Downhill MTB specificity

[larry]

I am also of the belief that training on the road bike/trainer can greatly benefit your DH races. Most pros use this approach since they can increase their aerobic engine and train in a structured environment.

Personally, I’ve noticed my times and results suffer on DH runs when I’m out of shape - even on tracks that have virtually no pedaling. Being in better shape is more than just being able to pedal a certain amount of watts - it lets you handle the work when your HR is hitting the ceiling for 4-5mins straight. When you’re more fit, you can hold on better and sprint out of corners instead of hanging on and looking for places to rest. I’ve found I ride much more aggressively when I’m in race shape, just because I handle it better.

Make sure you don’t skip out on shuttle days and make every DH run count! Here’s some advice I gave an enduro racer who was approaching their training in a similar way:

@larry

Now, as an avid enduro racer, my advice would be to simultaneously train your descending skills. While training with TR for your epic, you can still ride outside (especially chairlift/shuttle days) and practice in the dirt. Ultimately, if you’re in enough shape to complete the earlier epic, you should have no problem riding the transfers/liaisons between stages - but the race is won and lost on the race stages. From what I’ve seen regarding the Ard Rock, you’ll have to deal with plenty of loose rocks, dry and dusty conditions, and high speed sections. There’s also some tight switchbacks, but I think traction will be your greatest enemy.

The best way to get comfortable with riding the edge of traction is to ride more, so I’d recommend making all your outdoor rides focus on descending more aggressively and faster, while using your trainer sessions to get you ready for the longer race. Hope this helps!