Assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a mountain bike racer

The title says why the up and coming and youth cyclists just getting into the sport should click this link. Old, but still applies.

from Paul Bragenzer, a competitive mountain bike racer in the 35-40 age group who is a consistently high ranked performer in local races as well as the US NORBA rankings.

Hard Times? How bad do you want it?

Matt GoForth of OYM sent me a link to an article from GamJams.net that is relevant to the current economic times. First off, there are very few truly under privileged youth cyclists. At a minimum one has to have the money to purchase a bike and travel to races. Here is the link and below are some excerpts from the article.

“Is there a more resourceful group of people? Here are examples from the very elite. One Olympian lived in a van in a friend’s driveway so she could train full-time. Another accumulated spending money by autographing each season’s training kit and selling it at a bike swap at year’s end….

The point is if we want it bad enough, we find a way. Sometimes we find many small ways that add up…

A big part of your training plan must be income IN – your work life…
Years of living the dream of bike racing full-time on two continents taught me how to live within my means…”

Talking to the BCC riders they have picked their races and prioritizing their schedules based on available funding. All are picking their A races and finding the best approach for the year. If you wish to donate visit the main site BCC.