Welcome to the Big Leagues

What does it feel like to get your teeth kicked in at a race for which you been preparing for months?  Well, as I found out first hand at my first ever Bundesliga mountainbike race in Bad Sackingen, Germany on Monday, it is certainly not fun, but it isn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined it would be… after I wrapped my head around the fact that I got my butt kicked by some of the best mountain bike riders in world on an extremely technically demanding course.  It was so demanding that a year ago I wouldn’t have even considered going for a Sunday ride on it, much less race full gas over the rocks, roots, jumps and drops on the southern edge of the Black Forest.

 Racing down one of the many rock drops on the course

I’ve often heard neo-road pros talking about the beating that they take in their first high-level international races.  Even in the face of not finishing a race they often have a glint in their eye that hints at a certain nostalgia for the suffering they endured, and even have wry a sense of humor about the whole endeavor.  I never understood this attitude until now, as a neo moutain bike pro, why they were so keen to talk openly about their experiences. Now that I too have been through this painful and humbling initiation, I feel more of a strange sense of relief mixed with a dash of pride than the shameful feeling I had imagined it to be.  Sure, as a racer there are few worse feelings than when a 200 pound German race official blocks the race course, yells “HALT!!!” and then proceeds to rip your race number off  your bike and jersey to end your race, but it is all part of the initiation.  In not making the cut, you understand what it takes to do so, opening a window that gives a view of what it takes to make it.

The non-chicken line saves time, but doesn't leave much room for error

We as humans tend to fear the unknown, whether it be an extremely technical course, a star-studded field, or a lack of experience in dealing with both at the same time.  The initial blow, though extremely humbling, brings a sense of pride in having taken punches from the best in the world and having walked away from it eager to get back in the ring again.  You really can’t wait to get out and race again.  You realize that international level racing is an unforgiving and often cruel game to play, but it’s where you want to be- amongst the world’s best. You might get your teeth kicked in now and again, but that’s all part of the game at this level.  Though this game is ofeten humbling, it sure is fun to play.  I can’t wait for the next one!

In the course recon this section looked impossible... at full gas, it's hardly noticeable