Belated thanks and musings
Gotta pay my full respects to Brett and Fred for sticking it out til the end of my race at Kittatinny. Can't quantify the value of a few friendly faces urging you on. Jess gave me some big encouragment as well as I rolled into the last lap and caught one of the geary guys.
My race was seemingly over before it began, as a fellow SS-er pointed out that my rear tube was poking through the sidewall in two places, I'm assuming from my preride.
Anyway, I figured I'd ride until it went kerblooey, and took it really easy through rocks and downhills, waiting, waiting, waiting...and it never went. Amazing.
Riding like a ballerina through the techier sections and downhills did me no favors placing-wise, but I had a great time anyway.