Nice cold day in Kowen

Racing male pairs again for this round, but I prefer three's because I'm lazy but couldn't wrangle a 3rd.
Team Remedy has been through a couple of name changes but myself and the other 2 core riders all ride Remedy's so the name is apt.
Turned up Sat arv for a cruisy scope out lap and thought this would be fairly easy racing - but the track was much harder on race day with the gradual climbs really taking their tolls.
We managed 5 laps each and placed 10th in male pairs out of around 30 starts and 47th overall out of 180odd. Not bad for a couple of hacks with no training regime and questional abilities! I always feel like I could have and should have gone faster but was just holding off the cramps after my 3rd lap so I think I did as good as I could.
The 2nd half of the track was awesome - 2 crazy, fun, fast descents and one gruelling climb that was not steep at all but long and grinding. There were a number of jumps around the track that made things even more fun and berms to carve down sideshow.
The 1st half of the track was tough. There was a lot of freshly cut track that was boggy and spongy and made it really hard work.
Really fun and well marked track, well done to the builders.
The only downside was the usual congo-line along the singletrack for the first lap. Self seeding doesn't work for anyone other than Elites. If the average punter was honest about their abilities and placed themselves accordingly, then it would be fine - but they aren't and don't. I know its really the only was to start timed events but maybe placing people in order according to their fastest lap in previous rounds is a better method.
Anyway, great vibe, good fun, great racing, good to see the top competitors battling it out and a well run event as usual by Chocolate Foot.