WaldoZ

Wait... do we have to shave our legs for this one?

Don't tempt me 🙈

haha, yeah all relative... Oval chainrings I find a bit more forgiving though. Remember in theory it acts as a 32 on the climbs but that also depends on your climbing style. You will def spend time in 34/10... poor Andreas had a 32 on in 2018 and couldn't keep up but was smiling big smiles up the climbs.

I've tried 34 oval with 42 as my climbing gear. It's doable but don't try win the race with it haha. I would have MUCH preferred a 46 at the back so I recon you have a nice ratio there. All of the above is relative really... 34oval x 42 is fine on my hardtail, but on the dual I did eventually use it wasn't pleasant as it is 1.5kg heavier and the Geo was a little different as I had a 120mm fork on.

I personally don’t care what people ride. As long as they ride. Guys do races with bikes that will challenge them… example how many guys will brag “I did the Argus on a MTB, on KNOBBLIES!”

If you can do 36One half then you can do TB. TB is way easier with the first 100 being flat. Just don't be too over confident as going too fast in that first 100 might bite you when the climbing starts in the second half of the race. Cruise the first 100 and "race" from there.

Aheerm... I never said you were stupid. I only said I am not going to feel sorry for you and that you will be way more uncomfortable than me on my luxurious dual sus XC bike made for this exact terrain. That said, my training will involve a lot of practise in front of the mirror to come up with different ways to laugh 🤣🤪

Whoops forgot to rather post it with our pseudonym's so that no one would know

I am sooo ready.... just need to go through this book again tonight.... edit: pic credit to Johnny

Yeah same here. I think I am going to have to start a lot slower than I think on this one vs what I did at Trailseeker.

Oh wait... after this is the Golden Mile descend I remember crashing on that one because of fatigue and the loose marble like gravel on the course. I couldn't see straight anymore and lost my front wheel. Luckily no one was there to witness so I will forgive you guys if you don't believe me, especially with my exceptionally high skill level, but trust me it happened.

lol @ easiest...

What a day it was! Weather was hot, racing was hot. We saw a mushroom cloud or two and guys looking as cool as a cucumber. Leka vibe and gees amongst the guys with quite a few war stories doing the rounds! I've only done one XCO race two or three years back and completely forgot what it is like... I didn't plan on doing any of the others in this series but I am pretty hooked now and want more!

I'll be behind you anyway so if that mushroom cloud does go up then I can at least use "visibility" as an excuse ...along with whatever else I can come up with while slogging through the course.

Can't be Johnny... Bar1's profile says he does downhill.

Yebo, but I wanted to enter the Vets so that I have one less lap to do... turns out I can't... but Johnny told me I can just throw my arms in the air for a victory solute with 1 lap to go and pull off as an alternative.

We can only hope

Does Donovan and Malcolm count as a Pro's?

I'm not THAT stupid... ...entering now in order to improve my stupidity rating...

hey, if I want to be good at something I might as well be good at stupid

I don't appreciate you asking questions in public I asked you in private...

My hairdresser JUST booked my appointment for this day

I know who that is

Last year I crashed just before this climb (on previous descent) and I was not in a good place but tar climb helped me gather my thoughts at least. Aap D'huez is such an iconic section and for some reason the switchbacks just gets you into a leka rythm. Angles Tears is at least also in shade, later on in the race you do not have that luxury.