9 lap solo here, Niner Air 9 Carbon Rigid. Brilliant day and a brilliant job done by all the marshals. The bloke after that short hill after the boardwalk and the young uns near the end were ace fun and the banter always cheered me up.
I lost middle ring on lap 2 and rode the remainder of the race in “big ring” (2 x 10 so big isnt that big – 38 tooth) until the last lap where the water had cleaned all and I could return to little ring for a much needed grind (literally) up the climbs.
Had some good banter with other riders, but a lot looked miserable and cream crackered..
The mud section after the auction was ace, as was the descent before it. Although I was wary of the marshal’s position in case it all went pete tong. I found the best place to be in that muddy section was in the puddles, not round the edges, knowing that the new river on the single track after would clean the bike!
Rode all on lap 1 and lap 2, but gave up in the “muddy sections” and the hill of doom from then on as energy exertion and danger levels a lot lower walking than attempting to ride. (for me in any case)
Best bits for me were the really technical sections where I thought I would struggle with the rigid niner, but in actual fact the super precision of the front end and the big wheels overcame any issues. The big rocky descent at the end of the lap was ace fun. The rock/wood steps into the big granite slab at the end of the first bit of singletrack was also great.
Lost back brake after lap 8 and did lap 9 without it. Worry at the speed of the guys at the front “…..didnt need a lot of braking…..”. Absolute biking heroes.
Thanks No Fuss, ace event.
Nigel