I rode the medium course (70 miles) with 50mm Schwalbe G One Overland at 27psi in the front, 45 mm G One Bite at 32psi in the back (I tried 50mm but clearance was too tight); no suspension, but with a dropper post. The wide front tire was very helpful to get through sandy spots, as was using the dropper for off-road descents and to let the bike move into and out of ruts in the loosest parts. Though some short parts were just too deep and everyone walked. Definitely glad I optimized for the loose sections and not the road sections as some folks with skinnier tires seemed to be struggling.
The climbs aren’t very steep, but because of the high altitude (7000-8000 ft) I was thankful to have a 40-50 bailout gear to keep the heart rate under control.
A bottle cage rattled itself loose after the second descent 15 miles in and almost fell off, otherwise no mechanicals. Relubed the chain at
the aid station as the sand and dust get into the drivetrain quickly. We all had to wait for a herd of cattle to cross at one point.
There are zero course markings on purpose, so you must bring a GPS for directions as there are a lot of trails criss-crossing the woods. A couple of riders did not, and had to tag along others to avoid getting lost.
Logistics were great, and the post-ride meal and drink ticket were good for pretty much anything on the menu at Shelter Distilling. Skipped the raffle on Sunday and went to ride the bike park instead.
Beautiful event, and we got lucky with the weather – 48 hours later it was snowing in the area.
by NotThatDialed