Grasshopper King Ridge Supreme 2015 'Among Mortals'

[Carl Sanders]

Respectable finish. Perfect cool weather. Good folks.

Rode steady and strong all day. Despite losing some ground starting mid-pack up the Coleman Valley climb and getting bumbled up down the first dirt descent with the mass of other riders on Willow Creek, I slowly re-gained positions throughout the rest of the race. 

Coleman Valley + Willow Creek (down) + HWY 1 + Fort Ross + Salt Point + Kruse Rhododendron + Hauser Bridge + King Ridge + Cazadero + Willow Creek (up) = 85 miles + 8,500' of climbing = a good day to ride.

Hung with the second chase group up HWY 1. We could see the first chase group just minutes ahead. Levi and his Pro buddies were already out of sight.

Caught most of the lead chase group at the top of gravel climb up Kruse Rhododendron.

Legs solid, I pushed hard.

Up and over King Ridge to Cazadero, our group of eight chase riders gelled to form a brisk pace-line motoring back out to and along the Russian River.

Feeling good,I charged again up Willow Creek only to get smoked by three riders on the final sprint up the steep gravel road to the finish, dropping the 14th place in a very strong field.

http://www.grasshopperadventureseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/1...

A cold brew and burger afterward at Barely & Hops made for a fine day.

Next up: SRCC 600K on 5.16.15