I think I'm stressing to feel recovered from Freetown 50 on Sunday. That was easy tougher than expected. The fire tower climb wasn't in the course in 2019. Not being able to shift made me faster on the tech and hills but slower on the two track and while the course was longer than 2019 time was essentially the same. I had a few goals. Highest was to do well in the placing, second level was beat my previous time, tired in with that was to finish before 3pm. Finally goal was to just finish.
Last one seems pretty low but finishing the F50 mile is not certain. And I think just doing that was huge.
I finished 6th. There were only 7 starters, one DNF. And finish timing was staggered pretty well. I was the oldest by 6ish years, tallest and heaviest by a huge margin. I think my bike was even heavier than Giles' surly 1x1 (rigid, steel, 26" wheels). He managed 3rd on that and the rocks were a huge struggle with the wheel size.
The singletrack was more relentless than I remember, and the two-track further between. And that one section before the second feed zone was rough. Everything was rough on the hardtail, but when I was with people I was as fast on the single track as most. But the faster sections, well. Other than before the fire tower climb on the first lap, were slow. First lap up to the fire tower was good. Or too hard. But I will say it was fun, my skills are unrecognizable from the first time. And yeah. It's a much better full suspension course.
If I had picked the other bike and signed up for the Clydesdale race it would have been me and Lucas battling for the win. In the end I found him in the woods on the third lap. Ride away from him in some of the tech that went up hill, got to the feed zone first but filled bottles then tried to drink something bubbly, he came in after me chugged a mini can of Coke and took off. I caught him in the rocks, ride it as cleanly as ever, one light unclip and dab, and ride through him there, and put some distance in, enough that even with the looong two track before the finish her didn't catch me, I could see him. So it was kind of fun in the end to wrap it up with the heavyweight prize fight.
But no, no medal for Singlespeed Clydesdale... It's ok. I still got the new top cap. I finished.
Fueling was good, hydration could have been better. Started a little more dehydrated than I should have been, was tough to drink enough on the first lap and I didn't. Then at some point between the top of the gravel climb and the two track before the feed station I lost a full bottle. Giles found it and drank it so I'm very happy he saw it and was able to use it. But it meant I stopped and filled a bottle drank most of one and left with one full one. Grabbed two fresh bottles at the finish and another sandwich, drank one while one and part of the second by the aid station and filled up with skratch again, filled up AGAIN at the next stop. I should have be dining three -four bottles per lap, not two. Was hard to catch up once in the hole. So I either need to ride was faster to make the laps shorter or drink a LOT more and full up ever time past the aid station.
Next time. Hah.
Physically it was tough. My knees were sore. Everyone was sore. Way way worse that 24HIGG in physical toll. Not being as tired was nice, but was so sore that sleeping was not easy. Knees are about back to normal now, I ate so much after, refuel give the body all it needs to repair. Hope it repairs even stronger. But we'll see.
Still haven't looked at CX yet. Maybe today.
Passed on smackdown last night so I could get home and make dinner and have another recovery day.
Bike was making some stressful sounds. But I think it may just be the stranglehold dropouts. The brake one moves and yeah it's tight enough. And unfortunately I think that means the frame is wearing out. If it would break that'd be good, but I don't think wear like that is covered under warranty.
Not that breaking would be good. Just a chance to start over without the eroded tolerances.
Ok, coffee cup is empty and the morning has slipped a bit later than planned.
Signing off now
Heddwch,
G
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