Grasshopper #1

Well, the first Grasshopper race was yesterday and it went better than expected.  I didn't get home from Sack-of-Tomatoes until 1 am the night before, but I didn't feel tired the next morning. I rode to Occidental for the start of the ride, which was a nice way to loosen  my legs up.  There was a bigger crowd there than usual, probably around 200 or so.  I think the nice weather really brings the racers out.  Last year there were probably only a little more than half of that many there.  Last year was pouring rain the whole way.  A1 met me in Occidental for the race.  He did this race last year in the pouring rain, and was enjoying the warmer weather this year.  We both agreed that it would have been better if it was raining and windy, but you can't have everything.

The race starts behind the Union Hotel in Occidental and then is considered neutral until we get to the bottom of Duncan Road.   We started by coasting down Bohemian Highway towards Monte Rio.  It is always a thrill heading down that road, and with 200 other cyclist around you, it is even better.  There was the usual close calls here and there, but I didn't hear anyone go down.  It was sort of nostalgic running into some of the folks I used to race with years ago.  I even ran into two guys I raced with at SSU in the late 80's.  After turning on Moscow Road and heading towards Duncan's Mills, I was happy to have A1 riding along right next to me.  A1's BB was creaking so bad, I could pretty much always tell where he was in the pack.  When we ran back into Hwy. 116, we turned right and headed towards Duncan Road.  The turn on to Duncan Road is probably the scariest part of the race.  The whole pack had to make its way across the road for a left hand turn as we were approaching a blind corner on 116.  Like usual, it went without incident.  When you turn onto Duncan, the road pitches upwards quite steeply.  It also becomes quite narrow.  That is where my heart rate went from 120 to 196 beat per minute.  There is a locked gate about a quarter of a mile up Duncan, and everyone wants to be in the front to get through and around the gate.  Most of Duncan is basically a dirt fire trail.  There are gates at each end to keep out the cars, so there are no worries when you are up there.  Okay, maybe you need to worry a bit about off camber turns in the mud and for some tree limbs across the trail, and maybe a washout or two.  But otherwise it is quite a thrill ride.  After descending almost all of the way back down to Hwy. 116,  we turned on Cherry Street and headed towards Old Cazadero Road.  This is a beautiful paved climb that takes you to the top of the ridge over Guerneville.  There is also a locked gate there, so after throwing one's bike over the gate, it is a fast descent down an old fire trail.  Again, there were plenty of washouts to keep you on your toes.  At the bottom of Old Caz, you get to hop off your bike and wade across Austin Creek.  This year is wasn't even up to your knees, but in some years past it has been deeper.  After Austin Creek, there is another dirt climb up to the ridge over Cazadero.  A nice quick descent down a gravel/paved road drops you into the town of Cazadero.  I always feel pretty confident with my descending on my cross bike, and was able to catch plenty of riders flying down the fire trails.  I made sure I was with a group of riders as we cruised past the Cazadero Market and heading right up into the neighborhoods above Cazadero.  Knowing that we had the long trek out to the coast on 116, it is important that you find some folks to ride with.  I got into a group of about 10 cyclist.  We did an okay job of working together.  Not the most organized pace line I have ever been in, but for the most part everyone was happy to do their share.  Heading out to Jenner, we turned left on Hwy. 1 and then right on Willow Creek Road.  Willow Creek has always been a favorite climb of Claire and mine, and for years we took our Hub Labor Day Ride over Willow Creek.  Since then, it has become part of a state park, so it is even better, with locked gates at the top and bottom.  In years past, the Grasshopper has just climbed the 1200 feet up the dirt road, but this year, the organizers threw in a beautiful and beastly loop up through Willow Creek State Park.  After making a short loop up and up and up and then down through some thick mud, we dropped back out onto Willow Creek right before the two steepest parts of the climb.  It was perfect.  I had run out of water a short time earlier, and was lucky enough to run in to a couple of folks at the top of Willow Creek who gave me a full bottle.  It is a short descent down Coleman Valley to the finish.  I ended up around 33rd, which I was happy with considering that I have not done any hard training so far this year.   I didn't hang around the finish, but just kept riding on to Forestville for a hot lunch of homemade stew.  The race itself was about 50 miles, and with another 25 or so added on for the trip there and back, I got in a couple of good miles.  I still felt good when I got home.  I drank plenty of water, and a couple of beers to rehydrate, and relaxed the rest of the afternoon.

The entire race took me around 3 hours and 10 minutes.  My max heart rate was 196, and my average was 170.  Sorry about the long, long post, but you didn't have to read the whole thing.