[pimpbot]

Anybody try out the marked course yet? I did today. WTF?!?

The trail up to the former hike-a-bike (which was taken out last year) is re-routed up a different hike-a-bike, then up through some of the sand trap trails, but backwards from last year, and then through a mud bog... no kidding. Seriously deep mud.

Before that, the trail that goes from Skyline, up and around to goat trail is out.... re-routed at the fork on Skyline to another fireroad... no kidding. Goat Trail is still in, but comes out some odd place, with a paved road decent. No kidding.

Three 'Sisters' are still in, along with Ewok trail down to the grind out. As you all know, one of the bridges over the racetrack was moved, so the ending part of the course is a mystery. It prolly involves the racetrack.

The crevass is pretty dang deep, and is at the bottom of the climb up to the base of Hurl Hill where that creek runs through the transition. Gotta remember to keep it in a tall enough gear and enough momentum to hop over that.

I also learned today that 2.1 EpicWolves roll something awful in sand. It's like pushing a plow. Python Airlites it is unless the weather turns bad.

I did manage to get my suspension dialed... and at 90mm of rear travel and 100mm of front. Also, lockouts rule on this stuff.

I ran it in 1:53 to the locked gate at the end with a couple of mechanical stops (SPD needed another 2 notches tigher, then one looser). 2:01 back to the car. Total distance around 19 miles by my computer.

 

[fire horse]

(see below)

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=91950

 

[Fast Eddy]

Marked?

K-max and I rode it yesterday, but we didn't see any markings. I heard it was going to go left at the bottom of the sandy road descent following hurl hill and take the singletrack to that comes out right at the top of Ewok, then right a hundred feet to goat tr. We didn't see any stinkin markings. Good ride though. Pictures tomorrow if someone fixes this:

http://gallery.mtbr.com/uploadphoto.php

 

[gobike]

K-max and I rode it yesterday, but we didn't see any markings. I heard it was going to go left at the bottom of the sandy road descent following hurl hill and take the singletrack to that comes out right at the top of Ewok, then right a hundred feet to goat tr. We didn't see any stinkin markings. Good ride though. Pictures tomorrow if someone fixes this:

http://gallery.mtbr.com/uploadphoto.php

Damn, if I am reading what you are saying correctly, that trail would be "outhouse." I rode it a week ago and it's definately tight, w/ a dramatic little rise that sneaks up on you right where the outhouse used to be. One of my favorite trails though.

 

[pimpbot]

Musta been today

We didn't see any stinkin markings.

Musta been marked today. I passed a crew working on the trails, and the course marks were everywhere.

 

[zorg]

Musta been marked today. I passed a crew working on the trails, and the course marks were everywhere.

So, there is a hike a bike section? I just hate the idea of getting off the bike, but that's probably just me.

 

[merlin]

Otter

Thanks for the update. Sound like the course will take longer then last year?????

 

[DMFT]

Yes & Prob. Yes.

Yes there will be a Hike-a-Bike after a nice singletrack climb through the sand then some more climbing on Sandy-Ridge the opposite way of the course in past years to the Old Reservation road and from there a short paved downhill (West) to a Fireroad that takes you to Manzanita Trail then it's Standard Sea Otter from there on in........

Yes, I think the course will be real close in length if not slightly longer this year. Deff. more climbing through sand though.

 

[Rumpfy]

Yes there will be a Hike-a-Bike after a nice singletrack climb through the sand then some more climbing on Sandy-Ridge the opposite way of the course in past years to the Old Reservation road and from there a short paved downhill (West) to a Fireroad that takes you to Manzanita Trail then it's Standard Sea Otter from there on in........

Yes, I think the course will be real close in length if not slightly longer this year. Deff. more climbing through sand though.

Last year it was 22.something miles...longer than the 19 or so from two years ago.

