finish the race even if i am coming dead last and struggling (has happened), i dont like to leave things half-done

that said, mtb racing is a lot different to road racing

What he said... but seriously bagging out early and resting for your next hard workout or race will have a better pay off in the long run...

Interesting advice, I'll have to remember that for all my hard training rides...:rolleyes:

"Racing is not training"

'm not sure the originator of the quote, but anybody that has looked at the power profiles of a race vs. a training ride would probably agree that a hard training ride will do more good in the long run...

wayne

"Racing is not training"

'm not sure the originator of the quote, but anybody that has looked at the power profiles of a race vs. a training ride would probably agree that a hard training ride will do more good in the long run...

wayne

I think the power profiles of most races tend to show a large amount of time at (effectively) 0W power.

OTOH, a long/technical MTB race is probably just as brutal, maybe moreso, than your average training ride of the same duration.

Well yes, but back to my original point. If you prescribe to the Friel, etc. racing doesn't provide either overload or the rest necessary to be an ideal training ride (especially if you're dropped). So IMHO you're better off dropping out of a race and going for a recovery ride or doing an interval workout than just riding OTB.

wayne

Well yes, but back to my original point. If you prescribe to the Friel, etc. racing doesn't provide either overload or the rest necessary to be an ideal training ride (especially if you're dropped). So IMHO you're better off dropping out of a race and going for a recovery ride or doing an interval workout than just riding OTB.

wayne

No disagreement. I was thinking out loud.

Well yes, but back to my original point. If you prescribe to the Friel, etc. racing doesn't provide either overload or the rest necessary to be an ideal training ride (especially if you're dropped). So IMHO you're better off dropping out of a race and going for a recovery ride or doing an interval workout than just riding OTB.

wayne

Yes, but the OP is discussing a mountain bike race, not a road race. I understand that just finishing a road race will probably be nothing like actual road racing.

A mountain bike race at the amateur level is defined by long steady efforts, of an hour or two in duration. The efforts of doing that kind of race are remarkably similar, whether you're in first place, or in last place. It would seem that finishing the race would be perfect training.

Also, the OP has trouble with technical courses at race pace, which is why he was struggling on this course. Shouldn't he work on that weakness by continuing to ride it?

Silas

IMHO-

Ride to win, but if it's not your day at least avoid the DNF.

One crit I raced was in the mid-summer heat, temperatures reading 107 degrees. I wasn't used to the heat and had to drop out with only 7 laps to go. I COULD have finished, but as I was beginning to get dizzy I thought for my own sake, and the sake of the other racers it would be wisest to pull myself out. I should mention I tried to catch the breakaway as a last-effort attempt. HOWEVER, the next day I came back and won (which was my first win). Had I not got a DNF, I may have crashed out, or caused others to crash. It was one of the better decisions I have made, and it paid off in the long run...

-> Should I have finished?

The very fact that you're asking this question means you're having second thoughts.

-> I feel like I do it becuase I race to win, not to finish.

Maybe your definition of winning needs tweaking. The gold medal they gave the winner wasn't real gold, you know.

MY opinion is just about the same as many who've posted- if you're not endangering yourself or others, and you're not harming other chances, then ride for the JOY of it and thank God you got to see the finish line.

The other day I came across that picture of that 300+ pounder in the skin suit with shaved legs (really scary/funny picture) in what looked like a cyclocross race. And though I laughed like probably everyone else, I bet that SOB took real pride in crossing the finish line- and he could probably kick every contributor to this forum's ass in Sumo.

On the other hand, if you can abandon without a second thought because you have no chance of getting across the finish line first, then do it and don't look back.

Regardless of how you feel about that one, there will be other races.

I'm reminded of an anti-war protest from the early 70s (which could maybe apply today): Withdraw now, like your father should have! :)
Actual Quote was "withdraw = what Nixon's father should have practiced 50 years ago."
saw it on a Latrine wall - RVN - '69-70' (it was this time period that Nixon announced a troop reduction. His first).

yep thats fair enough :thumbsup:

personally i will finish the race even if i am coming dead last and struggling (has happened), i dont like to leave things half-done

that said, mtb racing is a lot different to road racing

I'm not a racer, but in my few MTB races the culture reflects the attitude of the "newbie" racers in the OP. DNF is a dishonor to be excused only by a major mechanical or injury/illness. That pushed me to tough-out one MTB race riding 4mi on a rear flat (2 flats, 1 spare tube). I was not last place, and there were some spectators left at the finish who cheered the effort.

I'm not a racer, but in my few MTB races the culture reflects the attitude of the "newbie" racers in the OP. DNF is a dishonor to be excused only by a major mechanical or injury/illness. That pushed me to tough-out one MTB race riding 4mi on a rear flat (2 flats, 1 spare tube). I was not last place, and there were some spectators left at the finish who cheered the effort.

I think a flat might be considered a major malfunction :)

magnolialover: All of these folks who say you should finish, are probably the folks who have never tasted victory on a bike, and they're out there for the moral rectitude of racing (whatever the hell that means).

Yes, of course, shame on all those "loosers" for finishing their races. Nice piece of self agrandisement. :rolleyes: