Chainsuck on a singlespeed???

Saturday was amazing. Cooper and I loaded into the car and went to race the 6 hours of Addison Oaks mountain bike event solo singlespeed. I would have been better served in an ark. Some friends and I had ridden the course on Thursday, and while still a bit soft in spots, it looked like it'd be a good ol' time on Saturday. Not so much. It rained Thursday night, Friday, Friday night and Saturday morning. Had the rain kept up all through the day on Saturday it wouldn't have been that bad, but then the rain stopped and the runny mud caked up to a peanut buttery consistency that very well could have been a material ancient civilizations used to build fortified cities with back in the day.
After the 1st lap I had to change my rear tire. The semi-slick wasn't cutting it.
I went back out and at mile 2.5 my chain tentioner broke causing the chain to miss the chainring teeth and just spin. In layman's terms: I couldn't pedal the bike anywhere.
I met the ever-present and ever-helpful "Don the medic" who was lurking in the woods. He bandaged my dangling tentioner with layers upon layers of tape and at least got me out of the woods. I got back for another lap, but not before reinforcing the tape job with zip ties. It did the trick but by that time 30lbs of mud was clinging stubbornly to my frame. Not fun. I finished the lap packed it in and will be forced to avenge the course next year.

This photo was taken by one of the fabulous racers at the event last year. It reminds me of better times.