Skaggs Summary

“I don’t think we’ll get more than 150”, I told Tera. It’s getting to be the busy part of the cycling season, it was Sea Otter weekend and we still had 190 starters. At Skaggs! Even with all my warning and course descriptions we had a huge turn-out. Perhaps it was exactly the challenge that so many riders were looking for. It was a thrill to hear so many thank you’s and praises of the course and the support. I even heard there were several riders who walked their road bikes uphill for the first time. Sweet! It’s a lot of fun crafting  Hopper loops that push  riders to the limit but does not slip into the realm of ultra-endurance. Skaggs is just long enough and hard enough for you to be a bit worried and conservative early on, yet short enough to push yourself to your limit.

A huge thanks goes out to our SAG Chris and his son, Echelon and Spoke Folk. The days are gone when Grasshoppers meant finding your own water and totally winging it. It’s still an adventure but with a little more support. And a big thanks to our product sponsors GU Energy, Osmo Nutrition, Guayaki, Bear Republic Brewery and Health Warrior. I am honored to have awesome local bike shops support our rides and amazing local companies contribute hydration and nutrition for our riders. Let’s count the beer as hydration and recovery.

Thanks to those of you who gave a little something extra for the Matt Wilson Scholarship. We will be donating $1,000 to the scholarship; all of which will go to graduating seniors from the class of 2015 at El Molino High School. I know Matt’s Spirit was wind at our backs climbing up from the Gualala River.

Mig