On 08/25/2014, Mark Manner wrote Garmin Edge 705 Black Bear Rampage 20 mile course. The course was wet from rain the last two days and night before. I rode at the start and for most of the course with other riders who had ridden the course before, but finally went ahead and left them on the various climbing portions since they were riding too slowly for me. I rode conservatively for most of the race (for example, wouldn't pass on the climbs until I couldn't stand it anymore), so I am very confident I could have cut 10 minutes off the time pretty easily. I know that this is just my first mtb group ride, so I am not experienced. However, I can tell that uphill I do well compared to others. The downhills I can do, but they do scare me. It seems like on rutted, rocky, rooty and wet trails it is almost a certainty that you will crash eventually. I have been reading mtb technique books and watching a really good dvd, and they have helped me just 'let the bike roll'. It is amazing what the damn thing will roll over without stopping, provided you let it buck and heave under you without a death grip on the bars. I also have the drive train set up right, and relatively low tire pressure (tubeless tires). Anyway, I want to think about the crashing issue a bit. [Uploaded 9/12/2010 4:25:48 PM] ***