Carl Sanders's Blog – June 2012 Archive (2)

Riding solo over the steep and shadeless climbs of Skaggs, heading out toward the coast at mile 125, the Garmin displayed 106 degrees just after noon. 

I had rode strong all the way over Trinity Grade, got into a brisk pace line with familiar SRCC and Grasshopper riders up the Silverado Trail. Held with the top ten into the Calistoga aid station. Cranked over the double summits of Geysers to the next aid at mile 84. Temps were climbing into the upper 90s by 10 AM. Doused the body with…

Well into Zone 5 on the first set of dirt grinders off the pavement, I knew that this would be another desperate, hypoxic day of suffering chasing the local talent around Lake Sonoma.

Sure enough, not even eight miles into the course, while hanging tight with a strong group of Experts and Pros, a rider in front of me goes down on a deeply rutted drop, forcing me to take a bad line trying to get around him.  My front wheel washes out and down I go, tearing up flesh on my right leg.…