Morning after thoughts... It's all about the climbing, especially lap 1 where it's almost all fireroad on the way up. We were just over an hour a lap (except Jim who was flying up and down), and then between 16 and 19 minutes back down from the very top. Apart from the reverse part of Soor Plooms after Tunnel of Love, there aren't a lot of overtaking opportunities, so you're as fast as the person in front. The Bombhole and Tunnel of Love aren't sketchy at all. Hardtail for next time. Summer tyres if it's dry. The off camber rooty section that follows the contour of the hill before the final drop back down to the transition area would be carnage in the wet. I think I prefer it to 10UTB, the singletrack has a nice mix of stuff.
Cracking effort from Keith, and he crashed less than I did
Jim was so knackered on his last lap he looked angry when he came in!
So my race was pretty rubbish, but I'll claim best crash of the day... First corner in the transition area, front end washes out on the gravel at walking speed, and I go down hard on my knee while grabbing at a random camp chair next to the tape. As I pick myself up, spectator says to me, 'don't worry, I'm sure nobody saw that'
2 minutes later, front tyre is almost completely flat - slow puncture (found the thorn when I got home), so at least that explained the wash out. Also had a big OTB after the bombhole on first lap, had to sit for a couple of minutes after that one, but no damage done, apart from my confidence.
If I do it again, need to properly train for the climbs.
