This is technically only a training ride, but most ride it as if it is a race. Has a unusual format where there is a 6 mile singletrack loop then 21 miles of dirt and paved road, then another 6 mile singletrack loop. Usually the road section is longer, but one of the main roads had a bridge that was underwater with all of the recent rain. I rode out there with Alex and Steve R. Wasn't really sure what I was getting into. They have about a 1/2 mile paved start and I stuck on Alex's wheel into the singletrack and followed him for the first loop. I remember thinking it was XC not endurance pace. When we came out for the road section Alex turned off to switch bikes. I saw stranix up the road a couple hundred yards and initially thought I would close the gap, but no. Hit the dirt road section and Alex and a few others caught me, so I started pacelining with them. Interesting to pace line in the dirt following a guy with fenders on. There were 5 of us after we climbed the dirt road back out we dropped 2 guys, then on the first significant paved climb, Alex and the other guy dropped me. I rode alone for the rest of the road other than, when Charlie caught me with a couple of guys on cross bikes that will pulling him back up after a flat. Attempted to hop on the CX wheels but they weren't having it. Got back to the singletrack with a decent gap on the guys behind me, but early on the "humps" of the singletrack I broke my chain. It had be clicking and acting shitty the whole ride so made sense. I used my lesson from CNF and tried to stay calm and took a link out and got going again. 3 guys passed me while I was hanging out, but I got a little rest. I passed 2 of them back during the first 3rd of the singletrack but didn't catch the other one. Was a fun race. Don't have any pics. Would have been good to get one of the bike afterwards, completely covered in mud.
Stats: 4th of 18 in master men 35-49, 9th of 38 overall, 33 miles, 152 mins (146 moving), avg speed 13.4, avg HR 165, max HR 173, bike Anthem
