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Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: Rexy on January 06, 2006, 09:57 PM

Title: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 06, 2006, 09:57 PM
This thread should probably go into the restoration section (arf arf) but I wanted to get some advice from the meisters on here.

I am back on a BMX now for the first time in 15 yrs (or more).  Had a 6-7 road race/training period in my twenties but now coming up to 36. How do I get back into some sort of shape for racing?

I have got the road trainer out again and did 30 miles yesterday.  Taken to running 3-4 times a week and am trying to lose a bit of timber but....................

Training in isolation means that I am not sure if I am doing the right things.  Any tips from you guys?

Slightly dull subject but probably timely given that the summer race season is coming.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: billstup on January 06, 2006, 10:13 PM
Push ups help, but I use push up bars as my wrists hurt otherwise, you seem to be fit enough if you can do 30 miles on a road trainer , but I think the best training would be on the bmx as practice is whats needed to get the technique right, and learning how to crash of course  :crazy2:
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Mattdub on January 06, 2006, 10:20 PM
It's not really the distance

Set to a hard gear & do sprints , say like a 30 second one , then 1 minute & so on
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 06, 2006, 10:21 PM
Good point Bill, it seems that jumps is what its all about these days.  The sets of whoops that these new tracks have are mental, I like it as it all looks a lot more technical.  I just need to find out if I can jump again. :o
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: stidds on January 06, 2006, 10:29 PM
I find that just riding helps, I ride to the gym, shops etc.  It gets you comfortable on the bike again.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 06, 2006, 10:32 PM
Aye thats true un' all.  The bike I have just got (Crupi XXL Pro) is immensely long.  Fits me nicely but is not like my last bike ( a CW Phase One).
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Mattdub on January 06, 2006, 11:19 PM
Rexy ,

would have done you a deal on my Staats (in For Sale area) Pro XXL , got more cred than a Crapi as well  ;)  :santa_smiley:Sorry Rexy , Crupi  :santa_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Bob_Acid on January 06, 2006, 11:19 PM
Yup, sounds to me like you already have the fitness, all you need is some practice ;)
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Jazzchimp on January 06, 2006, 11:24 PM
Doesn't matter what you do - you'll still have a searing pain in the lungs after the first corner!!! :buck2: :buck2: :buck2:
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Stu uk Liverpool on January 07, 2006, 12:04 AM
i dont ride anymore guys
i know a lot of old athletes and footy players whose shine splints had overtook and still do
they all swear by a decent stepper
good for the knees to
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Bren Gunn on January 07, 2006, 01:03 AM
It's no good getting fit and fast if you can't ride a BMX track...  your going to out ride your self, and if that's the case you will end up in pain or hospital, practice on a track for a few months first or die...  happy new year :2funny:
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Bob_Acid on January 07, 2006, 01:52 AM
Aye, yer fitter than me by the sounds of it so all you gotta go now is go out and ride
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Dingobmxer on January 07, 2006, 07:17 AM
Where you from Rexy?
what is your nearest track??
 :) DINGO :)
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Flying_fox on January 07, 2006, 10:01 AM
I'd just say ride as much as you can.

I ride every weekend and race all year through. Fair enough I go to the gym, run, do spinning, legs presses, culs etc. but unless you've got the bike control all that power and speed is going to be wasted. And it don't matter how much you train on the road and in the gym, the only thing that makes a full lap any easier is doing more full laps. Gym gives you more snap, more power and quicker recovery, the quicker you recover the more times you can try and get that tricky rythem section dialled in etc. Also being super fit don't do diddily when is come to 25 foot doubles, you just have to have big bollox for that. Most tracks now have sections that if you can't jump at least most of it your going to get blown out of the back of the pack.

And learn to crash. :crazy2:

Good luck dude, hope to see you on a start hill some place soon.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: OrgasmDonor on January 07, 2006, 02:01 PM
drink aprox 2 and a half bottles of vodka a week, smoke whatever you can get your hands on (not heroin or crack as this uses up valuable parts budget) go out there and imagine your 14 again and go for it, theres no real training dude just practise, but beware! you will feel the pain when you fall off, old bones arnt as forgiving so get padded up dude. :D
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Geth on January 07, 2006, 03:10 PM
Get to the track and the skatepark and imagine you are a little kid again with no fear. :idiot2:
That should just about do it. ;)
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Dingobmxer on January 07, 2006, 03:12 PM
went to the track todau (Bulwell) realised
a, how unfit I am  :(
b,How rubbish I am  >:(
 :) DINGO :)
but I WILL get fitter/better
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: SammyVee on January 07, 2006, 03:21 PM
At least you have a track to ride !!!

Only track near me looks like a bomb site.. my method for gettin fit is re workin the track manually during spring !!
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: mightymini on January 07, 2006, 04:51 PM
training at track vital, you should already have the legs for it. upper body, shoulders and arms and core muscles will need work. developing fittness and skill is best done on track, once youve gained more track time then maybe move to gym work.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: FORDY on January 07, 2006, 05:47 PM
if you can, ride to work! MTB/road bike whatever! Your commute becomes your training!

