Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1048523
When the flag dropped and my row of 10 riders took off for the Mountain race, we raced up the beach, and then up a rocky riverbed for several kilometers. The riverbed was fairly technical. Once we started climbing, I took a quick break and was joined by some of the Turkish Vet riders who I saw at the start. We were about the same age and a er cha ng, discovered several had made it to the Bronze and Silver gates mul ple mes. I noted I was new to this level of riding and one of the rid- ers invited me to tag along for the rest of the day. For the Bronze gate, there were three checkpoints over about 18 miles of very extreme terrain. At one point, running low on water, the Turkish Vet rider said to follow him and right off the trail was a well we used to refill our camel backs. We did this at two separate wells and being hydrated made all the difference. I know you probably shouldn't drink well water like that, but you would have too. Definitely bring some water purifica on tablets if you do a similar ride! I was having a great me. We wound up the mountain for a few hours and once at high al tude, we came to the ledge at the beginning of this write up. A er seeing the failed a empt out- lined earlier, the Turkish Vet rider was up next and he cleared the gap and switchback with a pivot turn perfectly. By copying his technique, I managed to clear the obstacle and con nue on. Once we came to the highest point of a certain climb that took at least an hour, we started the descent. Now this downhill was not rideable by humans. Super sketchy that I couldn't even prop- erly walk my bike down. You could only do your best to keep it from sliding off the trail (because if it did slide off, your bike was gone). Here is where I pulled away from the Turkish Vet group and made it into Checkpoint 2. At this point, I took a solid rest expec ng another death march like the forest race finish. Instead, it was several kilometers of rocky technical stuff, but nothing compared to the previous three hours. When I came into the Bronze finish, I felt elated and even thought about con nu- ing to the Silver sec on for a checkpoint or 2, but decided against it. That evening was the awards ceremony and a er party, really fun stuff. I would love to see how some of NETRA's A and AA riders could perform at this event. It was such a fun me; I can see myself going back with a NETRA group next year. November 2018 29