SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

THERE I WAS, SHAKING DOWN HVY MTL BEFORE SATURDAYS ROCK COBBLER.  It had all gone so well.

Chain was quiet.

Paint was sparkly.

Had to go all terrain to do it right.  Hit some pavement, hit some gravel, hit some chunky asphalt, hit some dirt.

But, the dirt was sticky.  Not too sticky, just sticky enough to give my treads a light glaze of brown.  

As I climbed along the final dirt pitch, I could see in my mind the other side.  It was steep, the rain for sure would have dug some deep grooves.  I'd have to bunny hop a bit.  The big question was the 50' of flat from the bottom of the hill to the pavement.

How bad could it be?

The grooves turned out to be more trench-like.  I worked my way jumping and sliding quickly.  I could see the flat section.  Smooth as can be.

I pinned it... full speed... I got it, I got it, I... the pinning turned to spinning... harder, faster became deeper... and stuck.

New shoes ankle deep in California clay... almost lost 'em.

Turns out this was a good thing... I double checked the weather for Saturday:  rain from mid-night so sunrise.  I called Super Dave, who's raced it many times... 

Bro, will road shoes work at The Cobbler.

No, way... BWR yes... but, Cobbler has a solid hike-a-bike.

Yikes!

He gave me three more solid tips to make it through this crazy course Sam has cooked up.

 ... I can smell the mud from here... mmmmmmmmmm

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