Carl Sanders's Blog – April 2012 Archive (3)

Never quite know what or who to expect when one shows up to a local Grasshopper. On this day the route called for us to roll out of Santa Rosa bent for new territory east of town that promised a few steep climbs, a number of rough roads and one dirt descent over the course of 70 plus miles. Fat 25cc tires on the Madone would prove to be good gear for this mixed road terrain.

Amidst the assembling 100 or so riders in the grammar school parking lot at the edge of…

3:17:24 -- 12th position across the line. Two short of the my objective.

First blood when taken down by a volunteer accidently catching my bars at the aid station while attempting a bottle hand-up at mile 10!

Second blood on the second lap, mile 29, when my front wheel washed out down a loose rutted section. Determined to finish the course this year, I banged the seat into line, re-set the chain and jumped back into the game.

Not an entirely pleasant experience out there…

The stage was set for a good race day: our new kit, a full team photo before the start, perfect sunny weather, tacky trail conditions and a deep field of talented local racers amassed for battle. My fitness was in-line for later season peaks at Boggs and Terrible Two.  This was to be my early season perfromance test.

Expecting the high intensity of a relatively short XC race, I psyched up for the fast start; attempting to explode up the first climb, I charged ahead, pulling a clean…