Grasshopper Lake Sonoma MTB

[Greg Alsterlind]

Sometimes it is better to write these a day or so afterwards. This race was a big disappointment but a day afterwards I have a different perspective. I was back on my Top Fuel but changed my tires to XR1 Bontragger team issue 2.0. Skinny but fast rolling. The trail was all over the place (muddy, rocky, hard pack and loose gravel).  For the most part the tire was great. I started my race watching my heartrate meter as we made our way up the paved section. I was careful to stay 95% of max. About 5 miles in I realized Dave Benjamin (DB) was with me as I was working to stay with Brian Neary (not sure of the spelling). Brian is a solid top 10 guy in my class,  and DB is a big reason I started racing, so I was feeling good about my pack and pace. A few tree and water crossings later and things started to change. Dave got hung up in the mud and I tried to stay with Brian but lost him at a downed tree, where he rode around and I stopped. It was about the 20 mile mark that I came up on Mark Ingerwersen who was working on his second flat of the day. He was almost done and caught up to me quickly. This is about the time I realized I had not had and water in over an hour and was feeling bad. I let Mark go by and stopped for a quick drink. Once back on I noticed I was all alone. When I hit "Bummer Hill" I expected to see people walking their bikes because this hill was steep. I pushed up it with what little I had left in my legs but it was no use. I was just not at the fitness I was hoping to be right now. When I got about 100 yards from the top I saw Mark Buell ( MB). With him yelling at me to catch up - I was able to finish the climb with a little hope things were going to get better. A few bad directions later MB and I were on the wrong course (like '16 Sea Otter) and lost. Mark was done and decided to head down to pavement to the finish. I went back up the hill and found the course and finished. In the end I learned DB is in fine shape for what little riding he has done. MB and I are not good with directions and Bummer Hill is not on the race course but I did better than most climbing it. Oh, and Much more work to be done if I want to get better.