Annadel "By the Numbers'

[Carl Sanders]

2011 -- 2:20, 11th place, one week after Terrible Two; tired at the start line, cramped hard at mile 20, rolled in totally spent...

2012 -- 2:21, 12th place, feeling fresh all day, a 'B' race en route to Nationals, 80 - 90% effort, felt solid, in control, ready for another lap at the finish...

This is a course Jim and Shiloh would excel on -- fast start into the park, rocks everywhere, punchy climbs, bumpy descents and elbow to elbow competition onto the best lines.

Some advance pre-rides next year are in order. I've still got to figure out how to get off the line faster. Ready at the go, just left of the pilot car, 150+ riders poured in from all sides around me, engulfing any chance I had of getting any where near the lead group. As usual, I spent most of the race, plodding along, slowly over taking riders in front, one-by-one, feeling steady and strong through the finish.

Guess I could've burnt a few more matches to get a bit further ahead...

Although, running a solid race, not blowing up, popping, crashing or getting all cross-eyed and desperate still made for a fun day!

The positive vibe toward cyclists in Sonoma County is refreshing. Bike Monkey rocked this event and should be given much credit for creating a great event and generating community support.  I'll be there again next year.

On to Murphy Macks' M5 near Mendo this Saturday, then Nationals in Bend on 9.15.12.

Just might call it a season wrap by that time...