This year, no chance of doing much racing, but I’m planning on racing again next season. I’d like to do a couple of Xterra races, probably in the Northeast, and I’m wondering how technical the bike courses are. I’m reasonably smooth over rough terrain, but I don’t like getting airborne. I figure i can probably handle most of the courses, but I don’t really feel like driving 10 hours to an event to find out that the course is too technically difficult.
I doubt you would get much airtime on an xterra, the ones I have done have been semi technical or not technical at all, one I did just had like 20 milew of woops to fly over, I averaged like 17mph…on trail…on an mtb and I wasnt even the faastest. I have done others with huge, lung busting climbs at altitude, but nothing I couldnt ride.
p.s. I dont consider myself a good mtb rider at all, I just do it for fun, I walk stuff sometimes.
Which XTERRA race did you average 17mph on the bike course? I’ve done quite a few of XTERRA’s and I’m usually in the top 10-20% of bike splits and rarely average more than 13-14mph.
Xterra’s are usually considered pretty mild by mountain bike racing standards, however, the new race at Lake Placid is supposed to be a doozy!
Most courses are pretty tame some have more challenges than others. This is more relative to climbing and how technical the course is. I do not know of any course where getting air would be an issue. High speed downhills that make you cringe and rocks gardens that make you choose a solid line is usually whats on the menu. In my experience the toughest course out there and the most fun so far has been Xterra Austin. Of course this is not in your neighborhood, however that course taught me to fear nothing on the bike after riding that one. Riders were out there for hours still trying to get through very challenging course and awesome.
wow, averaging 17 sounds to me like the course was just a gravel road or something like that. Thanks for the info, i figure after putting in a solid summer / fall / early winter of mountain biking, and getting my running back to where it should be over the winter, I’ll be set to kick some ass next season!!!
Thanks, thats good to know. I just really don’t like dropoffs. technical climbs, those are fun, fast downhills…fun.
Dude, at which Xterra did you average 17mph? Because, you should race pro, really …or get a new bike computer. I don’t think Conrad averages 17mph.
Most people in this forum know very little about Xterra, and will tell you the bike courses are pretty tame. I beg to differ. While some Xterra are fairly easy, this isn’t the case everywhere. What you won’t see at Xterra are drops, bridges …etc, or in other words, downhill style mountain biking. Xterras bikes courses are XC courses, and I guaranty you most bike courses will kick the shit out of you.
I don’t really know the courses in the Northeast, but some of my teammates recently raced the Northeast Cup and really suffered. The course in Richmond, VA (Atlantic cup location) is pretty technical, check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzfapAhBO4.
The course for the West Cup (in Las Vegas), this past May, was different and difficult. There are many Point Series races that are much more than a ride on a fire road, Xterra Black Diamond this weekend (it’s in the Northwest) comes to mind. What I’m saying is, don’t underestimate the Xterra bike courses, or the run courses, because they will kick your ass too… If you are confident in your technical mtb skills, then you should be ok.
Most people in this forum know very little about Xterra, and will tell you the bike courses are pretty tame. I beg to differ. While some Xterra are fairly easy, this isn’t the case everywhere. What you won’t see at Xterra are drops, bridges …etc, or in other words, downhill style mountain biking. Xterras bikes courses are XC courses, and I guaranty you most bike courses will kick the shit out of you.
I don’t really know the courses in the Northeast, but some of my teammates recently raced the Northeast Cup and really suffered. The course in Richmond, VA (Atlantic cup location) is pretty technical, check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzfapAhBO4.
The course for the West Cup (in Las Vegas), this past May, was different and difficult. There are many Point Series races that are much more than a ride on a fire road, Xterra Black Diamond this weekend (it’s in the Northwest) comes to mind. What I’m saying is, don’t underestimate the Xterra bike courses, or the run courses, because they will kick your ass too… If you are confident in your technical mtb skills, then you should be ok.
I have been racing Xterra for five years, the courses are tame. If they were insanely hard and ridiculous no one would sign up.
