david58

Have an old Specialized rigid (no suspension) mtb that I rehabbed so I could try this mountain bike thing. I love road riding for fitness, and have dabbled in cyclocross. Have never ridden a mtb on trails, and the only single track I have ever done is on the two CX races I did in the hot dry summer last year.

So I entered the Mudslinger in the Oregon Coast range.

>8" of rain in the last week. More today, and it got colder.

More snow than that last week.

1500+ feet of climbing in 12 miles, loop course so the climbing was compressed into less than 6 miles (there was some flat at the end).

Did I say I have rarely seen mud like that?

No suspension, failed rear brake, and a fat butt made it very interesting. Especially the absent rear brake.

And it was really muddy.

Stretches resembled a death ride, but I survived and my only crash was a stupid clip crash - all the trouble I had getting INTO my pedals, and the stupid thing doesn't release when I want it to one time.

Poor sap that finished last was an hour or so behind me, must have had a mechanical. But I wasn't DFL or DNF!

And now I have to figger out how to afford a new bike. I had a BLAST.

dminor 

Congrats! What a way to get into MTBing - - trial by fire. It gets nothing but more fun, believe me.

david58

If you knew me, you'd know that for me to be looking in the gun safe to figure what I can sell to get a 29er, you'd know I am hooked, bad.

dminor 

^^ No-no! Leave that pre-64 Model 70 right where it is! Well, if it's a .308 maybe . . . .

tollhousecookie

"And now I have to figger out how to afford a new bike. I had a BLAST."

Bandrada

I see a bumper sticker in your future! "I traded my .357 for a 29'er."

Only the bike people will "get it."

Goodonya!