First off Shoota congratulations. I can only tell you what I was told from someone who rode it. I was not there. Maybe the person who told me felt that it was peanut butter mud. Different opinions due to different experience levels perhaps. I have ridden in conditions that I felt were absolutely the worst when other more experienced and capable people felt it was nowhere near as hard as other rides that they have ridden. I guess my overall point was that the Salsa Stormchaser and bikes like it have a place and are capable enough to perform well.