 

[merlin]

Great :{

Yes there will be a Hike-a-Bike after a nice singletrack climb through the sand then some more climbing on Sandy-Ridge the opposite way of the course in past years to the Old Reservation road and from there a short paved downhill (West) to a Fireroad that takes you to Manzanita Trail then it's Standard Sea Otter from there on in........

Yes, I think the course will be real close in length if not slightly longer this year. Deff. more climbing through sand though.

I'm doing 2 laps, it's really going to hurt!

 

[KingOfOrd]

I dont understand why this is such a shock to you because the course you just described is the exact same thing that sea otter has posted on the website like 3 months ago.

 

[pimpbot]

Uh, maybe I'm blind...

I dont understand why this is such a shock to you because the course you just described is the exact same thing that sea otter has posted on the website like 3 months ago.

... but the course map does not look like the actual course to me, especially that sharp left turn on Skyline down to trail 10. That is now gone, methinks. Then again, I don't know Fort Ord that well and could be misreading the map.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Pics of selected portions of the course taken Saturday:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=92397

 

[KingOfOrd]

I did a very easy ride today and it took me 1:35. Times will be much faster this year. Too much sand and they took out the only technical section. Its a joke to race the Sea Otter. I am suprised that so many top level pros attend. Does anybody know what the pro payback is?

 

[Impy]

So, there is a hike a bike section? I just hate the idea of getting off the bike, but that's probably just me.

No, count me in there too.

 

[merlin]

I did a very easy ride today and it took me 1:35. Times will be much faster this year. Too much sand and they took out the only technical section. Its a joke to race the Sea Otter. I am suprised that so many top level pros attend. Does anybody know what the pro payback is?

Did you do the full 18 mile course?? The online version shows a time of 1:29 with somneone going at race pace. I thought it was going to be slower then last year??

 

[pimpbot]

Well, I'm slow

Did you do the full 18 mile course?? The online version shows a time of 1:29 with somneone going at race pace. I thought it was going to be slower then last year??

I'm a mid-pack beginner class racer for a 35 yo. I got 19 miles to the locked gate, so maybe 20-21 to the finish line.

I felt a lot faster than last year. I got 2:10 last year which is 9 minutes behind the 50% mark in my class. I feel confident that I can make top 50% this year.

 

[tjp]

Two points

First off, the sand IS a technical section that is very rideable if you know how and you have the horsepower. I've always enjoyed the swoopy fast nature of the Sea Otter course. There are better courses out there, but it's so much more fun to do the long loop at the Otter than to do some stupid, chopped up 5-mile loop three times.

Second, if one lap is so easy, maybe you should do two. I guarantee you won't think it's a joke the second time around.

FWIW, the Sea Otter beats me up (mentally and physically) more than any other normal length mtb race, because of the braking bumps and the fact that the course is so fast with so little opportunity for recovery. It's also a course where it's very easy to end up on your head going really fast. It's an easy course to ride easy and a hard one to ride hard.

 

[merlin]

Second, if one lap is so easy, maybe you should do two. I guarantee you won't think it's a joke the second time around.

I did 2 laps for the first time last year. I was sick at the time, but it was still the hardest race I have ever done! 3+ hours of racing is a looooooong time. I was in bed with 103 temperture for 4 days after the race

 

[KingOfOrd]

First off, the sand IS a technical section that is very rideable if you know how and you have the horsepower. I've always enjoyed the swoopy fast nature of the Sea Otter course. There are better courses out there, but it's so much more fun to do the long loop at the Otter than to do some stupid, chopped up 5-mile loop three times.

Second, if one lap is so easy, maybe you should do two. I guarantee you won't think it's a joke the second time around.

FWIW, the Sea Otter beats me up (mentally and physically) more than any other normal length mtb race, because of the braking bumps and the fact that the course is so fast with so little opportunity for recovery. It's also a course where it's very easy to end up on your head going really fast. It's an easy course to ride easy and a hard one to ride hard.

I did two laps and 1:35 was my average. By the way I rode the SO again today and they filled that nasty rut at the bottom of couch canyon.