2017 Grasshopper

[Mark Ingwersen]

Old Caz number 2 for me and this time I had my Trek Boone which I'd figured to be a better choice for the longer road sections I recalled from last year when I showed up on my Pivot 29er hard tail. In 2016 CX bike were everywhere and this year the number of mtb's and CX bike running extraordinarily fat tires were in the majority. Nevertheless, I felt confident on my comparatively narrow 35mm Continental tire mix running 45 psi with tried and true tubes.

Driving up with team mate Greg and friend Paul, we arrived early enough to enjoy the crisp and frosty morning air that had us undecided about clothing choices. After registration, I loaded up three bottles (I ran out of water last year just before the final climb) and a triplet of tubes. By 10 we were cued up and ready to go from near the front of some 450+ riders. Once we were off greg, Paul and I stayed together up the climb with the intent of staying as a group. By the time we'd hit the first decent though, I was clear we'd lost Paul who was new not only to the Caz but also his newly acquired cross bike. Greg and I worked together like last year and made it to highway 1 with no mishaps. But we were alone... again. In 2016 we learned that you succeed as a group, not on your own. We kept a quick pace and soon were passed by a larger and faster pack which we immediately joined. The pace on cross bikes was expectedly higher. Cruising at 22-24 mph was easy. With my turn pulling, I pushed myself to get our group caught up to another one while we tore up Moscow Road. With a cluster of over 20 riders I relaxed in the draft only to see some riders weaving their way through to the front. I followed and Greg was right there with me. We latched on to yet another group of some really strong riders on our way towards the Duncan Road climb turn off.

Part way up the climb we saw Jim stopped by one of his flat tires of the day. After handing off my pump he told us the go, so we went! Greg and I kept a constant pace just below dreadfully painful up the steep roads. Once we'd cleared on of the first gates the trip got sloppy. Mud flying every which way, downed trees to either hop (bad idea) or run (better choice) over and a landslide that effectively stopped riders to a bike shouldering and sloppy walk that engulfed our shoes as we clambered down the hill only to hike back up the other side. Speeding down the next few hills I repeatedly ejected a bottle. Up till now the cages had never tossed contents but the conditions were too much. I emptied half the bottle and never again lost it.

With the slower speeds involved in the ups I began to wonder about the river crossing. Surprisingly, the water ended up not being nearly as cold as I'd expected and my long legs kept the vitals high and dry. Sloshing up the other bank, Greg and I grunted up the climb I'm sure was designed to warm us up again. Which it did. On what felt like the return direction we continued to pass many riders with tire troubles. Thankful I wasn't one myself we flew down the paved road before the metal bridge. Shortly after riding through Cazadero, we'd caught another rider who had just remounted after a tire repair. His misfortune was a tire that kept losing air. An incredibly strong guy he was! He kept with us and even lead a pull once we were back on highway 1! The three of us reeled in final pack member four and were pace lined over the bridge and back onto Willow Creek Road. Pace lining no longer important, Greg and I both with tired legs pushed on while leading a scattered group to the base of the final climb.

The sloppy, slippery mud and one short but painfully steep extra grade near the top of the climb challenged me to keep a sustainable pace. I managed to pass several riders and was feeling strong. Suffering from cramping, I had to dismount once last year and was determined not to this time! It was the slippery muck and my file tread rear tire that concerned me most, though. Somehow I made it through and managed 72nd place, just missing the 3:30 mark by a couple of minutes. Beverage in hand, I enjoyed the after ride party atmosphere with Dave (great pics!), Carson, Jim, Cathy as well as anyone nearby and look forward to another exciting and hopefully successful season with Team ACME.

[Dave Benjamin]

Glad the "vitals stayed high and dry"!  It's good to be tall sometimes...