XTERRA secrets

January 29th, 2008 by Conrad Stoltz

Dress for success

Wear gloves. Scrubbing gravel out of your palms aint fun. Gloves also makes the job of holding on much easier, especially when its wet. I race with short fingered gloves, which are quick and easy to put on and take off.

To sock or not to sock. If you participate rather than compete, feel free to wear socks, but if you are serious about going fast, don’t sock. Your feet will get sandy/ muddy/ wet, and you may get blisters on the run, but damn, you’ll be fast.

I once raced an Xterra in a Speedo. Once only. Sand on your saddle is a slow killer. Wear tri shorts with a light chamois. Invest in a fast material (hydro dynamically spoken) for those non wetsuit swims. (Orca, Speedo or TYR)

Technical bits

Pre riding the course is the best way to ensure a good bike leg. There is nothing worse than bumbling haphazardly through a course you have never seen. Get to the venue and ride the course slowly, stop at the technical sections and pick a line you will use in the race. Ride the line a few times till you have it waxed.

Look ahead. The faster you go, the further ahead you should look. Sounds simple, but its tough to master. My most valued riding tip.

Tires. Tubeless or Stans Notubes is the way to go. Most South African courses (when dry) requires a wide tire with large air volume. (at least 2.00) Knobs should be closely spaced and short. (Specialized Fast Trak or Larsen TT) A muddy course requires a narrow tire with few tall knobs, spaced far apart.

Tire pressure. Low pressure gives more traction, more suspension and is more comfortable. The only draw back is a higher risk of pinch flats. I ride 28psi, but for beginners I would recommend starting with 40psi, then lower the pressure as your technique through rocky sections improve.

Suspension. For 95% of Xterra routes dual suspension is best. They help save your body for the run, and they are more forgiving over technical terrain. Meaning you can make more mistakes without crashing. Especially handy for mountainbike newbies. Have a knowledgeable person help you tune the suspension.

Carry spares. Always carry a spare tube, a dependable pump and a multi tool.