Ride

First chunk of the route wriggles up Hobart adjacent to 89, then arcs east toward Smithneck. Parts of this are familiar, surely big chunks are new… Cottonwood to Lemon Canyon is hero dirt, fast and flowing. The legs can’t resist a punchy low flying effort.

Such a great route, best parts were too fun and focused to get the camera out for; a long winding roller-coaster across the high alpine Bear Valley then a long, long scary-fast all-the-skills descent toward Loyalton. Epic good.

Feels like we’re nearly to Reno before we begin to head back. The infinite low-grade climb up from Loyalton.

The babyheads around the meadow was a where i started to run out of gas. Last year we rolled through here in the morning, well before fatigue and impatience set in. Now on tired legs they’re a frustrating soul-sapping momentum killer. Distracted by the sheep, pelted by a cloud of insects.

New route unlocked some spectacular riding, but definitely felt like work in parts. Held a pretty mild pace, but still left me drained… need to train more to make sure this is fun.

Staggered-wave rollouts were a good way to manage the massive crowd.… Didn’t get dodgy or too crowded heading up 89. Whole ride felt like it had the space it needed to spread out. Course markings were well placed, frequent enough for a hazy ride-fatigued head to not have to worry, the Bikemonkey team taking on feedback from previous events.

Friendly, happy folks in the Best Day Brewing tent. Their non-alcoholic beer was amazing after the ride.

Gear notes

• Bike reworked: new Force cassette and cranks, still chasing intermittent skipping in smaller cogs
• Moved tools and tube into an ornot saddle bag. Better than a top-tube setup, infinitely quieter and bike feels better balanced. Much lighter as well.
• Ceramicspeed UFO chain lube much more resilient than anything i’ve used before. Good stuff.