Why I Decided to Stop Cross Country MTB Racing

After many, many years of racing cross country mountain biking, I've decided to put a hold on it, maybe for good. Here's why.

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[donaldmorrill]

Did 15 years of XC racing and quit when I got married. My kid just turned 18, moved out and I retired. So 23 years later I joined a team for a 12 hr mtb race. Had no expectations other than completing two laps. It was a blast!! I am 69 and plan on doing another race next spring.
You will return, I just know it!!

[mancello]

You're getting older. I don't mean that in a negative way. Priorities change as we age. I've been cycling 40 years and it's only recently that I've cut back my training and I'm fine with it. It's ok to take time off the bike to do other things in your life.

[classactracing]

Recovery is key to getting faster, but it seems to take longer as we get older. I learned a lot about how to train properly, and I’m still learning how to keep momentum in my training by listening to my body to keep from overtraining and avoiding injuries. I am right there with you on the thought of I want just want to ride. I want to enjoying being on a bike. It was always good seeing you at the races. We competed against each other a few times. Thanks for all the laughs and pushing me. Ride on!

[garrickdtaylor]

I bought a bike to try to get back into shape and re-connected with how much I enjoyed riding a bike as a kid. We have a local series of gravel races and I plan to enter a couple of them this year but honestly have no goal of actually racing. I just hope to finish them which I feel is a huge goal from where I started 18 months ago.

[letourrr]

I can understand this. I’d finally gotten back into XC racing being a NICA coach then racing along side the kids in the off season. But having two kids of my own since, I’ve had to stop racing for a few years. Definitely miss it but different chapters in life require different priorities.

[tyallen]

This is very timely for me… I’m signed up for my first mtb race this weekend. I’m glad to hear your perspective on first races - have fun and don’t worry about the results. Thanks for the video.

[alexjohnson]

Huracan 300 is coming up in February. Its in central Florida. Seeing how much you like Zone 2 on a gravel bike, it could be for you since you only need to maintain that pace. And you are free to take as many days as you want to finish it, though at your fitness level you are a 2 day contender for sure.

There are two routes to choose from, the more mountain bikey route (the Classic), or a slightly shorter and faster rolling route (the Lite) which was put in for the gravel bike guys who did not want to do the Croom section.

[NZCUBDRIVER]

I hear ya buddy. I have a young family, a career and a great wife. I’ve competed in a few mtb marathon events over a span of 6 years before starting my family and priorities change. I don’t want to be a selfish rider/racer and miss out on those special years with young kids. I only ride for fun once a week now. I appreciate the time I do get on the bike and I feel more at peace when I ride just for fun.

[thomashussey]

Good choice Clint. Not worth missing family obligations. Thank you for all the valuable information this channel has provided.

[ysaelynoa]

I've been riding for 20 yrs and had my share of racing time and totally agree with all your saying. I think it's part of maturing as an athlete (as a cyclist). You know what you're capable of, you know what winning is, you know what losing is and more importantly you don't need to prove anything to anyone. Ultimately we are all just people riding bikes and that's what matters, some faster and more seriously, some slower and more relaxed, at the end of the day what matters is being out there on the saddle. Like you, I still enjoy a good endurance race and still do it when I have a window of time to prepare for my own race and my own success, I've signed up for BC BIKE RACE 2024 by myself and feel as excited as i felt 20 yrs ago, but nowadays I'm more interested in the people, the trails and the experience than in the results and I think that's the beauty of maturing as a rider. Just enjoy a good ride whether it's a casual ride with a slower rider or your fighting for podiums on the weekends.! See you on the trails.!

[joeydirty]

Respect! I’m 52M and race XC once a year and a Gravel race. My kids are grown and I live alone. I ride hard during the week and weekends are for fast group rides. I’ve only been riding since 2011. The trailhead is 3 miles away in S.E. Michigan. I’ll ride hard until I can’t. 🤙🏻

[davidbendezu]

I'm turning 50 soon, but love to push myself with training for my next XC race. What's helped me the most is having a e-bike to ride on days that I'm not feeling it, so I don't over-exert myself. Also I only ride my e-bike in the lowest setting, so I don't feel off once I jump back on my sweet Canyon.

[mariofonseca]

Clint, I appreciate your perspective very much.
My journey took me from being a competitive athlete to the point where training became the end goal. I lived and still do live for training.
But because oh a number of circumstances -and 30 years later- I am back committed to see the version of me that I can piece together at this point.
I see you becoming competitive again when you retire. I’m there and very much feel like competing again!!!
All the best.

[MiamiCycling]

Took me 5 criterium races before I even finished one 🤣. Those were some tough days. Now I’m finishing plenty. They’re still tough days. 😂

[BikeVanDad]

Awesome discussion. I’ve gone through the rollercoaster of racing and life and now maybe having time to race again and these are the very things I’ve been considering. Thanks so much talking about this it helps knowing there’s others in the cycling community having similar thoughts and experiences. Ride on!

[mrfuzz]

Had pretty much the exact same experience. 52 years old, two kids, did CX for a number of years and stopped when COVID hit, haven't gone back. Sitting with my HR at 185 for 40 minutes just doesn't sound as fun as before. Would rather fill the time I would've driven to the event, done the short race and driven back home with a long Z2 gravel ride

[tiagoweyne]

Thanks a lot for your insights, I just went to coconut cup and even though I got a last place, I had a lot of fun. Looking forward to get on shape next year and try not to be the last.

[Transsend_it]

I appreciate this. 👏 Mountain biking used to be my main endurance passion then I found triathlon. I fell in love with the structure and the endless opportunities to improve but like yourself know that I’m at my limit in terms of focus, commitment, and time. It’s hard for me to just go for a nice gravel or mountain bike ride now because I’d be sacrificing a structured training ride - it’s also so hard to let go of all the “fitness” that I worked so hard for. Indeed, endurance sports can become self-centered.

[sccxvelo]

Local CX season was big till few years pre covid when it started dropping off as gravel started taking off. We are slowly getting CX numbers back now. Raced CX alot some years ago but had to focus on race photowork and staffwork first which left me nothing left for racing on the day. Now ride the late winter/spring events and work the fall. Just started gravel event this past fall and planning my late winter/spring, as summer in SoCal bike racing shuts down due to the heatwaves till mid fall unless at coast or high elevations. Hopefully yours local CX will slowly come back as people realize it is good for other parts of cycling besides just a fun day in the park with family and friends.

[mister_ray]

Have to do intervals to stay competitive. Way more fun to just do what you feel like doing. Almost every guy I know who raced in the past is now burned out. Still can stay fit and generally fast without racing or race training. A couple brisk group rides a week is a good way.