what tricks do you have up your sleeve???

[powercart]

K guys, I know there are tonns of tips and tricks out there that people are doing for harescrambles. Everyone has their own styles of riding and different ways of preparing their bikes..
I recently installed a tug strap on my bike, for those hard mudholes that enjoy sucking my bike in...But what else are you guys doing??? Im sure everyone has some good advice to give one another on this topic!! Let the ideas flow...........:)

 

[agitt73]

make sure all the wireing is water proof
use good tires
ride a gear high and lug the bike gives alot better traction feather the clutch as needed

 

[jmutiger]

The key thing in a hare scramble is not to follow the trail. Well you do, but you don't.. You have to visualize the faster lines, and if there is a way to make that faster line a reality without cheating, then you take it. Try to minimize the amount of people that follow into this cheat-line, or ninja-line as I like to call them.. If you can find these lines, then you will have an advantage in the end.

Straighten out all corners as much as possible, take short lines, don't stop for gas.. Don't have mechanical breakdowns.. Eat properly, be focused on the race.. Don't worry about the guy behind you.

That's my strategy.. Works for me :)

Jon!

 

[Jtown]

Get a good start! For dead engine starts: I put my bike in gear while it's running, rev it a couple of times, and kill it before my row comes up. Don't release the clutch until the start. Slowly kick the starter to get the motor just before top dead center. When the flag drops, kick the bike, dump the clutch, and hang on. I get a top three start every time this way. Procedure may vary depending on the bike, but I practiced until I could start my bike on the first kick every time while it's in gear.

 

[T-Bone]

Proper suspention set up is MANDITORY !! Depending on your weight and ability you might need stiffer springs on a KDX to make your bike work right. Hey if your still intrested I can sell you my Gasgas 200 at a great price and it is race ready for a 180 lb rider.

 

[WideOpen]

my best advice is to get a bottle of pedialyte and drink half of the bottle before the race. then at the end of the race (or back at the house) drink the rest of the bottle to prevent your muscles from being tight on monday

 

[Lew]

Wear a drink system (very important), Moderate pace for the first lap, so you can learn the course. Then as already mentioned look for the faster lines. There is usually a 20 foot either side of the course rule (varies from race to race). I have found that the better riding at times is a few feet off the main trail. Ride your own pace and stay in control. Better to go slow through a technical section and burn a few minutes than to crash and risk being out of the race. ABOVE ALL.......have FUN!!! :aj:
Lew

 

[limitless]

Mix some pedialite in with your water in your hydration system.... It helps you to be hydrated and doesn't taste real great, so you won't drink all of your water on lap 1

 

[KDX'r in IN]

Try to constantly splash mud, water, roost whatever.....Hey if they can't see they can't race.....Just kidding.....Although I guess it is a strategy

 

[powercart]

K sweet guys, T-Bone: Ive already got a pimped out KDX with everything on it, including new suspension front and back, set up for me. Thanx anyways

 

[DEGBERT]

Don't give up after your first race. HS racing is very hard and it takes time to get into shape. I see too many MX guys come out and race one HS and give up after one lap. Stick with it and will be amazed on how fast you will improve. Three years ago I started out as a last place C rider and now I run in the front of the B class. One more thing, suspension, suspension, suspension. Have your bike set up for the woods, it's makes a big difference.

 

[jsned]

Stand up!! as much as possible. There is too many things coming up on the trail that you will have to be standing for so stay standing or you will get tired of going up and down. You will be suprised how much faster you can wiggle between trees standing. When the top guys go by lapping you ( if they do) watch them they are in full attack mode at all times.

My wife once said just be the first one off the line and go faster than the rest of the guys!! Sounds like she knows!

 

[limitless]

I have a hard time standing up... I have almost no control when it comes to any kind of ruts. I try to stand up, but find myself sitting on the ground before too long. I like sitting, but I do get tired quickly. I find that I am a lot slower "wiggling" through trees when sitting down, so I stand up for that. I stand up for whoops, big logs, creek crossings and rocks, but mostly I sit! My arse does begin to hurt after 20 miles though!

 

[IRISHCOFFEE]

the nite before give your fiercest competitors a big platter of enchiladas. you go back to your camp and eat oatmeal. guaranteed!

 

[powercart]

hey Irish, What are enchiladas???;)

 

[limitless]

Maybe slip your competitors some exlax. Itching powder may also be an option? or you can disconnect there spark plug cap before the start?! It also may not be a bad idea to turn there petcock to the off posistion when they are about to start (this takes some precise timing and slick moves, but can be done.)

 

[limitless]

ohhh, I'm not recomending any of the afore mentioned evil deeds, but if you were to do them you would probably give yourself a small edge over the competition..... again I'm not recomending I'm just sayin :)

 

[powercart]

Haha, if you cant win....Cheat ;)

 

[IRISHCOFFEE]

powercart, yhey are a mexican food. weak, wimpy stomachs sometimes suffer gastric distress.

 

[CIER]

Any time that I have gotten more than a couple of inches off the trail, I hit a tree!

Jim

Originally posted by Lew
I have found that the better riding at times is a few feet off the main trail.
Lew

 

[ktmracer]

step 1: remove the spring that sits on top of the slide.

step 2: place spring underneath the slide.

step 3:hold on

 

[agitt73]

ANOTHER THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT STAY RELAXED
AND FOCUS ON THE TRAIL OR TRACK NOT THE PEOPLE ON THE SIDES

 

[Hogwylde]

Race your own race. That guy charging hard obviously is faster than you....let him by. Then try to hang with him for as long as you can. If you catch up to some slower riders, don't take too much of a chance to pass. Take the opportunity if it's available, but if it's not....don't force the issue. Chances are, if you do...you will both crash. More often than not, if you be patient, they will make a mistake and go down or get stuck and you can ride right around them....avoiding the bad line they took in the first place.

 

[D36-108A]

Hare scrambles aren't won in the first turn.

 

[outpost22]

1. You CAN'T WIN a Hare Scrambles in the first 5 miles.

2. You CAN LOSE a Hare Scrambles in the first 5 miles.

3. Don't give up. you have 100+ miles to make up time. Learn the loops and watch for faster lines. Don't repeat the same mistakes lap after lap.

4. Run a larger gas tank. If there are 4-25 mile loops, make sure you can run two loops without stopping for gas. I won my first Class 30 Expert Hare Scrambles by beating a very fast ex-pro who had to stop every loop. He would have cleaned my clock if he could have gone the distance...big tactical error on his part. (2 gas stops vs. 1)

When you bike prep, spend your money on tires first. Most people have more horsepower than they can handle, but not enough traction. As they get tired, that extra horsepower usually becomes their enemy. Keep your tires aired up a little more than normal (unless you're running a sand event). Flatting out in a Hare Scrambles is a bummer.