I keep wondering if you randomly picked two ‘easy’ races - races that favour your strength (power). I’d probably go and see if you can find a harder/more technical course and see how you get on there.
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Good thought but I don’t think so. I don’t know what technical really means to you, but to me these races were mostly singletrack and pretty technical. They didn’t allow me to put constant power down, it was on and off. But again this is my second race so I have no idea which courses are more intense. This one had “features” (bermed corners, drops, some tabletops, etc) and a lot of fast singletrack.
If you’re interested in checking it out I linked the course information which also has links to the strava routes.
Race 1: Racing Event Details | WSMTB-Work Safe Access-Port Gamble Trails (westsidemountainbikeseries.com)
Race 2: Racing Event Details | WSMTB-Work Safe Access-360 Park (westsidemountainbikeseries.com)
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This is exactly why I’m a bit cautious. Imo, XC racing is as much racing the course as it is racing other riders. I’d want to go and get more experience on other courses. Of course, you can also do that as a cat 1, but personally I’d feel better doing it as a cat 2. I wouldn’t worry about the sandbagging tag, you’re really new to racing and not a sandbagger.
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Thanks man. I’ve decided just to move up in cat 1. If I do a USA Cycling event and they make me cat down, so be it.
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Go for it! It sounds like you’re plenty strong enough for it, at least in your current races.
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