This is my second attempt at this report , since the first one vaporised into cyberspace....
Several weeks ago we travelled up to Wilkeboor in North Carolina for the Bootlegger enduro..
I had just fitted a new Dunlop trials tyre. I have never used a trials tyre before. The terrain up here is mountainous, rocky, rooty and lots of straight up and down sections with some radical off-camber sections as well..
Johnny was on my row this race on his 2011 300xc. I followed him up the mountain on the first section. I found the trials tyre had plenty of grip, maybe too much. I was lofting the front wheel a lot while going uphill and needing to shift up a gear while going uphill because I was picking up speed due to the good traction.. Johnny bobbled in front of me and that was all I needed, I passed him on the left side across a bunch of off-camber roots and in no time I couldnt hear him. This tyre was fun to ride on. I had a grin in my helmet while racing on some of the gnarliest terrain I had been in for a couple of years.
I had to relearn some new techneques on riding with this tyre. At one time I was headed uphill on a steep climb when the trail did a hard switchback to the left, still steep. I layed the bike down to the left and gassed it hard to get the back end to come around.. Well it didnt, it justed gripped and lofted the front end and nearly took me over the side of the mountain. Had to be careful with throttle input
I came out of the 1st section 3 minutes ahead of Johnny.. The same happened for the next 50 miles of up the mountain and down the mountain.. I had a great ride, no big crashes, although I did scare myself occasionaly.. I ended up beating Johnny by 9 minutes for the day. I dont beat Johnny very often so I need to say so when I do.
I finished 5th in 45B , I am happy with that result.
AMTRA.com.au
