Start was good and despite the usual 30 rider DVP style parking lot when it went to singletrack the first 3k went well. But then it decided to get interesting.
Noticed a little play in the pedals on one corner and when I looked down something wasn't right. Stopped and discovered that somehow my crank bolt had backed off and cranks was shifting around. Grabbed the tools , backed off the bolts, punched the crank back into place, stuck the blade of my knife in the plastic bolt and cranked it tight, tightened the bolts, and back to work. Not sorry that quitting is not in my race vocabulary.
Back on the bike and having been past by a bunch of riders it was catch up. And DFL in the Clydesdale Cat Or more accurately hunt each one down...one at a time. And to wait patiently for the rock and tech that was coming. Knowing that most will have gunned it to hard before it or to worried about the Pete's Loop bit of foreplay before it truly begins. Came out of that section of Home Loop and turned left onto Burbrook. Just before the exit had passed a racer who would be irritating shortly after.
Rode through the water on Burbrook and just slightly after got past by the rider I passed earlier. Who rode by in a hurry and popped into the woods. Have no idea what was in his thoughts but....he gets to the climb barely starts. And decides to stop, dismount, and stand in the middle of the climb as I come riding up. He just stared at me as I rode up, dismounted, and moved rapidly past him. Got to the top and into Pete's Loop where truly the race begins. Rode Pete's well with flow. Nailed the downhill switchbacks Rob cut a few days prior. Past the aid station to head into the next 2 sections Route 66 and The Ridge.
Rode both well despite at one point smacking a tree on one downhill. Kept hunting down riders and picking them off one at a time. Nailed the Route 66 downhill exit perfectly. The Ridge went well and caught 2 Clyde cat guys in there. On the Ridge descent caught 2 guys riding duallys. At one point could briefly see Team Colin.
After that it was exit loop to Burbrook and into Rooney's in reverse still making up time and slowly reeling in 2 more guys. Get to the aid station 2 which was pretty much the end of the singletrack and began the farm field march of ugh. Only got passed by one guy in all the fields and lost contact with Colin and Simone the RCAF pilot. The Sandbox went well and the last km's where good. Didn't go all out as I knew after climbing up from the sandbox could see a huge gap between me and anyone behind. Caught and passed one more before the finish and was done.
End result was after major mechanical and having to hunt down half the field got first in Clydesdale. Don't know the math what this means in the series standings. Next up is the local 6 hour again then the Humbler.