To get fit quick - a road bike is the only option!

Sprints - use lamp posts, and sprint between them. The key is to explode off the first pole and hang on utill the following pole. You should be trying to rip the cogs off your sprockets. If you are doing this correctly, you will be only able to manage 3 per session!
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: dirtyvans on January 07, 2006, 09:40 PM
use your bmx for training on the road if you cant get to a track, racing cars at traffic lights is fun! you need to be practicing manuals, as these are essential for nu skool racing, do em up and down curb ramps. You'll use the same technique on a track
the gym is boring, get yourself to a skatepark in the evening, riding vert is really knackering as well, you stop after a run and feel like you've been in a race. This will give the balls to jump stuff too

the only problem with this is you might end prefering riding parks!

take a leaf out of geths book, keep ya finger in all areas of riding bmx

get on ya bmx!
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: davemac1974 on January 08, 2006, 12:25 AM
went to the track todau (Bulwell)

...aaaah, Bunnys...I haven't been there since I was about 12!

I hear its been relaunched in the last couple of years?
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Dingobmxer on January 08, 2006, 09:29 AM
apparently there is gate practise at Bulwell today (2pm) for anyone who fancies it
 :) DINGO :)
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: jT Racing on January 09, 2006, 08:43 AM
I'm jealous, wish i could still race
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 09, 2006, 02:57 PM
Right, thanks for all the advice.  I have got a few tracks around (Royston, P'boro, Norwich etc) and will get to those asap. I'll get to Norwich for the regional on the 22nd for a look but wont ride. See you all on a start hill soon.

BTW what da fook is a manual?
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: oberonspacefruit on January 09, 2006, 03:37 PM
you will wish you had never asked.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: dirtyvans on January 09, 2006, 05:13 PM
like an oldskool speed jump, wheelying without pedalling, will help you get over the jumps without flying into the air!
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: rom_kid_04 on January 09, 2006, 05:30 PM
ride, ride, ride.. stop for lunch... then ride again till tea ... just have a go on a track or on small trails get used to jumping and going fast for as long as you can... then go race and kick a$$
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Flying_fox on January 09, 2006, 06:45 PM
Right, thanks for all the advice.  I have got a few tracks around (Royston, P'boro, Norwich etc) and will get to those asap. I'll get to Norwich for the regional on the 22nd for a look but wont ride. See you all on a start hill soon.

BTW what da fook is a manual?

See you at Norwich on the 22nd then. I don't blame you not wanting to race there.... have you seen how long that track is? I'm worried and I'm 'race fit'. They do 4 motos in East Ungluar in this winter, and thats before you get to the semis and finals. I can see some fourth moto vomiting coming on.


All the information on racing, tracks and clubs etc in your area is on http://www.bmxeast.com/.

Not much left of the winter series now, but there is a healthy 30+ 20" class and 30-39 cruiser class in EA.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 10, 2006, 11:15 AM
So a manual is speed jumping in old language? I.E. getting over the damn thing without taking off? I can still speed jump and I notice no-one does power wheelies anymore, they are a must to prove you have too much power and cant keep the front end down!

See you there.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: theRuler on January 10, 2006, 11:30 AM
no.
in old language a manual is a "coaster wheelie"

you coast along on the back wheel, using the back brake for control

its one of the oldest tricks in the book!

well, that and boomerangs
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 10, 2006, 04:11 PM
Which forms the first part of ye olde speed jumping technique...........
Front wheel of the ground, push forward on bars as you go over jump lifting rear end of bike to minimise lift over said jump? 

I know what I mean in my head, honestly................
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Mattdub on January 10, 2006, 05:28 PM
Manualling is much harder than a traditional speed jump technique and at speed harder still

to speed jump you pick up before the jump , to manual correctly you ride up the face of the jump and the front wheel then leaves the ground and you pump the rear wheel down on the backside of the jump. On a set of doubles for instance the front wheel does'nt touch down until the top (or backside) of the second jump. It is really easy to loop out especially at speed. 
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 10, 2006, 05:56 PM
Right I am with you now!  I beleive that Richie "who's got the power" Anderson was a prime exponent of this bitd.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Mattdub on January 10, 2006, 06:00 PM
Rexy , check the race video i posted because it may show you more so .
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Rexy on January 11, 2006, 10:23 AM
I did.  Good vid.  Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Flying_fox on January 11, 2006, 07:47 PM
Right, now you've got manuals sorted the next step is the 'pick-up manual'. Try pulling the front wheel up before a set of doubles, tripples, quads etc. then keep it up through the jump/section, not letting it drop until your on the straight again. I've been trying to learn how to do this for months and find it more or less impossible.  :D

The best example of this is the Crupi UK factory rider Marcus Bloomfield on the thrid straight at Cheddar, and over the first doubles at Bristol. It looks amazing when its done well, and it's fast as hell.
Title: Re: Getting into shape for racing
Post by: Dingobmxer on January 12, 2006, 06:28 AM
when the French Diamond Back Team were living in the UK they were trying that everywhere and it looks sooooo sweeet
 :) DINGO :)
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