[Tania]

I can’t access that link but the article I read yesterday said that the cyclists were riding single file and as far right as possible – so they were NOT taking the lane unless I misunderstand what that means.

But seriously, how do you hit all four of them? (Ok ANY of them?)

[Tania]

@vvill 135572 wrote:

If you want to gauge the success of FS, it’s probably best to talk to new players and see if they had similar experiences to the veterans’ previous experiences. Did you go ride more than before? Did you want to? Does winter riding seem easier now? More fun? Do you go riding out in the snow for fun? Did seeing other riders out there inspire you? Did seeing the scores/data motivate you? etc. I can’t speak for other teams but I’ve been very impressed by my team’s FS “newbies” and I think they’ve been experiencing the competition similarly to how I did in my first year.

Did you go ride more than before? YES. 740 YTD vs maybe 100 same time frame last year (that’s a guess, but last year was mostly coffee rides)

Did you want to? YES!

Does winter riding seem easier now? …No. It’s not the cold it’s the ice. But that’s my own mental issues, and now I do have studded tires. So easier, nope. But I’m more likely to suck it up and try.

Do you go riding out in the snow for fun? YES! I even bought a mid-fat bike. And a dedicated commuter.

Did seeing the scores/data motivate you? Oh yeah.

Editing to add that I likely wouldn’t bother to do FS again if it was based more on any kind of ‘-neuring’ format, the rules for which make my eyes glaze over mid-way through the second ridiculous rule. I’m here to ride, not attend happy hours or take pictures.

[Tania]

Pretty sure my front wheel skipped off or I rolled right over every single downed branch on the trail this am.

[Tania]

Team 8 communicates entirely via a closed FB Group.

Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean things aren’t happening.

[Tania]

@hozn 135351 wrote:

How does the pavement rolling compare to the Clements you run normally (are those 40mm MSOs?) ?

My current list of off-road tires to try includes:
– Kenda Flintridge (40mm, tubeless)
– Panaracer Comet (40mm, and apparently works tubeless)
– Schwalbe G-One (40mm, tubeless)

But it’ll be awhile before I wear out my Specialized Triggers, so probably any other tire will be one that is less exclusively for hardpack.

I usually keep the 40 MSO’s on there all the time and ride a lot of pavement in them. The Rock and Roads didn’t feel any slower at all – there was a 2-3 mile paved section around mile 10 (mostly uphill?) and both times around I used that section to open it up and gain a lot of time. That could be due to relief at finding some recovery time on pavement though. They only time they felt slow was in a few of the sandier spots (the feeling where you’re not quite sure if your tire is flat or not).

I tried them Sat when I first put them on at 70psi and HATED them. They were squirrelly if you moved the wheel even a little bit and I was really nervous I’d made a huge mistake. But I let out some air and they flattened a bit and were fine. I doubt I would have been as happy with the MSO’s especially after it started raining. I wish I could tell you what I was running but I did it off feel. Probably around 40 which was almost too much.

Seriously – take them for a test spin around Lake FFX if you think they’ll fit your bike (they’re pretty meaty). Once things dry out, I plan to do just this.

[Tania]

We all need to ride together to practice our descents because I too am a chicken. I go uphill faster than I go down.

I wanted to go downhill faster on the second loop (since I’d done it already and knew what to expect) but I was getting fatigued and I wasn’t sure I could trust my handling skills or that I wouldn’t just make a stupid mistake and wind up with multiple compound fractures.

[Tania]

@Amalitza 135334 wrote:

By any chance was that a woman on a cross bike who got to the water first (on the left) and slowed to let the man on the mountain bike (the one doing the yelling) past and follow him through? If so, the woman was me. (I have no idea who the man was, he just happened to be someone riding behind me who obviously knew the crossing. I thanked him as I climbed out behind him.)

About 98% sure yes! I wasn’t paying attention to who was riding what but it went down just like that. I muttered to myself “stay to the right, good to know” so thanks to you both!

