32:20...

Lesson learned. If you think that your gear is maybe a bit small, then, maybe it is. Err on the side of big. Chalk Creek Stampede was the usual early season (for around here) mtb race that we get, low desert-style singletack. Great course but for my first time at the venue I was waaaaay undergeared, as the other guys spun nicely away from the start I was doing the spin-coast. Nevermind run what you brung. I suffered on the flats and low-grade climbs only making up time where I had the legs to turn it over a bit slower. Better than sitting there watching. Through most of the race then the bugs were crepping into the legs and left them laughing at me. 32:20 is going away, I may hang out with a 32:16 or 17 for most of the season. Suffering on the steep ups and running, I can run, remember cross... Great course, fun singletrack, riverside trails are always good. Learning the new bike at race pace was fun, tubeless at speed hooks up even in sand. It was fun dropping the geared guys on the fenceline climb, only to be overtaken on the way down. Whatever the gorilla was sitting on my chest I blew out after three laps and had a great fourth go around, it just took a while to clear the crap out my lungs, stuff that was building all week. Good day, better ones coming.