Mixed emotions for me, glad I finished in the end, but did "retire" very early.
Start was crazy up that hill, I knew the first singletrack would be a traffic jam so did make a good effort.
First singletrack - snapped my chain as I turned onto it.
Now having lost my pump the other week, and for some reason couldnt screw the bottle cage onto the sintesi I chose to go uber-light, no tools, no fluids, no food. Was confident I could do the 1 lap, had 2x big bottles of PSP in the 90mins before the start.
Now some kind random gent lent me a chain splitter while I waited for my mate to catch up, and got on with putting it back together. Tool was a bit crap and I couldnt use it. Mark did catch up and being that he's a bit bigger and stronger than me did manage to crack a rivet and get a connection point. Earl spotted the 3 of us at this point
WHOOP! on the way again, but now so far back and stuck in a long line of people walking through the singletrack.
Passing a few where I could started to make progress, half a mile down the track I snapped the chain again, saw another link twisted too so decided to "retire". Put he chain in my pocket and carried on down the track, letting everyone past. Was odd, free wheeling where I could and walking elsewhere. Round the back of the hill and onto a proper descent, now back on with passing people. muddy and slidey this descent and made good progress.
Found myself at the blue loop, and rather than go straight-on and retire I though this bit was free-wheelable and goes tot he road so I'll do this and then retire. Did that, crossed the road, and thought bugger it, everyone around me is walking up the hills so maybe I can finish?
Walked/freewheeled to just before the feed station, now decided not to retire and to push on. Chatted to a guy who was stopped with back pain and he had a chain splitter - so had another go at fixing the bent link and the snapped one. All back together and back onwards.
This helped a lot, smiling, so far back everyone was easily passed and this helps with going even faster. Up the south loop and even disappointed when we started descending as I realised we'd only get half the descent!
Down past the cars and onto the road, legs burning into the headwind and seemed a long way down the road, started to wonder if I should have just retired. Turned off and onto he climb, slower now and sheltered from the wind I got my mojo back and made good progress. Turning into the singletrack at the top I recognised where we were and knew it was a good descent and that must be the finish - attacked it and passed quite a few.
Got to the finish in a utter crap 2:40 :roll: