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RPM/Yeti Spring Series is upon us!

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Don’t forget everyone! The first race in the RPM/Yeti Spring Series kicks off April 1st! There's lots of stuff going on, including XC, STXC, MX, and a GEAR SWAP so you can gert rid of some of that crusty schwag you have laying around! Visit the RPM website at http://www.rpmcycling.org/ for more info, or see the flyer below for the scoop!

We’ll see you there!



And as always, feel free to download the flyer and send it out to everyone in your address book to help us spread the word... or just send them the link to this thread!
 

Haplipe

Monkey
Feb 7, 2006
101
0
Arvada
Is this a santioned race by norba? because i want to race semi-pro just for fun but dont want to race that the whole year. If i cant its no big deal but just wondering
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Shawn - Yeah the entire Yeti Spring Series are all NORBA sanctioned, sorry mang.

Chris - you gonna show up? SICK! That'll be WAY rad, haven't seen you in a grip!

B - you'll be fine. Gotta start sometime, right?
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
I recently received a PM from someone very interested in coming out to the 4X race, but was unsure about signing up because of her lack of experience, only having an XC bike, etc. I asked her if I could repost her questions and my answers in hopes that it will pursuade other people that are "on the fence" about racing 4X to come out and join in the fun! The names have been changed to protect the innocent, so here goes:

brg said:
Hello,

I'm *very* interested in trying the 4x race this weekend. However, it would be my 1st attempt and I'm not a very fast downhill rider and I have a few questions.

1. I only have a XC FS bike(80mm up front & back). Can I use this to race 4x?
2. Is everything on the course rollable or am I force to do big jumps?
3. Do you have a beginner women's category? Or do I have to ride with the experts?
4. Do you have to be all geared up downhill style?
5. Will i look like an idiot when I finish 1 minute behind everyone else?

I'm 80% sure I'll do this - it's just a *lot* of driving (I live in boulder) for a little bit of riding. But I'm anxious to improve my descending skills this season and this seems like a good opportunity to do it.


thanks!
brg
brg,

First off let me tell you how AWESOME it is that you're thinking of coming out! That is so dang cool I can hardly contain myself! Descending (as well as climbing) is a SUPER important part of all cycling, especially mtn biking, and it's great to here that you want to invest some time in honing those skills, not to mention having a boatload of fun doing it! Hopefully I can shed some light on some of your concerns:

1. Your bike should be no problem at all to race! Many people race 4X on hardtails with 80-100mm of fork travel, so that shouldn't be an issue. You will probably want to lower your seat down as far as it will go to allow you to roll through the course as easily and safley as possible, and if you have access to or could borrow a shorter stem and riser bar that may be an option as well, to give you a better position for descending and negotiating obstacles. The stem and bar aren't that big of a deal if you don't, and if you run the same setup you have for XC it will just help your skills with that setup!

2. Everything on all of the courses are 100% rollable, and even really fun while doing so! We have everyone from 8-yr-old junior riders to full-on Pro downhillers to accomodate, so the tracks are made safe, fun and challenging for all skill levels.

3. Beginner women's category, this one is a bit tricky. We won't know what the classes and categories are going to be until race day, depending on how many people show up and what they want to race. For the Mountain States Cup races, the beginner and Sport women generally are combined, to give a bit larger field of competition, and I expect we'll do something similar for the Spring Series.

4. It is not a requirement that you wear all the DH style armor, but you may consider it if you have access or could borrow some gear. Usually a little knee/shin protection, maybe some elbow pads, and a good helmet are all anyone needs for 4X. Remember, there aren't large rocks, roots, or trees to negotiate, and everything on the tracks are 100% rollable!

5. You will only look like an idiot if you're not grinning from ear to ear when you cross the finish line! Racing is all about fun, and riding your bike tends to make everyone I know happy! There are no judges here, and ESPECIALLY in the women's classes I see a lot more support, hugs, and shouts of encouragement than anything!

Hope that all helps, and with your permission, I'd love to ba able to re-post your message and my responses in the public forum... I think your concerns are shared among a lot ofpeople, especially women and first-timers, and hopefully the fact that you have these concerns and my responses could help coax a lot more folks into coming out! Mountain Cross racing is really really fun, helps you with a great skillset, and isn't even close to as dangerous, scary, or daunting as so many people fear it is!

Hope to see you there!
FT
 

Beast

Turbo Monkey
May 23, 2002
1,579
0
Where the riding is good
I'm 80% sure I'll do this - it's just a *lot* of driving (I live in boulder) for a little bit of riding.
You actually get a tremendous amount of riding in. You'll be amazed at how tired you are after a day at the MX track.

Also, anyone know which course we're running on?
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Racing the "Original" track for the 1st and 3rd Spring Series races, and the "Extra Crispy" (new one last year) track for the 2nd Spring Series race and the Chalk Creek race.

Rockness!
 

sk8kid33

Monkey
Dec 21, 2004
292
0
Colorado Springs
Spectrum90 said:
Can you guys tell me something more about the track

the original course is fast, fun, and flowy. super fun chill ocurse.
extra crispy, just a little extra with bigger stuff, bigger hits, harder hits. and its a little crispier with more challenging sections.

Both really fun and nicely designed courses
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Original Track goes like this: Big start hill - first straight has a small-ish step up and then a BIG steep spine roller, into a 90* right bermed turn, over a small step-down with a LONG landing into a 90* left berm that flows directly into a 180* right hand berm dubbed "The Toilet Bowl". Next is the Table of the Winds (~15'-18') into a 90* left berm that flows directly into the rhythm section. Rhythm section is low roller, low table, then three low rollers into a bermed 90* right, over a taller but SHORT stepup, long backside into the roller coaster roller. Bigger table-ish-double (~20' ?) and then finishing with a 4-pack of lower rollers.

All that in roughly 25-30 seconds. Get ya some, eh!
 

Beast

Turbo Monkey
May 23, 2002
1,579
0
Where the riding is good
Spectrum90 said:
Can you guys tell me something more about the track


Quite a bit of fun. I just got a hardtail frame (for those of you who don't know me, I have never ever rallied a hardtail and am scared of them . . . ) on thursday, final build tonight, arbor tomorrow, then racing on Sunday. Stoked.
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Sweet! I thought that diagram might exist, thanks for finding it. The only difference is the start hill on that diagram is now the step-up that I mentioned, and the new start hill is set back from that.
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,483
7,526
Exit, CO
Hey kids, I just drove down to Nathrop and the roads were clear the entire way! I think the weather is going to completely rock this weekend, we'll see you down here!

Straight from Darner:
Weather has been beautiful save the normal wind gusts. Today's high was 58* and the first weather report will be posted on Keith's voicemail at 5 a.m. Call 719-221-1251 for the scoop!