For the gravel tire recommendation, I have run Maxxis Ramblers 45 for two years in a row and they work great in NWA. Never had a puncture yet. When I ran the Specialized Pathfinders I had to plug at least 3 times in 50 miles.
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Really. Wow. Wired luck. I live in the area, ran pathfinders all my life. Flatted maybe 3 times in the 4 years of riding daily. Crazy world I gusse
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Anyone on the waiting list for this race? Curious on the chances. Signed up late since the race came on my radar but also work eased up and I can make it if I get in.
If not Iâm ok with waiting and training for next year. Season ending fitness is depleted so this event would be a 1st time & newb to the area to check out things for fun. 
Yeah, Maxxis tires and NWA Arkansas seem to pair well together for me. They arenât my buff/smooth trail tire choice as I feel they are a bit slower than some XC options, but the casings seem to resist the sidewall cuts a bit better and the the flats I have had in them down there have been in the tread and responded well to sealant taking care of things after a bit or plugs if it came down to it. No scientific evidence, but one of those âmight be three minutes slower over 100k but not 10 minutes slower because I had to take the insert out, take the old plugs out, check for thorns, and install a boot and tube after begging someone for a CO2 or pumpâ type comparisons.
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I thought I would follow-up on my posts about Little Sugar as I lay here in a food coma after Thanksgiving. I did the 50K on my supercaliber with 2.35 Barzos F and R. Did not flat, did not fall, but got stuck in a long conga line for much of the race. I was not adequately warmed up to throttle it before the single track and that was a mistake. I do not have a huge engine, but I do have technical skills and I could not use them the first half of the race because people were falling, flatting, stalling, etc. Very difficult to pass-the most difficult I have seen in any XC race I have ever done. But, I had fun, got lost once, lost a few minutes, but felt good about the performance. Had a fun time throughout the week riding the gravel course, the Rule of 3 course, etc., but then bailed on the gravel race due to weather forecast and the inevitable rain plus possible tornadoes. I got to meet and visit with Kate Courtney and Christopher Blevins, which was really fun. Great meet-ups, comedy nights, etc.
Not planning on going back even with the fun I had. Donât really like the surfaces we raced on and donât like the difficultly passing, but it is worth doing once for sure. Just registered for Whiskey Off Road, Valley of Tears and Charcoal Burner. The last two are gravel, both of which I have done. Both are great events.
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