GRANITE BAY, Calif. – “Perfect” describes both trail and weather conditions at the Granite Bay Grinder, the second race of the season for the Clear Lake and Kelseyville High School Mountain Bike Teams.

On March 14, six riders from each of the two schools managed to maneuver their bikes successfully amongst the rolling oaks and granite boulders situated along the sandy shores of Folsom Lake.

A favorite among riders, the six-mile course is known for being smooth, super fast and flowy. 

Competitors rode two to four laps, totaling between 12 and 24 miles, based on their category placement.

Of the two schools, Clear Lake High celebrated the most success with three riders standing atop the podium; the top five are recognized.

Nathan Barnett (CLHS Varsity) placed third out of 25 riders, Jeffrey “Mark” Morton (CLHS Junior Varsity Division 2) fourth out of 67 and Solano Dominguez (CLHS Sophomore Division 2) got his first top five, placing fifth out of 59.

Responding to the race, Morton stated, “I had a good start to the race and was able to maintain despite a mechanical error.”

Unfortunately this was the second race in a row that Morton’s chain had come off during a race, but he was able to fix it and jump back on to make back up his positioning and then some.

These three young men helped immensely to maintain Clear Lake High Schools current fifth place standing in the Northern NorCal Cycling Leagues Division 2 lineup that includes 33 schools.

All other competitors – besides the two who raced for their first time – were able to improve their placing from the first race including Kelseyville’s Jadon Lindsey (KHS Junior Varsity Division 2) who moved up to seventh out of 67 and Kia Kohler (KHS Sophomore girls) 14th of 27.

Other riders included Clear Lake’s Taylor Buchholz, Zoë Cramer and Gabe Wind, and Kelseyville’s Brandon Anderson, Craig Andre, Zachary Kemp and Mike Pease.

The KHS team is comprised of seniors Craig Andre and Mike Pease, junior Jadon Lindsey, sophomores Brandon Anderson and Kia Kohler and Freshman Zachary Kemp.

The CLHS team includes senior Nathan Barnett, juniors Jeffrey Morton and Gabe Wind, sophomore Solano Dominguez and freshmen Taylor Buchholz and Zoë Cramer.

The teams compete independently but train together under Coaches Tami and Jeff Cramer and David Garzoli.

They train three days per week, riding Boggs Demonstration Forest in Cobb, the Toll Road/Highland Springs area around Lakeport as well as riding “spin” bikes at City Fitness.

A club sport not funded through the schools; all monies are raised by fundraising, donations and sponsors. 

The 2015 sponsors include Main Street Bicycles, City Fitness, Wasson Memorial Hospital, Conser Land Surveying, Maherajah Water Skiis and Longboards, Mountain High Coffee and Books, Disney’s Boat Rentals and Edward Jones Investing.

Like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-High-School-Mountain-Bike-Teams/445252418916518 .