Dry conditions, ice, snow, frozen ruts and mud.
Now... not all mud is created equally. Not to a cross racer.
So, let me break down the different mud types:
There's the...
Soupy Mud - Which is equal parts water and mud... which does a lot of splattering but doesn't really amount to a lot of build up. Soupy mud can be very deep in sections and this may be the best place to ride... if the alternative is one of the muddy section described below. One of the more annoying aspects of soupy mud is, it rooster tails up your butt... leaving a muddy wet streak, that gets larger and wetter as the race goes on. This results in the wet diaper effect... UGH!
Goose Shit Mud - That's the really greasy mud. Not super thick, but it can be very challenging to steer in... particularly in corners. Have you ever stepped in goose shit. You slid everywhere in it! And it sticks on the bottom of your shoe... it also sticks on your bike and drive train... requiring frequent bike changes. When you get to the goose shit stage... it tends to be everywhere. On riders, bikes, dogs, spectators, children... everywhere.
Peanut Butter Mud - This is what, for the most part... they raced in today. It's thick, usually a few inches deep... but thick enough and firm enough to create a rut effect, causing the wheel to jerk around involuntarily... but it is still ride-able. It does however take more energy and is harder to control the bike than soupy mud and goose shit mud.
Sucking Mud - Is the worse level of mud a racer can face. Sucking mud is thick, deep and slightly wetter than Peanut Butter... but much deeper. In many cases, with sucking mud, you are better off energy wise... running vs. riding. Other than being off your bike and running, the other draw back in running in sucking mud is the real possibility of having your shoe sucked off your foot!
This is what happens during a day of racing in Peanut Butter Mud...
Power wash over drive!
Uhh... is something over heating????
Bikes in the Que to be washed
Oops, this one first!!
Muddy U Turn during the 1st lap
Without a spare bike in the pit... this is what you tried to raced on!
Racing in the mud isn't as straight forward as you may think... it depends on what type of mud it is.
Today, anyone without a spare bike and a pit crew were effectively out of the race. They didn't stand a chance. The weight difference alone, in the mud build up, would add 10lb to the bike within 1/2 a lap.
Tonight the temps will drop to the single digits... so guess what???
Yup... tomorrow, the course will change again!
Until then...
Peanut out
