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race tip

Summer heat coming in HOT

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Summer heat coming in HOT Well, guy’s looks like the summer heat is coming in HOT! Upper 90’s temperatures usually do not hit Missouri this early. But here we are, heading into a race weekend with heat index into the 100’s. Are you ready?!? Here are some tips to survive the baking sun. HYDRATE! Lay off the beer and soda the week before a race. Try to consume lots of water throughout the day even if you are not outside in the heat. Nonactive individuals are recommended to have a minimum of 64 oz of water a day. If you are active, like a dirt bike race, you need a gallon… that’s right a gallon. Being the slightest bit of dehydrated can hinder you on a race day. Hydrating for a race starts before the weekend. On race/riding weekend drink plenty of water before starting. Camelback is not a bad idea either. It is important to have a “sports drink” that has electrolytes along with some complex carbohydrates in it to replenish nutrients loss over excessive riding in the heat. Avoid all sugary drinks. I used 1st Phorm Intra-Formance. I drink it before the race and at enduros I drink it between tests. Some people even put it in their hydration pack. NUTRITION! This all depends on the type of person you are and what your body handles. It is important to remember FOOD IS FUEL. It literally gives you the fuel to function, if you do not eat, you do not function correctly. In the heat, I work better with smaller meals and snacks. Fruit is a must! Of course, there’s more but I won’t bore you with what my diet/nutrition plan looks like. LIGHT GEAR! Lots of companies release summer gear that is a lot more vented. I like to use Fly Kinetic Mesh when it is steamy out. My dad also uses EVS Cooling Vest. They work like a charm! STAY COOL! I used to think being outside in the elements during race day make the heat not as bad but that is WRONG. It is proven fact that staying cooler allows your body to function longer in the heat, same with being able to push longer. If possible, stay in A/C until you have to go up to the line. Don’t have A/C available? Other options are sitting in front of a fan, eating frozen foods (like fruit or smoothies), ice, and ice cold water. If it is not a race and just a riding adventure, start the days EARLY, get up with the sun! I promise, it is a lot cooler outside before 9 AM. Plus, the views are worth it! Along with the feeling of accomplishment before most people are awake. WATCH YOURSELF AND OTHERS! Pay attention to how you feel. If you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration and other heat related issues, get help, go to a cool place. Lookout for the people around you, they may not know what is going on. REPLINISH! & REPLINISH SOME MORE! I cannot stress this enough. I like to be ready to get back to normal training practices as soon as possible! The muscles in your body cannot heal without replenishing what was lost in sweat and activity. After racing or a hard ride, I follow up with a protein shake and carbohydrates. So, it is protein powder, 1st Phrom Phormula 1, water, 1st Phorm Ignition, and ICE. This helps the body know it is time to start healing the muscles. It will also speed up recovery and help with soreness. You can be the fittest person out there or work in the heat all the time but that does not eliminate the heat related risks. STAY HYRDATED & HAVE FUN! More Posts Back To Blog Page

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Wrench Tip Wednesday: Preparing for a Mudder

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Wrench Tip Wednesday: Preparing for a Mudder I have mixed feelings about racing in mud and I mainly dislike it because the cleanup takes forever. Sadly, if you are chasing a series for points, it is hard to pick and choose which races a person attends. It has been a very wet spring for Missouri, so here is some tips on how to get a dirt bike ready for the mud. Skid plate foam is a must! Use it anywhere it will fit and stay. Load the skid plate up with the foam because mud packing in under the engine is not good and will result in the engine getting hot. Plus, it will add a ton of weight. Another good place is on the brake pedal. If you don’t put foam there, mud could potentially pack inside the lever and keep it pushed down which would result in brake loss. You might also consider foam between the shifter and the engine. On a Beta, we add foam around the grab handles to prevent mud and water going into the airbox. Put screens over the radiators. You will still get airflow but make sure you clean them every time you stop. Although, it is not necessarily needed, bigger radiators and a higher-pressure cap will help ensure the coolant is kept in the radiators. A cooling fan will also help keep the bike cooler. Many bikes come equipped with a thermostat in the radiator lines, remove it. The type of coolant a rider runs could make a difference as well. We use Engine Ice and a lot of our customers use Evans. If you know it is going to be a mudder, put a new set of brake pads on. Mud will eat away at the pads before the race is over. A solid disc rotor is also a good idea. On a standard rotor, sticky mud can get in between the holes in the rotor and that will cause the brakes to burn up. If the brake fluid has not been bled lately, do that! If not, it is almost a guarantee your brakes will get hot and will be racing without them! A high-temp brake fluid is a good idea, look into Motul 660 and Castrol. In a enduro race scenario, if the bike is getting hot take the time to try to cool it down in between tests. A dirt bike can drop at least 15 degrees by riding it up and down the road, getting air flow to it. Wouldn’t hurt to scrape off as much mud as possible. Keep the radiators clean! Remember, if you are not a fan of mud, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must! Smile, have fun, and enjoy the free facial!!! Cover photo credit: Holeshots by Cara More Posts Back To Blog Page

