
Originally Posted by
Rosie
I had a few scary moments involving ruts filled with deep gravel (going downhill too

)
I have been thinking quite seriously about this because this was also my experience. I had all sorts of discoveries.
Like the need to scan well ahead because any change in the appearance of the road surface probably means an obstacle of some sort.
Like coming over a blind brow at about 120 kliks in top gear, wondering if it was wise and discovering it wasn't, because the road turned to shit big time, just after the crest. However also discovering (out of sheer desperation) that there are ways to get the front end light, before you hit the holes and that even if you can't, the suspension is surprisingly capable and so, it pretty much doesn't matter, even on some quite significant holes.
Like coming over another blind brow at what I thought was a pretty reasonable speed to discover a steep(ish) descent, heavily rutted, covered with rocks the size of tennis balls and with a water crossing at the bottom. Realising that there is no way to stop, descending with the back wheel locked and hoping to scrub off enough speed so that I can pick an entry into the water. Finding that it worked pretty well and was largely a non-event.
This section certainly had the most and also the most severe pucker moments, but it was also the section where I learned the most about my own and the bikes capabilities.
For me it was the most valuable.
I may not be as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I always was.
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