Santos Fat Tire Fest 2024

One more year, one more OMBA FTF!  Not as much in the tech details this year, more riding.  Here's a rundown on the proceedings presented as the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The Good

• Rolled in on Thursday with two leaky tubeless tires stuffed in on top of all the gear in my car trunk.  Whipped into Santos Bike Shop's trailhead shop, handed the leaky wheels to the mechanic.  Fifteen minutes later I was headed to the trailhead with two fixed tires and the tools & sealant for next time.  Score!
• No Thursday chow included in the FTF camper ticket, but the Fat Tiki food truck was in the expo area, so seared tuna & fried shrimp (see pic), yeah man.  Couldn't stay away from that place.
• On the subject of food, the FTF-provided meals were mostly very good (mostly, more in a minute).  The bbq on Saturday, after the 50 miler Epic ride, was outstanding and appreciated.
• Interesting camping this year.  Only one of the Biloxi crew showed up, but the neighbors were all cool.  Ended up with a chem e, electrical e, rocket scientist, and a physicist all in close proximity.  Nerd-tastic.  Honestly, I have no idea how that happened, we just gravitated to the same area.
• Speaking of nerd-tastic, I threw a slim jim up in a tree, texted the FCEM director to get on the EOC's ham radio, and we had a good chat on Friday afternoon.  Worked just as well as I could've hoped.  Pics below.
• The Anthem had somehow gotten a bubble in its rear brake line.  Squishy brakes are not good.  The Shimano booth mechanic bled both front and rear in record time, no charge.  Good folks.
• Speaking of the Anthem, it was a joy to ride the entire time.  Much more controllable on those trails than the 2013 Specialized, and much more forgiving on the drop-offs and in the rocks.
• The 50 mile Epic was, as usual and as advertised, epic.  All the fun I wanted and a little more.
• Got to the Epic's lunchtime turn-around point and realized I'd left my shin/knee guards back in camp.  Didn't matter, the rock garden was eight miles in the rear-view by then, only easy stuff ahead.  Glad I hadn't noticed this though, it would have put me off while picking through the rocks.
• Good bands all three nights: Souljam (Thursday & Saturday) and Propaganjah (Friday).
• The rains held off until after the Epic was finished, and only hit after everyone had turned in for the night.  Clear skies in the morning.
• Made a stop on the way down at the Cypress Inn restaurant on the way down, and at the Taste of Dixie diner on the way back, both in Cross City.  Excellent quick lunch food at each.

The Bad (but not very)

• Missed the second woods turn-in off the paved bike path 10 miles into the Epic.  A paceline line of roadies were zipping by, occluding the arrow sign, and I simply missed it.  Added about 3 miles  to the day's total.  My bad.
• Ambiguous arrow at the 46 mile mark -- easy trail to the left, or double black diamond drop to the right?  The choice was left to exhausted riders, so choose wisely.
• While trying to choose wisely (see previous), a guy rode up on a 2013 Specialized Epic just like my old one – with a blown rear shock, just like my old one last year.  Poor guy, his back was hurting too.
• Don't forget your Official Fat Tire Fest Coffee Mug at the breakfast line!  Or no coffee for you!
• Some of the FTF-provided meals were carbo-bombs.  Simple solution, see Fat Tiki food truck above.

The Ugly

• After 23 years of faithful service, the tent need some waterproofing, and brother did I find out when that front blew through on Saturday night.  It wasn't too bad considering the driving rain, but everything inside got a mist of dampness.  In the mid-60's weather this wasn't even uncomfortable, but had it been into the 30's it could have turned dangerous.  Warning received & heeded, Nikwax tent waterproofing on the way.

OK, here's the picture dump.  Onward.

Souljam on Thursday evening.

Ham hang time.  The dummy cord meant for tying to a pack can be handy with the slim jim antenna too.

Spot the antenna!  Still can't believe that I got the perfect hang on the first throw.

Awakened Saturday morning to a bike tarp covered with tiny flower petals.  Either this was a good sign, or a funeral-ish omen.

Guess it was a good sign.  Well, I finished anyway, and without incident.

No trip back would be complete without a stop at the Taste of Dixie Diner in Cross City.

And that's a wrap for the OMBA Santos FTF 2024.  Back next year?  Yes, planning on it.