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Gearing up for Race Season: Part 2

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Gearing up for Race Season: Part 2 Now that the bike is ready to go, are you? Sometimes making a check list help prevents forgetting important items like your gear and FOOD! If you forget the food, there most likely is a store along the way just don’t forget to stop. Forgetting gear is a little more difficult to make up for. Especially, when your 1,000 miles away from home. The first race of the year is always tough getting ready for. If you are like me, you have gear scattered between two vans, the garage at home, the house, shop in town. Literally, EVERYWHERE. So, first step is to find it all! Make sure you have at least one/set of helmet, gloves, goggles, camel pack, knee pad/braces, boots, pants, and jersey. Now that all of that is found, make sure the goggles are prepped and clean and that everything is in usable condition. Being a girl can be tough sometimes, especially when you are indecisive on what Fly Racing gear set to wear. I narrow it down to two sets and make a decision on race day…. Don’t forget the gas cans. If you ride a 2T don’t forget the oil for the gas. Don’t forget the chairs so you can be comfortable while bull sh!tting. If you have a canopy, bring it. Are you camping? If so, don’t forget the blankets. Nothing is more miserable than being cold all night. A change of clothes would be smart, along with a heavy jacket just in case it is colder than expected. FOOD AND WATER. If you are camping, make sure you bring enough for the entire weekend. It is important to eat on race day, it is your body’s fuel. I can’t stress enough the importance of being hydrate especially in the dead heat of the summer. So, eat and drink up! Load up and hit the road! Planning for extra drive time is smart, better to be way early than late. More Posts Back To Blog Page

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Gearing up for Race Season: Part 1

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Gearing up for Race Season: Part 1 Under two weeks left until the first race of the year and it might be time to start inspecting the race bike. Either you have rode the bike all winter or you parked it after the last race. Sometimes things needing attention can be forgotten and that is exactly why the dirt bike should be looked over a few weeks prior to the first race. It ensures you have time to go to your local dirt bike shop for parts and maybe even get them installed. For me, I spent most of the winter on my 2018 Beta 250. It currently has around 40 hours on it. Not a lot of maintenance is needed at this time. After my last ride on it, I gave it a really good bath. Removed all the plastics and the tank and went to town scrubbing on it. It took FOREVER but totally worth it. While I do this, I look over the bike and make mental notes of what is needed. Generally, after a full season of racing and practicing my bikes are in desperate need of fresh plastics. So, before the first round I like to get new plastics and new graphics. Not a necessary item but what else am I going to spend money on? I shoot to have the plastics and graphics done at this time so I do not have to put the old plastics back on during the first race prep. Inspect the handguards. Are they loose? Are they so bent new ones are needed? 9 times out of 10 this is the case for me, so I plan on replacing them at this time. What about the grips? Is it time to replace them? INSPECT EVERYTHING! I tend to have a problem with bending headers. I guess they are kind of a disposable type item. I make sure that it isn’t so bent that it will be a problem. Like making sure it is not rubbing on hoses. Luckily, my FMF Fatty is in good shape! After the appearance check over is finished, I start reading my dirt bike diary to get a refresher on what has been done and what has not. Oil change for sure. Did the oil smell burnt? Wouldn’t hurt to check the clutch to make sure everything is in working order. Brakes and clutch need to be bled. Look at the brake pads, if they are border line replace go ahead and replace them. Install a new sparkplug. Clean the air filter or buy a new one. Check the coolant levels. Do the fork seals need replaced? What about the fork fluid, is it time to change that? How are the chain and sprockets? Again, if it is borderline, I lean more towards replacing. What is the point of starting the season with junk parts? Are all the bearings in good shape? Would not hurt to go ahead and disassemble the linkage and swingarm bearings and add more grease to them. Don’t forget the tires! If bibs are ran are they still good? If not, check the tire pressure and make sure the tubes still hold air. Another thing to consider, is it time for a rebuild? If it is near time, go ahead and get that out of the way now. As I stated above, my bike has 40 hours on it, so I do have some life left on the top end. After all parts are replaced that are needed, start assembling! In an ideal situation this is at least a few days prior to the race. When finished, stare at the beauty and take pictures. Ride it around some. Get your competition face on because it is race season!! More Posts Back To Blog Page

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