Course

I got out on the course again yesterday for about 3 hours.  We have some trail maintenance to do, but don't worry, the course will be cleaned up before race-day.  A couple of the trails we're using haven't been ridden in a couple years, but they are great trails and they really complete the course.  I think you're really going to like this year's bike.  Every trail on the course is ridable.  I will say this though:  if you aren't a great mountain biker and you don't have time to pre-ride the course, you might think about dismounting when you see "Danger" signs.  Pick the right line and keep your weight back and your hand off that left brake lever and you should be fine.  But in order to prolong your racing career, dismounting sometimes is faster and safer.  

The trails are really dry right now, so they are starting to get sandy, especially in some of the faster sections.  Unless we get rain close to race-day, you'll tend to wash out in corners.  Some of the climbs are more washed out than usual and with the dry conditions things are getting loose.  I've heard competent mountain bikers tell me they can't ride up Lip Buster (the big hill on Elwood).  It is challenging, but completely ridable.  Here's the thing that might get you up the hill, if you have strong legs and some lungs to back them up:  lower your center of gravity.  Get down where the tip of your saddle is poking you in the butt and stay down there.  You'll be pedaling with your legs bent, which is murder on your quads, but this position is ideal for steep, loose climbs.  It keeps the front wheel down and the back wheel from losing grip.

I promise to get out and put up flagging this week.