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Will I die?! Been looking at maybe entering this as an age grouper but looking at videos on YouTube of this years national series I not sure a hard tail would be a good idea with the drops and rock gardens. Hopefully the weather conditions would be slightly better.
Did anyone do the series course earlier in the year on a HT?
I've done it twice on a hardtail, totally fine. Biggest issue is pinch flats. The first time I did it was fine, second time I went too low with the pressure and destroyed the rim even with inserts, DNF.
It's a mint course, properly tech where you can get even with the super fit but low skill riders
I think I've done Tong about three times on a hardtail. It was totally fine and I think expert class first year it was in nationals was won on a hardtail.
Some of the drops and chutes they could use for the nationals might warrant a dropper, but there will be a B-line for those sections anyway.
Thing I found most difficult on a hardtail, moreso than descents, was actually keeping the power down on the rooty sections where a full squish would just power straight through.
Thanks guys, that's encouraging to hear. I fitted a dropper on my HT which transformed it from a capable xc racer to even more capable bike. Will definitely have another look at entering.