Will Brieger, Pescadero RR Cat 4

If you were going to invent a beautiful 30-mile loop with smooth roads, sweet redwood-shaded climbs, and a fast, banked, technical descent, you could not do any better than the Pescadero Coastal Classic. I know how nice it was from pre-riding the course friday - too busy during the race to notice even the 20' tall machine-gun-toting skeleton sculpture at mile 4.
Mike Matiasek will need to report on the Category 4 "A group" race. He took 8th place. My guess is that the 7 guys ahead of him were the only guys out there who could take their eyes off Matiasek's beautiful white & black machine for a few minutes on the final climb, and the other 60 guys were wishing they could keep up so they could continue ogling that gleaming new bike.

In the Cat 4 B group Brian Krall and I lined up for DBC. The first time over the big climb [1.6 miles] spread things out, but after the descent most of the race came back together for the second loop. The race was surprisingly mellow when we were not climbing or descending. On the smooth open road that lead away from the coast [and toward the base of the final climb] Brian K got to the front and lifted the pace while I ate and stretched out cramps at the back. By the turn into the hills I made sure I was back up with Brian and ready to go. All hell broke predictably loose at that point for the 8-minute climb to the line. Coulda Shoulda Woulda gone with the leader, but the cautious angel on my shoulder convinced me not to start a 1.6 mile climb with an all-out sprint. I "paced myself," then gradually accelerated for 11th place, with Brian not far behind. I'll try the kamikaze klimb technique next year . . .

Will
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