The hardest part of mountain bike racing isn't cornering, climbing or single track. The biggest obstacle is the anxiety that everyone feels before they put on that first race number and roll up to the starting line. You'll feel a little better once the race starts and a lot better when it's over. The next race will be easier because you'll know what to expect.

Knowing what to expect is a big part of calming those prerace jitters. We've assembled some useful advice so that you don't have to learn it the hard way.

Weeks Before the Race:

Join a club. Your clubmates will be your training partners. They'll also be there to support you when you do your first race.

Pick a race. Don't wait until you "feel ready" to race. No one ever feels ready for their first race. Ask your clubmates for advice, pick a race and go for it.

Tell your clubmates that you're going. Better yet, find people to car pool with. First time racers usually feel like backing out at the last minute. If people are counting on you, you've limited your options. Once the chance to back out is gone, the stress levels go way down.

The Night Before:

Pack everything the night before the race.

Come prepared for all weather

Make sure you have:

Shoes

Helmet

Gloves

Riding Glasses

Camelbak or bottles

License (if you have one)

Money

Bring warm, dry clothes for after the race.

Bring a towel

Resist the urge to make last minute repairs on the bike unless they are absolutely necessary (don't overhaul your bottom bracket the day before the race!!)

Race Day:

Plan to arrive 2 hours before the race (this allows time to get lost)

Eat a carb-only breakfast. (bread, oats, muffins, pronutro, etc). Try keep it low fibre. Now is not the time to improve bowel movements!!

Don't eat a large meal within two hours of a race.

Drink lots of water if it's going to be hot. Don't overdo it in cold weather since this could cause cramping or nature may call at an inconvenient time.

General Ulyses S. Grant once said "never miss a chance to go to the bathroom". Lots of people have missed their warmups because they had to stand in a long line waiting for a Port-o-Potty. Take a pit stop just before you arrive at the race site -- when you do arrive, register and pick up your number immediately.

If you have extra time at a cross country, ride or walk the course. Look for hazards (roots, branches, holes)

Get dressed, get your bike ready, put on your number, get food for the warmup and race.

Your number should be zip tied tightly. If it’s too loose it’ll rattle constantly.

Try to have a spare water bottle filled in the car so you can pick it up before the race

Start warming up 1 hour before the race

Warmup for cross countries should include a couple hard efforts of 15-20 seconds

Warmup for marathons or classics can be less intense, unless there is a climb early in the race.

For a marathon warm up backwards on the course, so you can see the last few km’s  before the finish.

Make note of landmarks in the last couple km’s (unusual trees, houses, mailboxes or whatever). When you get close to the finish, you'll want to be near the front of the pack.

Try to find a landmark at 200 meters from the finish, where you will start your sprint.

Don't cross the start/finish line when another race is in progress. This makes the officials very angry and can get you DQ'd from your race. Go around in the grass.

Start of the Race

Finish your warmup 15 minutes before the scheduled start. Drop off your jacket in the car, get fresh water bottles, go to the bathroom, etc.

Get to the starting area 10 minutes before the scheduled start. Stretch to stay loose and warm

Drink lots of water

Make sure to pay attention during the race briefing. Here valuable info is given regarding the route marking and special actions to take, like collecting stickers or numbers at check points during the race. Make sure to remember any instructions regarding the splits between different race distances.

In a cross country, it is very important to have a starting position on the front line. Pay attention and get to the line as soon as anyone else starts lining up. Also if doing a cross country, make sure you know how many laps you are required to do.

The chief official will give final instructions. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

The start of a cross country race will seem ridiculously fast. DON'T PANIC. The pace will relax after entering the first single track, so try to keep up! You do not want to be stuck behind a slower rider once in the single track.

During the Race

Drink lots of water if the race will last an hour or more. A general rule of thumb says, take one sip every 15 minutes and try to drink around 500ml per hour. Obviously more if it’s very hot.

If you are doing a lap race like a cross country, make sure the time keepers see you and your number when passing them to start your next lap.

During the first few laps, people who can't handle the pace will be getting dropped off the back of the pack. It is important to stay up front, and watch out for people leaving gaps.

If you get a 10 meter or more gap in a race, it is very hard to close it.

And if you have a mechanical problem or flat tyre, FIX IT, DON’T GIVE UP!! If it happened to you, chances are good the others might also have problems on a demanding course.

If you have been  lapped in a cross country, you then do not need to complete your last lap.

Finish

During the race, keep an eye on your distance completed. This will give you a good idea of when the end is nearing, and when you can start squeezing the last bits of energy out the tanks.

If you have any GU’s(energy gels) take the last one at the 10km to go point. This should last you to the end.

If you have a lot of drink left in your bottles or camelback in the last 5km, you can drain most of it. No need to carry an extra litre/kg of liquids in the sprint if it comes to that. Maybe leave a sip or 2 if it is very hot, or if you are questioning the actual race distance.

If the race had shorter distances, keep your eyes open for slower riders in front of you when dashing toward the finish.

Resist the urge to hug friends and family before going through the finishers chute. Many valuable positions have been lost this way!

Eat,  drink and tell stories of your race to friends.

Post-Race Analysis:

So, how'd it go? If you got dropped, welcome to the club. That's how most riders start. Even top riders get dropped when they're having a bad day. They became top riders because the kept coming back.

Stick around and watch the higher categories race. Think about your race and ask yourself what the top riders are doing differently. Listen to the experienced riders discuss their races and don't be afraid to ask questions. Most experienced riders are more than happy to help newcomers.

Most important of all: Keep coming back no matter how the first race went. You'll gradually get stronger and wiser. You'll be a dramatically better racer next year than you are this year. Most people see major progress for at least five years. It's good to have something to look forward to.