[Tania]

@huskerdont 135325 wrote:

even though that evil downhill near the end of the loops (before you cross over the bridge for the last bit to the end) would have been better on a MB. My arms had turned to butter by then and it was almost too much to handle and I almost lost it. [/quote]

Oh yeah. I talked myself through that section – “don’t grab your brakes don’t grab your brakes don’t grab your brakes.” I went into the drops for the second loop through but seriously that Warbird really took care of me. I kinda want to try some real single track with it. I found the steep uphill section there though to be WAY more evil than the down. And having the last mile be pretty much entirely uphill is just wrong.

@huskerdont 135325 wrote:

especially TK’s description of the creek on the backside, where I hit it too hard on the XC and was very lucky not to flat*. I was running fairly high pressure though so that’s probably why I didn’t.

*There were a *lot* of flats out there.

I got lucky first time through there as two others came through just ahead of me and the guy was yelling “STAY TO THE RIGHT!!!!” to his ride companion. And I somehow made it through the deep mud just after it too. Creek crossing and mud are my kryptonite but I didn’t have any issues yesterday. (I was also telling myself – frequently – ‘come on, don’t be such a chicken.’ There was a lot of talking to myself yesterday…)

[Tania]

If you’ve got a bike that can handle 43mm tires, the Rock and Roads are AMAZING. I didn’t have any issues with them yesterday at Monster Cross and it was pretty much every kind of surface you can think of plus it rained the last hour so they’ve been tested in dry and wet. Absolutely love them.

[Tania]

So. Much. Fun.

Varied surfaces – paved roads, fire roads (similar to the CCT through Wakefield), a small rocky section (saw lots of flats after that) grass, rooty descents on dirt, peanut butter mud (especially after it started raining), boggy mud and two or three creek crossings.

I had no idea what to expect (first gravel race and the second time I’ve ever done 50 miles) so I paced myself. My legs started to hurt around mile 42 but I wasn’t miserable and taking it easy-ish to start was the right call – I passed a lot of guys in the first 10 miles of the second lap (miles 25-35) as they had to walk up a climb because of fatigue or cramping.

I went through all two liters of water (with some protein/carbs mixed in) in camelbak and two bags of honey stinger chews and didn’t come even close to bonking (I was worried about that).

I love how every race (or meet) I learn something new. I learned yesterday that (a) I need to stop riding my brakes down hills; I bleed a lot of momentum that way (b) that Warbird is worth every penny and (c) I’ve got a lot more in the tank.

Thanks to my teammates for calling my name as we passed each other on the course and cheering so loudly as I crossed the finish line.

I ran 43mm Rock and Roads and they were PERFECT on all surfaces.

[Tania]

@huskerdont 135143 wrote:

Tania, is that Warbird of yours the Titanium one?

Nope, I got the 2016 Carbon model (black rasta). I’ll be in a Bikenetic team jersey, white/lime green helmet and have on a navy blue camelback.

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[Tania]

At around 6am, the WOD from Gallows to Custis was 60% suspect sparkly stuff, 20% actual ice and 20% dry. All along Shreve was pretty bad, esp Dickie’s Gulch. (Doesn’t Dickie’s Ditch have a better ring to it?)

Custis was maybe 45-50% suspect sparkly stuff with only a handful of actual patches of ice.

Was wishing for studs.

[Tania]

Bruce wrote me back right away so I ordered them. You’re welcome to borrow them for a test run when they get here.

[Tania]

WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT.

Want.

I really kinda want them for Monster Cross.

Rock and Road Tires 700×43

Emailed the company to see if they thought they’d fit my Warbird (I can fit 700×44 and the 40’s on there right now have plenty o’room on either side by the chainstays…

[Tania]

W&OD at Sandburg. I didn’t get far even on 3″ tires. Snow up over my ankles – it’s rideable but I kept slow-motion falling because I was going too slowly (because duh I was afraid of falling) and after three times I turned around and vowed to get some flat pedals.

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