To all the roadies that thought suspension on a gravel bike makes it great for the hydrocut, I can say. No. While it was an interesting ride, and make the trails somewhat challenging (let’s face it, 90% of the HC should be rated green), it makes for a harsh ride. Very happy it had a dropper post. Don’t know how anyone rides without one.
It was quite amusing to be standing beside a guy on a full sus bike with a full face helmet next to Adam’s Run, and I was in my road kit, road helmet, and riding clips.
CX bike is lots of fun at the Hydrocut. It’s the only ‘off-road’ bike I own and most of the trails there are not terribly hard enough to keep me off of them. Trails like Jessica are perfect for the CX/Gravel bike imo.
Riding a gravel bike in the hydrocut is more than possible, just way less fun with little get out of jail. The better your skills the easier it is.
KWCA has a kid riding to the pines for workouts on his CX bike, and that place has a lot of harder trails. He also has far better skills than 99% of the adults I have ridden with. As Mark says pick your lines and you will survive.