When you say tyre tracks, were you also looking for a set of footprints next to them? I personally got some comfort in finding footprints next to tyre prints as it made me realise that the riders in front of me were walking bits as well! You'll have seen my footprints on a good chunk of the route - for me it was a big walk with my bike for the later days as my legs were shot and climbing became impossible!
I became quite an expert at interpreting tracks. Footprints and light tyre impressions which also signified walking. Singlespeed tracks which would show a tear through the soft ground as the optimum power went through the tyre etc. Tyre tracks which were dried up or nearly obliterated showing the passage of riders some days before.
What I never managed to establish was how long does it take for a set of wet tyre marks rock to dry out? Obviously it depended on the weather and/or time of day and/or wetness of the tyre. Best estimate I could come up with was something between 1 and 3 hours
Following the tyre tracks was one of the things that I really liked about the ride - its a great comfort to know that some other poor buggers were suffering the same as you! Was interesting checking out peoples lines round the wet bits and floods on the Orrin res track and deciding which ones to follow (or not as the case may be)
Yeah, very true. I discovered on that track that most bogs appear deeper than they are, and the rest are deeper than they appear. You won't know which is which until you ride into them though...
I think birthday cake before starting the race should be an annual feature. I reckon I got a few hours riding out of that doorstop wedge of cake I had at 8:30am .
htrider wrote:Following the tyre tracks was one of the things that I really liked about the ride - its a great comfort to know that some other poor buggers were suffering the same as you! Was interesting checking out peoples lines round the wet bits and floods on the Orrin res track and deciding which ones to follow (or not as the case may be)
I found following tyre tracks endlessly frustrating. Considering I was in 2nd place for the last few days but couldn't be certain of that, there were very few sections where I was only following 1 set of tyre tracks! Seems a lot of riders had been out along parts of the trail. I spent most of day 3 convinced I was in 4th.
I really enjoyed reading that - twice so far, and no doubt I'll be back for more. Great photos, too, apart from that 'foot fotie'! Where's Internet censorship when you need it?
NewRetroTom wrote:During the night other racers arrived with Ian Barrington coming in just before 2am....[snip]....A group of 4 of us including a not very well rested Ian Barrington set off at 5.
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