Don’t downplay Floridians, someone from Florida won their age group at xc mtb nationals a couple days ago. He grew up and lives in Florida and he beat the guy Jonathan Lee lost too last year at xc nationals. We’re fast down here and people think cuz we don’t have mountains we’re weak or something.
Off topic but…
I would focus on getting stronger year by year, work on your tactics, getting to the front before the bottlenecks and what not. Go preride the course or ride it during the year as training. Hopefully I didn’t come off wrong but just want to get you motivated and worry about getting stronger while working on tactics. You can have a high ftp but if your tactics are bad then it doesn’t matter.
Just my 2 Pennies
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Was that the year it was at some insane altitude too at like Winter Park or something? That would make it an even more incredible result…I wonder if he trained at altitude in prep for the race. My experience in Breck was pretty terrible…but I had a mildish case of covid at that time…maybe it was more covid than altitude but I admit I thought twice about climbing a flight of stairs LOL.
Not at all, you raised a good question for sure!
Joe
Don’t poo for a week.
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With small fields like that, it sounds like a podium is within reach. Just need the right combination of trail that suits you and the fast guys not being there.
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Go with the GOMAD diet and race Clydesdale!
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Ha! I have two comments about that. First is that the podium was 5 deep in sport 50+ so I snagged a “podium” and medal. How about that? Almost 50% of the field was up there. I was there for an “I did it!” and ended up sneaking into the winners picture.
Second…you are so right about how the personal lives of other people having a huge impact on your result. Somebody catches a cold or has a fight with their girlfriend or their wife takes them on a weekend trip and they aren’t there…well that’s one less guy you need to beat to get on the podium. Luck and happenstance probably has a bigger effect on placing than hard work and talent…it’s just that you can’t really do anything about happenstance, just gotta do as best you can do and hope you get a bit lucky.
Joe
Good god that is a lot of milk! I just don’t think that is for me LOL!
Joe
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In this type of race bumping up a cat or the like, does not really apply. Its a mass start race and if you want you can race the fastest people, you can by lining up early (at least on the second day-on) and chase the leaders jerseys around. Its a typical MTB race where there’s not much lessons learned/tactics, aside from getting a good start and having a basic awareness of where you are. Even then its tough to mark “your guy” in the leaders jersey (which they don’t always wear…my guy/leader didn’t on the final day(as a tactic)), i found, and really comes down to who’s on good form that day and has solid technical MTB skills. Yea you could race in the open’s or a faster cat but unless you are vying for a podium and have ridden behind your guys and know their weakness’ and when/how to capitalize you basically just hammer it out.
+1 on the “don’t count FLA out” !I did usac marathon nats this weekend and there were a few Floridian’s that just hammered and podiumed a very technical-non-Florida course. The group rides in FLA will rip your legs off and there is MTB’ing, good MTBing!
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I would ask myself - is the point to podium at all costs or is the point to get as fast as possible. If you want to podium, then sure, gain 10lbs and take the disadvantages that will come with it, including any health related issues. If you want to get faster then focus on gaining strength, skills and confidence.
This.
Gaining weight to just to get on a podium, while potentially being slower, doesn’t really seem to accomplish anything, IMO.
It just means you are the fastest slow guy. Is that really an accomplishment?
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Of course it’s a balance because taking this argument to it’s logical conclusion…we’d all be racing in the highest category we possibly could. Me racing against world tour guys is definitely not any kind of learning environment. I mean…I rode the Oregon Trail gravel race in 2021 and those guys are like twice as fast so there is no point to “racing” against them.
It’s as ridiculous sandbagging and racing new novice riders or even “racing” recreational riders on the bike path (hey, I know of guys who do this!) so you have to hit the sweet spot as far as challenge.
Joe
But there is a difference between the scenarios you describe and essentially downgrading just so you can be on the podium.
Whatever you do add in doing it on a single speed. Eventually you’ll get yourself to a small enough group that you are guaranteed on the podium. If I recall correctly there was nobody at Breck Epic over 50 who did single speed this year. 
Incidentally, for some races they count your age at the end of the year. I’m turning 50 in October next year and also doing Breck Epic, so I’m wondering if I’d be eligible to do it in the 50+ class since I’ll still be 49 at the time of the race.
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Ha, I like your thinking. I mean, who among us hasn’t looked at results and tried to statergerize a good placing at least once in awhile!
It might be your age at the end of the year so you might be OK for 50+ this year!
There were a decent number of single speed in the breck epic this year, at least 2-3 were fully rigid…which I found completely unbelievable given the technical nature of the course…and the complete lack of air…and the extreme vertical. (Support was top notch though)
Joe
That was my approach (combined with lifting) this summer. Almost immediately gained ~15 lbs. I expect it’s a mix of muscle, water, and probably some fat (though my scale somewhat consistently shows a lower bf%, not sure how much I trust it though). Not clear that it’s necessarily less healthy than before but I’m not faster, either, shoulders and traps aren’t helping much with biking.
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I think if you or anyone is expecting to sandbag in SS at BE i’d think again. There’s always at least a few core-SS’rrs that show up (some on FS-SS) to make a mark. On top of that there’s a continent of 3-5 SS’rs from Pittsburg that come out for it almost every year for the past 5 years (i think) and are an ever present on the podium.
Plus, its not a bad SS course but not the best either (is there one really?). I race SS pretty regularly and would not do the BE SS…just me though, let your freak flag fly.
In terms of strategizing on getting a podium we (or at least i) do it in CX and cirt racing all the time where you have a race that you think you’ll be competitive at it and one that maybe you just want to hang on for training…the clyde cat is competitive and if you said that BE’s clyde-threshold is 190 then you are there…again CO from FLA is a long way to go and not be competitive and there’s nothing like climbing up on that stage and having memories on the podium vs just watching form the sidelines.
I don’t think anybody is
Ha! Our opinion differs dramatically on this!
Breck Epic for me is about finishing the thing, pushing beyond perceived limits (and all of that mental stuff) while getting in some amazing scenery and riding some fantastic trails. It’s a long way from my wheelhouse!
Joe
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