But the courses aren’t rides on fire roads either… I didn’t say they were extremely difficult, I said they not always as tame as people think they are. I’ve raced many XC mtb races that were a lot easier than some Xterras.
Where have you been racing?
I have raced these courses:
Cup race in Temecula CA.
Cup race in Michigan
Cup race in Arkansas
Xterra Red River in Ardmore OK
Xterra Ruston in Lousiana
Xterra Austin TEXAS
Xterra Dirty TEXAS
Xterra Camp Eagle TEXAS
I have raced these courses:
Cup race in Temecula CA.
Cup race in Michigan
Cup race in Arkansas
Xterra Red River in Ardmore OK
Xterra Ruston in Lousiana
Xterra Austin TEXAS
Xterra Dirty TEXAS
Xterra Camp Eagle TEXAS
The only race I can comment on is Temecula, which is not technical at all, totally agree with you here. Haven’t done the others so can’t really say. And there are races out there that are super easy (Xterra Real, Xterra Vashon), but others not so much (Xterra Black Diamond, Xterra Wild Ride, and from what I’ve heard most to the Colorado Xterras). The West Cup is Vegas this year was hard, the Northwest Cup in Idaho, not so much …
What I find suprising is that NORBA racers or ex Norba racers like Shonny V. can’t clock faster rides than Melanie McQuaid, or Christophe Sauser last year clocked a super fast ride in Tahoe, only to have one of the Xterra Pros go faster the next day. If the courses were truly easier, we would see a huge gap here…
BTW, Camp Eagle looks like a really cool race
Ironically Shonny V will be racing camp eagle and Xterra Austin this upcoming month. Camp Eagle is a blast last year it was a mudfest with over 40+ plus bikes that had mechanicals. My rear der. and hanger got destroyed.
I have been racing Xterra for five years, the courses are tame. If they were insanely hard and ridiculous no one would sign up.
As with every other type of racing, every course is different… to generalize and say that “XTerra bike legs are tame” is not accurate.
I have been racing MTB for 10+ years and can tell you that the bike leg on our local XTerra (http://www.m2xtreme.com/home) will kick your ass! There is a reason that competitors have dubbed it the “toughest course in the East,” and it isn’t the swim!
I guess I’ll save this one for after I’ve lost my Xterra virginity and have more experience on technical terrain… I’m all for an ass-kicking on tougher courses in terms of hills, but in the same breath I’m not looking for major risk of braining myself on a tree or rock or broken bones in general either. I’ll admit that one of the reasons I do triathlon vs. other open cycling events is the lower risk of crashing. Meanwhile, I’m looking to clear this mental hurdle soon. Anyone know how Charlottesville rates in terms of crash probability?
I think the big problem is in experience and defination. To a newbie a rock garden is technical, and your “sketchy” might be my “beyond dangerous”. I personally define technical as when 95% of the field is in “Hike a Bike” mode that is probably a “technical” section, cause the mtb monkey junkies are probably rock hopping that section thinking it is just fun.
true it varies, but i think its a safe generalization to say that most xterra bike courses are NOT technical. Except for the sandy nature of the ground, you could ride Tahoe on a cross bike. Richmond is the same, mostly double-track or tripletrack with maybe one section where newbies would have to hike-a-bike. Grafton Lake in New York state is fairly tough because it tends to be a mud bog but still its not very technical riding. You dont have to be a tech wiz on a mountain bike, but you do have to be “strong” on a bike to succeed at xterra due to the relatively steep climbs that you wont get in road triathlons. Mountain biking in general takes more power spikes, accelerations, upper body work than just hanging onto your TT bike and cranking for an hour.
I remember doing XTC Vancouver at Buntzen in '05 (I think), on the same course as Xterra Canada was the year before, and having a real 'mare on it. I was delighted to be told by one of the racers that the previous year the European pros complained that it was too technical.
Turned out the guy was Mike Vine!
Anybody do Blackhawk Xterra in Michigan? It’s reasonably close to home (4hrs or so) and looks like it could be fun. My mtn bike is an old trek 7000 w/o front suspension. Will it work OK?