Sit back, settle in and enjoy the ride. It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s still going to hurt … probably on Tuesday.
That’s been my policy for a few years now, ever since the time I once had the misguided notion that (simply because I dressed like them and had a bike that looked a bit like theirs … yes, this is a photo of me “back in the day”) I could ride at the same pace as everyone else who was lining up next to me at the Tarawera 100, the Hawke’s Bay Six Hour, the Woodville Motocross GP or even just the local club champs.
Over the years these events, among others, became annual fixtures on the McGechan family calendar, although I have to confess I do less and less actual racing (or even casual riding) these days and spend more and more time actually watching, writing about or just photographing the activities of others.
But I do have some advice to the “oldies” out there still taking part (like at the NZ Veterans’ Motocross Nationals) and this is to remember that it is all about pacing yourself and enjoying the ride.
It comes with the territory, of course, once the spare tyre around the middle starts to over-inflate and the atrophied muscles refuse to budge beyond the exertion needed to lift a wine glass. I fear it’s been too long now that I’ve spent just lounging in a comfy swivel office chair to ever consider again throwing a leg over a dirt bike.
You’ve also got to remember that, even if you are still in excellent shape, you’ll still feel a deep, dull pain in your thighs, back, forearms and hands the morning after a big ride. So, take it easy man.
We all want to team up with Liam Draper, Paul Whibley or James Scott, but also sometimes we have no choice in the matter. Photo courtesy BikesportNZ.com
And, if you happened to bail off during the race, you’ll have pains in strange places. Bruises will start to appear … at first just small dark discolorations, that will later turn into purple, blue and yellow-tinged marks on the flesh.
Some of the pains won’t be visible; like pulled groins, tweaked back muscles and pronged joints. Even worse are the small injuries (you sometimes get before the race even starts), like stubbed toes, sprained thumbs, twisted ankles and flattened genitals, often just from unloading the bike out of the van or off the trailer.
Here’s how post-race pain works. The day after the race, you’re normally stiff and sore. That’s to be expected. However, the day after the first day is usually the worst. For some reason that one-day lag brings out the maximum in misery.
There was a time when I could easily handle these races. Then on Monday, I’d be sort of stiff and sore.
But that was then, when I raced every weekend and rode once or twice during the week. Now, my knees are 453-years-old, and I don’t ride much at all.
Anyway, over the years, I did learn to keep riding at a good pace, even when fatigue set in. All you have to do is keep changing position to force the muscles to work at different angles.
Ride for a while on the balls of your feet, then ride back on your heels, and then in the center of your boot. Elbows up for a while, then out, until your arms start to cramp. Before you know it, the race is over. And not a moment too soon!
If you do this right, everything will be tired. Late that night, the stiffness will start to set in. Strong drink helps.
But it’s on about Tuesday that it really hits home.
That’s when you feel like you’ve just gone a dozen rounds in the ring with somebody named Boris. And you finished third. Not even a hot shower helps on the morning after the day before. In fact, almost nothing helps.
Which brings me to the question: Is there anyone out there who has a way to get past Day Number Two? Is there some short-cut, some way to simply bypass day two pain? Is there some wonder vitamin we can take? Please don’t suggest that I get back in crack riding condition because time and sloth prohibit this.
Send all suggestions, ideas, rays-of-hope, shots-in-the-dark, wild guesses, random shots, quirky ideas, voodoo tricks, faith healing tips, crazed theories, crack-pot medicine, incense burning tips, acupuncture tricks, bizarre creams and lotions, massage techniques, cold packs, liniments, crystal-gazing, chicken entrail interpretations, steroid injections, vapour inhalations, mud-packs, ritual sacrifices or whatever to the BikesportNZ office.
And please hurry. There is no next big race coming up for me, but I’m still sore from the last one. Thank you.
© Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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