PETALUMA >> It’s not often someone offers up private land to host a bike race, but that’s exactly the case at the Five Springs Ranch in Petaluma, where the owners built a 6.5-mile mountain biking course to their own specifications. They also allowed the riders of the NorCal Cycling League to compete there on April 11, including riders from the Clear Lake and Kelseyville teams.
An extremely fast track through poppy-strewn grasslands, the course features an 850-foot elevation gain during each lap. Absent were rocks and tree roots associated with many of the league’s courses. The technical aspect was the climbing, speed and loose switchbacks. Riders completed two to four laps (13-26 miles) depending on division.
“The downhill was fun and technical,” said Kelseyville rider Kia Kohler, who placed sixth in the sophomore girls’ division. “It was my favorite course of the year. I felt strong the whole race.”
While Kohler enjoyed the Petaluma course, the sentiment wasn’t unanimous with her teammates.
Clear Lake’s Jeffrey Morton, who finished sixth out of 60 riders in the junior varsity Division 2 race, said, “It was a fast course. The downhill was super loose and caused a few wrecks. The wind made it harder also. It seemed like there was always a head wind and never a tail wind. I felt pretty good but after hitting the ground a few times, I was starting to feel it.”
It’s the first time this season Morton has not placed in the top five.
Other top finishers were Clear Lake’s Solano Dominugez, seventh out 55 in the sophomore boys’ Division 2 race, and Kelseyville’s Jadon Lindsey, who was 14th in the same division.
Among other Lake County riders, Clear Lake’s Gabe Wind and Kelseyville’s Craig Andre finished 28th and 33rd, respectively, in the JV Division 2 race. Also competing were Mike Pease and Zack Kemp of Kelseyville and Zoe Cramer and Taylor Buchholz of Clear Lake.
The top rider on the Clear Lake and Kelseyville squads, varsity competitor Nathan Barnett of Clear Lake, did not attend.
Clear Lake’s and Kelseyville’s riders hosted the fifth points race of the season this past Saturday at Boggs Demonstration Forest on Cobb Mountain.
To find out more about the local teams, like them on facebook at Lake County High School Mountain Bike Teams or contact the coaches at 263-3344
For more information about the NorCal Cycling League, visit its website at www.norcalmtb.org
