February 2011 Blog Posts (3)

The forecast for this race was pretty bad the week before.  Rain and maybe snow.  They changed the venue from Toro Park to Fort Ord to lessen the impact due to wet trails.  It became less dire but still discouraging as the race approached.  I pretty much figure nasty conditions are part of mountain bike racing, and since this was a training race on the schedule, I made my plans to be there anyway.

The weather and conditions could not have been better.  It was mostly sunny,…

The Sonoma County Grasshoppers started a month early this year and I had to miss the Old Cazadero opener.  This is one of the few 'Hoppers that can be won on a mountain bike, and I've done pretty well at it for the last four years.  I had a work conflict this year that was unavoidable, which was a real pity.  Though I've started mountain bike racing for the season, I figured the second Grasshopper, the Fort Ross road race, would be fun and good training.

The forecast was for rain and…

First official race of the year.

I travelled to Fort Ord Sunday, February 13, for the CCCX season opener.  The weather was perfect - dry and cool.

These early season races are good training, and I use them as part of my weekly intensity workouts in the build period.  I was coming into this one with a little fatigue in my legs, but ready to begin my season of mountain bicycle racing!

There weren't many familiar faces at the starting line.  I did recognize Brian Duke, one…