First MTB race advice

[ablack84]

I just got drawn to participate in the Fat Tire Festival in Hayward, WI in September. It’s a 40 mile cross country bike race. 2100 racer mass start. http://www.cheqfattire.com/. This is my first race (hopefully I will be able to fit in a few smaller one’s before this). I am looking for any good advice for training for the race or for the race itself. I did read the article on training for the "Dirty Century".

I ride a Trek X-caliber (29er) and I took the big ring off and put a bash guard on because I never used my big ring and I like to push the limits of x-country bike on more technical terrain sometimes. Would it be a good idea to put my big crank ring back on? My crank rings are 44/33/22 and rear cassette is 11-36 10-speed. Any advice would be appreciated!

[Jarrett.morgan]

I don’t have any real advice because I’ve never raced, but I do wish you luck!

[ablack84]

Thanks! Might be in over my head, but that’s what training is for!

[MTI]

Enjoy your first race. A lot of your race questions will be answered by your experience on race day. Have talking to other riders out there before and after the event. As for the chainrings there is a topic on the forums that is fairly current and can answer some of your questions. I for one use my large chainring quite a bit on long endurance rides on gravel roads. Good luck!

[Author]

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