Largest Point-to-Point MTB race in the country held on November 8.
I was in Wave #4, out of 40+ waves, thus I had a relatively fresh trail to race on. The trail conditions for later waves, and the pros, was just pudding.
It was mid-30’s and rain the entire race. Freezing at the start line (like you should be) but warmed up most of the race. Feet did freeze, but that was due to riding through deep mud puddles and constant splashing of mud. The last 10 miles, I was frozen to the core.
Within the first three miles I lost the shifting ability of my FDR. Running a 2x10, having FDR is imperative. This really exaggerated the hills. As for my RDR, for some odd reason I lost my 11 and 12 COG. The chain wouldn’t hold.
My bike drive train is thrashed. Jockey wheels, which have less than 20 miles on them, look like throwing darts. My BB (PF30) sounds like it’s grinding sand. I took apart my peddles (egg beaters) and actually had gravel in them. My S-Works MTB shoes BOA system needs to be replaced. My chain and chain rings…fried. Rotors and brake pads, toast. I actually have gravel embedded in my pads that dug nice grooves in my rotors. I have yet to take apart my whee hubs. As of now I’m up to $300 in new parts, which is shy of my friends who’s RDR and FDR won’t budge, even after sitting in oil/MS mix. My RDR/FDR cleaned up okay, although I did let it soak in oil/MS overnight.
Kudos for toughing-it-out in horrible conditions. As luck would have it, I now feel fortunate to have* transferred out *of this year’s race in September. As you mention, I feel sorry for those with extensive equipment damage.
Lots of folks debating the pros/cons of bagging the race after seeing the conditions first hand, etc. You?
It would have been a tough call for me, considering the time and expense of travel, lodging, etc. One thing for sure, I would *not *have been a happy camper that day…or afterwards with all the repairs.
I didn’t race but we did see several bikes in a similar condition to yours come into the shop afterwards. One of our mechanics raced and was happy he had decided to compete single speed that day. All he needed was a garden hose and a gallon of prolink.
Same experience as you, wave 17. I haven’t fully assessed my bike condition yet. I cleaned it up on Sunday but after sitting for a couple days nothing seems to work. Going to need at the least brake pads, BB and a headset. Not sure about the drive train. I was in our local shop this week and they had a pile of trashed brake pads on the counter.
It’s such a fun race, it’s a shame the conditions sucked most of the fun out of it.
Most LBS offered great discounts to racers who brought their bike in for repairs. I’m a DIY person so I’ve learned to wrench everything and stuff I don’t know, there is usually a YouTube video on how to do it.
Given that I was an early wave, I was able to get my bike cleaned by WD-40 crew. I had to wait less than 10 minutes, but I heard the line was over an hour later.
I haven’t checked my headset. Dammit.
Single speed or fat bike was the way to go. Granted almost all of us were down to at least 6 speed.
I had more issues with spouses/kids this year too. Family plugging up the athlete food tent as if it were their own buffet line. You have to be a special kind of stupid/inconsiderate person to stand by the heaters and food when you didn’t race, forcing the freezing racers to stand in the rain or squeeze through to get food. I did see one racer yell at his kids to get out of the way. Others soon caught on, but I’m sure as later waves finish, things got crazy. Its actually more my fault. I still hold people to a higher standard of intelligence. lol.
I remember a few years ago where there was no fencing after the finish lines. Kids were literally playing on the finish line mats, forcing riders to dismount and walk their bike around them. A volunteer finally got them out of there after a spouse and kid were run over by two racers sprinting to the finish. It can be so interesting watching natural selection in action.