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Well done for giving it a go.
Being polite is no bad thing btw, as John Mx tells everyone before the race "look out for each other out there". It's especially true for HH which is so narrow most of the time.
I ran up the hill every time too, it's rare that you get the room you need for a clear run at it and if you don't make it cleanly, it can be a right old mess dismounting two thirds of the way up.
andyp-
The rider ahead of me for most of the race was trying to ride that bank everytime, he got it right around 50% of the time. Provided you can dismount (and remount) a bike properly and maintain speed into the hill you're not going to lose too much time by choosing to run. Should they screw it up you'll make up far more time than they're going to gain if they get up. Not worth the risk in my opinion unless you're 100% confident you can get it right everytime, same goes with hopping barriers.
As it happens I got past him on the last lap as he attempted (and failed) to ride the bank only to drop my chain coming back down the other side (think I clipped something coming past him) and lost two places, one of which I managed to make up in the finishing straights.
It's also worth practicing running barriers properly, it's a skill which doesn't take long to master but can save a fair amount of time. On fast approaches to barriers like yesterday stepping through really helps maintain speed. I was riding a bike slower and losing time on my small group throughout the course but managing to bridge back just by running quicker (and remounting after the corner).
Jon.
As mentioned by Laner, I think I was the other idiot on a single speed. However, it didn't feel daft at the time. There was so much cornering and turning.
Definitely hot, definitely dusty.
I lost so much time by starting right at the back, but I wanted to see what the fuck happened at a start. I was a bit too polite sometimes, letting faster riders through (i.e. being lapped) and then letting someone (i.e. the dude on the cannondale that stacked it at least twice at the jump after the long straight) else through. And then thinking “fuck”. I ran the hill everytime, and fucked up my getting back on EVERYTIME. I think I handled the jumps the dude stacked it on. Even when I lost my front brake on my final lap (I finished 2 down I think).
I could probably have ridden the stairs after discussing with Mike. Definitely faded. Good fun. Will repeat.
Nice crowd, lots of clear shouts from the big boys as they came through.