second off the bike draining your energy level . I ' ve learned to team up with fellow racers to drag our useless bikes over the rocks 1 by 1 and help the guy behind you . Or else noone is going anywhere , and more energy is lost . I gazed back down the valley and was shocked to see how much traffic there was clawing their way up . Later reported that the event had 180 entries , I was so glad I signed up gold , just to get out ahead of the mob ! After Nico ' s valley , we merged back together with the iron / silver class on the main course . Just regular single track albeit VERY muddy , with various elevation changes and some rocky parts . Embarrasingly , This is where I struggled most . I just could not find traction to maintain momentum . Stuck on flat ground at some points . I could not believe I was running essentially a 2psi gummy rear tire and just not moving ! I wish I had mounted a tire with a taller lug to dig a little deeper in the muck . I took a few breaks , had an energy gel , and hydrated . Eventually the struggle bus made it " Meltdown Mountain " A long steep climb with two choices of path : Stupid really slippery rocks , or the afformentioned stupid slippery mud . I struggled here as well . Dropping the bike , pushing , not making much progress . To make matters worse , my weak battery gave up the ghost completely . I was transported back to my yz250
VOL . 6 ISSUE 3 - MARCH 2021 // PAGE 109