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My First Race: Hardest ride I have ever done. Had a blast!

Race format: Sprint Enduro, staggered 3-man starts. Start first lap at set time. Start other laps when you want as long as you finish all your laps.
Loop: 8 mi ("par" was 35 min per lap for solid B-rider) Short course = 3 laps. Long course = 5 laps.
Course: Mostly Single Track woods, some grassy transitions, and a little bit crossed over on the MX track
Course Condition: A week of rain prior and freezing temps over night.
Track open: 10AM, Track closed 3pm.
Starting Temp: 33 -deg. Clear and cold.
Class: Super Senior B... they didn't have a C class to try and sandbag a little.

I have never been on anything so slippery and such clingy mud. Felt like my KDX weighed 280 and had a street slick on front. Seemed every time I stood up in proper attack position, the front wash out on the slippery part.

Lap 1: 43:31 min. 6 crashes, 1 hit tree, passed 2 with mechanical issues. tried to go fast and crashed a lot.
Lap 2: 44:09 min. 3 crashes, 3 tree bounce offs, passed 3 with mechanical issues, broke off my Fr brake lever.
Lap 3: 46:52 min. 3 crashes, 2 tree bounce offs, passed 1 real rider, 1 guy who was tipped over in the mud, and 1 with mechanical issues.

Results: 9/11 in my class. 33/62 overall (not counting the cool kids doing the long course).

Before:

1st lap: This youtube is the guy starting in group behind me (he is in my class). he catches me about 4:00 minutes in, and passes me like I am tied to a tree.

During & After

Thanks for the write up and excellent pictures!! Congratulations on clawing through that nasty mess. Amazing how much your Washington scenery and course conditions looked just like ours in Tidewater Virginia last weekend. Looking at your bike, I'd offer a couple of suggestions based on what's helped me. I also used to do bike fit for folks in our shop back in the day, so here's a couple tricks that may help the bike work with you better...

- you probably already knew brush busters are needed for woods racing. If you are like me and hit a lot of trees and turf I recommend you look into the Zeta handguard mounts to go with - you want the 1821's for your application. They keep your bars from twisting on impact - make the front end pretty darn bullet proof too. ... http://www.zeta-racing.com/handguard/mount/index.html They really do a great job of protecting your hands.

- I'd suggest you experiment with your clutch lever position. Yours is set pretty steep like I prefer on my mountain bikes - but I found on the KDX if I raised them to just below level I had fewer issues with numbness and had better access to the levers sitting and standing - just find the best compromise for you - the sweet spot will give you the best control in all situations.

Your bike looks SHARP!!!!!

But you had fun and that's all that matters!

Try a little PAM or WD40 under your fenders in a mud race. It helps keep it from sticking so bad. Just don't use any of it anywhere you need to touch to control the bike.

Ahh, the joys of riding in the PNW in the fall...

I like all the tips! Thank you. Those 1821 look like great way to setup. I will recheck my lever setup again in the woods this weekend and swipe the PAM from the kitchen.
Now have to get busy fixing the hole in my game. I didn’t realize I am a terrible mud rider. This course was extended variation of the same poker run we did last month, where I was feeling pretty good about myself.
The Bible verse was a bit too literal for my liking: Pride cometh before 12 falls.

Congratulations on getting out there!

It looked like a greasy mess!