Riding the Coast

Caspar Classic Mountain Bike Race

Race Start

We had perfect race weather again this year with a high temp of 67 and light winds. Twenty-eight racers had registered by the 10 AM start time. The course was in very good condition although my course markings were hard to see and a cause of some confusion. I promise to do a better job marking next year.

Lap times where very fast and a new course record of 32 minuets flat was set by Brian Astell beating Ethan Black's fastest lap of 34:52 from last year! Brian kept up the pace for all three laps in the Advanced Class finishing first with a total time of 1:38:14. Second place went to Sean Allen who was 5:09 back. And Dean Meyer was third coming in 5:26 behind first.

Sean's wife Mary Allen was the only lady to race three laps this year with a total time of 2:17:00. I'll have to work on getting the Sonoma County ladies to come back to race next year to give Mary some competition!

A very competitive group raced two laps in the Intermediate Class! Caspar resident Jake Madden took first with a time of 1:25:20. Pete Gielow came in second 0:19 seconds back. And Jeff Sheldon was third 1:10 behind first. Woman racing two laps this year where Nicole Garcia with a total time of 1:35:43, and Amanda Woodward who came in 18:94 minutes later.

This year three raced in the Beginner Class. The winner was Scott McCulloch in a time of 46:30. Stephan Whatley riding a signal speed was second 4:87 behind. And Mendocino Coast legend Gene Barns came in third 9.12 back from first.

This year Stephan Whatley and Adam Sherf from Willits made some very artistic awards from recycled bike parts. We all had fun checking out the many peaces involved to make these trophies!

Thanks to Catch a Canoe, Fort Bragg Cyclery, and The Outdoor Store for coming through with great swag! Down Home Foods for donating delicious fruit and drinks. And to Bike Mendo for letting us use much needed equipment and supplies for this race.

Many volunteers helped set up, run, and clean up after the race. Some above and beyond help came from Jim and Cindy Ellis timing and treats, Rick Riley and Stan Miklose course set-up and awards, Marc Tenzel and Roo Harris course marshaling, and Fay Yee registration. Thank you all!

Lets do this again next year!

Chris

Brian Astell receives his Trophy for First Place

Marry Allen was awarded First Place Woman

Some of this years Trophies

Caspar Classic Mountain Bike Race Times

Advanced Class, Men,

Lap #1

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Time back

78/Brian Astell, 32:00, 0

79/Sean Allan, 33:36, 1:36

71/Dean Meyer, 34:16, 2:16

77/Amon Pease, 34:30, 2:30

75/Gabe Chesse, 34:53, 2:53

72/Colby Pastore, 34:53, 2:53

100/David Desautels, 38:31, 6:31

73/Earc Gordon, 39:23, 7:23

70/Paul Begbie, 39:23, 7:23

76/Nick Taylor, 42:40, 10:40

74/Tom Charters, 43:29, 11:29

69/Rick Riley, 58:02, 26:02*

Lap #2

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Lap back, Total

78/Brian Astell, 33:42, 0, 1:05:42

79/Sean Allan, 34:68, 1:26, 1:08:04

71/Dean Meyer, 34:16, 0:74, 1:09:07

72/Colby Pastore, 34:91, 1:49, 1:09:44

77/Amon Pease, 35:18, 1:76, 1:09:48

75/Gabe Chesse, 35:89, 2:47, 1:10:42

100/David Desautels, 40:20, 6:78, 1:18:51

73/Earc Gordon, 40:97, 7:55, 1:20:20

70/Paul Begbie, 40:98, 7:56, 1:20:21

74/Tom Charters, 46:74, 13:32, 1:30:03

69/Rick Riley, 49:47, 16:05, 1:47:49*

76/Nick Taylor, 88:67, 55:25, 2:11:07

Lap #3

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Lap back, Total

78/Brian Astell, 32:75, 0, 1:38:14

79/Sean Allan, 35:19, 2:44, 1:43:23

71/Dean Meyer, 34.33, 3:42, 1:43:40

77/Amon Pease, 36:05, 3:30, 1:45:53

75/Gabe Chesse, 35:83, 3:08, 1:46:25

72/Colby Pastore, 39:13, 6:38, 1:48:57

100/David Desautels, 42:04, 9:29, 2:00:55

73/Earc Gordon, 43:81, 11:06, 2:04:01

70/Paul Begbie, 45:28, 12:53, 2:05:49

74/Tom Charters, 45:55, 12:80, 2:15:58

69/Rick Riley, DNF*

76/Nick Taylor, DNF

*Single Speed

Advanced Class, Women,

Lap #1

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Time back

80/Mary Allan, 45:36, 0

Lap #2

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Lap back, Total

80/Mary Allan, 45:70, 0, 1:31:06

Lap #3

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Lap back, Total

80/Mary Allan, 46:06, 0, 2:17:00

Intermediate Class, Men,

Lap #1

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Time back

382/Jake Madden, 41:52, 0,

376/Pete Gielow, 42:41, 0:89

330/Jeff Sheldon, 43:00, 1:48

373/Adam Sherf, 43:02, 1:50

380/Tom Spinardi, 45:50, 3:98

375/Jiro Tully, 48:44, 6:92*

381/Charles O'Brien,48:52, 7:00

374/Lucas Peterson, 51:36, 9:78

383/Kodi Rider, 52:14, 10:62

377/Chip Touhey, 58:02, 16:50

Lap #2

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Lap back, Total

382/Jake Madden, 43:68, 0, 1:25:20

376/Pete Gielow, 42:98, 0:70, 1:25:39

330/Jeff Sheldon, 43:70, 0:02, 1:26:30

373/Adam Sherf, 46:31, 2:62, 1:28:33

380/Tom Spinardi, 46:09, 2:41, 1:31:59

381/Charles O'Brien,49:64, 5:96, 1:38:16

375/Jiro Tully, 50:88, 7:20, 1:39:32*

374/Lucas Peterson, 52:94, 9:26, 1:44:30

383/Kodi Rider, DNF

377/Chip Touhey, DNF

*Single Speed

Intermediate Class, Women,

Lap #1

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Time back

378/Nicole Garcia, 45:42, 0

379/Amanda Woodward,56:06, 10:64

Lap #2

Plate#/Name, Lap time, Lap back, Total

378/Nicole Garcia, 50:01, 0, 1:35:43

379/Amanda Woodward,58:31, 8:30, 1:54:37

Beginner Class, Men,

Plate#/Name, Time, Time back

284/Scott McCulloch,46:30, 0

280/Stephan Whatley,51:17, 4:87*

285/Gene Barnes, 55:42, 9:12

*Single Speed

A group of eleven riders braved the drive to Usal beach for a ride to Wheeler Beach on the Lost Coast. The six miles of the dirt road to Usal is brutal! I am always amazed how many people use this area, the camps where almost completely filled. The weather was perfect and the views awesome.
As we where getting ready to ride Stan startled a large bull elk that was lounging in the picnic area! It settled down again and we all got a chance to check out this impressive animal.
This was my first time on this ride and for some reason I expected it to be fairly easy. Having ridden other areas on the Lost Coast I should have known better. By rides end Cindy's computer had 22 miles and nearly 4K of climbing!