“Get out of my way” somebody yells nervously. „Hey, I just want to lean my bike here, so don’t be ridiculous and make a little space for me!“ another man says. This kind of arguing is going on all around me, that‘s what happens when you pack hundreds of racers into a small space. I watch as various racers give nudges and shoves to each other, fighting for a space in the corridor for racers. We are surrounded by thousands of spectators, and everyone is waiting for that starting gun to go off. I try to hold my balance in all that jostling while I think to myself, “You can do it… the first ten kilometres leads gradually uphill, pace yourself for that, then comes the downhill part where you must be careful, move your backside behind the saddle and do not be afraid! You have already gone down worse.” I suddenly realize there is only one minute remaining to start. My heart is beating faster and faster, standing before the starting gate, aware of all my emotions while I think about the long 55 kilometers remaining in front of me. Suddenly the racers take off– and the tempo? Damned fast!
Everyone is trying to adjust their pace while also keeping up in the race, then racers break down into packs, then kilometers start sliding by as the racers find a tranquil state of concentration and physical exertion. With every passing of ten kilometres you can feel the tiredness increase, but the distance to the finish line decreases. As I race up and down hills and around bends in the trail, I compare my race on the ground with the detailed trail map in my head; racers usually study the trail map the night before in bed. My mental map tells me that the last hill is approaching somewhere close up ahead, and even though I have so little energy left, I still want to take on that last hill, I want to take on and complete the whole competition. Racers want to overcome their own loss of will power, and even though they are all exhausted, the racers drink their last reserves of energy drinks, and they push on. When the finish line is only several kilometers away, the thing that pushes me on is the idea that those few kilometers are the only thing separating me from the powerful feeling of victory. It is difficult to describe how it feels to get to the finish line, after so much pushing of oneself, there is a peculiar mixture of emotions. The racer is totally exhausted, yet extremely happy at the same time. As a racer, I manage to overcome my difficulties, and after several such races the racer starts to feel addicted to these feelings, and one‘s mountain bike becomes an indispensable and important part of one‘s life.
The biggest mountain bike competitions in the Czech Republic are organized by the Bike for Life Association. These sporting events take place regularly, twice a month all around the Czech Republic, from April to September. These races make all the bike enthusiasts happy as they race through the hills and mountains of the Czech nation.
Which Race is Yours?
The whole series consists of sixteen races. Two of them are located around Prague, which is very pleasant if you live in Prague as I do. But there are some other races which are worth attending, whether you live in Prague or Brno. For example, the Ješted Tour Kooperativy is a 50 kilometer route that circles around the Ještěd broadcast tower. This race is very pleasant because you drive through neverending coniferous forests on a good dirt forest path, and as you race you can breathe and feel the smell of old majestic conifers.
As you gain higher elevation, rising meter by meter above sea level, you see amazing views overlooking Liberec and nearby villages. Of course, the racers have to earn such a beautiful view, they must pedal way up into the hills, and it is very long and really challenging.
Another demanding race takes place in Trutnov. Unlike Ještěd, at Trutnov the racers pass through leafy forests on paths covered by roots and stones, and sometimes mud, but the the real adrenalin comes when all those dangerous stones and roots are hidden under a blanket of freshly fallen leaves. Everything is damp, quiet and inscrutable as you race ahead. There is only you, your bike, and the marked trail.
Main Route or Fitness Route?
Every race has two variants: The main route and a fitness route. The main route is from 50 to 60 kilometres long and demands adequate technical and physical skills applied to racing equipment. The fitness route is designed for bikers who are not so physically and technically efficient, or bikers who prefer to spend a more leisurely afternoon on their bikes. The fitness route is always half as long as the main route, so it‘s about 25 kilometres in distance.
How do I join the race?
The first thing you must do is to register yourself on www.kolopro.cz, then sign up for the race you choose. After receiving a confirmation E-mail you are required to a pay 500 CZK entrance fee which includes two snacks on the trail, one lunch and a drink after you reach the finish line, and lastly, you receive a reminder t-shirt with the date and the name of the race. About three days before the race, you will recieve your starting number which you pick up on the day of the race. Any other necessary information can usually be found on the webpages. Your racing number is generated based on your previous racing results, so this affects where you are positioned at the beginning fo the race in the starting corridor.
Why should I go?
If you are at least a little competitive, if you like to spend free time actively, and if you own a bike, then I think you should try it! The feelings of nervousness and excitment at the beginning gradually diappears, and is replaced by full-out exhaustion from those neverending hills. Yes, this is why we do it. You sweat, you feel how your legs and the whole body is working, you know that there is only one way to finish the race—to push yourself onward to the end.
