Two States

I took off this morning from Queen Anne hill in Seattle and rode to Red Hook Brewery.  It was a very fall like morning.  There was a heavy, damp, fog. I had leg warmers and a tyvek jacket on.  I didn't have long fingered gloves or any other cool weather gear along.......it was 90 degrees when I left home a few days ago! If I had it along I would have worn it.  43 miles and I was back off the bike.

I drove back to Portland, watching the thermometer rise as I drove south.  By the time I got to Portland it was 80 degrees...........and it was raining in Seattle.

Bike friend Paula joined me for an evening ride.  We took off from SE Portland with a plan to ride the 40 mile loop.  We got a bit of a later start than planned because of a flat tire on her bike. It seems the stem separated from the tube!

At any rate, we finally got on the bikes on a glorious evening. I was in shorts and short sleeved jersey.

Along the Eastbank Esplanade

We worked our way along the Willamette River until we reached the University of Portland, then took the Peninsula Crossing Trail over to the Marine Drive Path. The sun was getting low in the sky as we neared the airport.

You can just make out Mt Hood looming in the distance

We continued along the Columbia River as the sun set.

We turned south when we reached I-205 and took the 205 Bike Path.  The sunset was pretty good, but the camera's automatic settings didn't do it justice.

Paula had to be up early in the morning so we cut the ride short as we reached Burnside Street. We ended up with 30 miles rather than the full 40.  We talked a bit about an upcoming Crater Lake bike trip then called it a night.

When I got home I noted that I was 4 miles short of 1300 miles for the month.  The weather was nice, certainly nicer than it will be in just a few short months. I hopped on the bike and pedaled a quick 4 miles in the neighborhood.

Dodged the rain in Seattle, got to ride a few nice miles with a friend in Portland, and got 1300 miles for the month.  I'd call that a win all around!


...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today...............77...........0................0............0.............77 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July..............1300................0...............0..........0.............1300 Total...........4293.............0...............0..........0.............4293

A Few Repeats

There is just never enough time in the day to do all the fun things.  This evening I had plans to join some friends for a paddle on Lake Union. Since Race Across Oregon has now passed, I no longer have the need to prioritize riding.  I did however join friend Julie as she rode hill repeats , she's set a few riding goals that she is working toward, and I wanted to support that.

I rode Taylor Street in Seattle for just under 30 minutes before having to trade the bike for a kayak.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today................6...........0................0............0..............6 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July..............1223................0...............0..........0.............1223 Total...........4216.............0...............0..........0.............4216

A short bike ride and a couple of ferry rides

 3 of us took off on a ferry ride from West Seattle to Southworth with a plan to ride to Port Orchard.  Along the way we saw camels!

After taking a few camel photos we continued on our way to Port Orchard riding along the water's edge.

We arrived in Port Orchard after only 12 miles so we talked about riding a few more miles to Bremerton for lunch.  We arrived at Gorst and suddenly came to a stop with rumblings of "traffic, fast, scary, busy road".  It looked fine to me, though Hwy 3 looks like a freeway, the speed limit ranged from 40 to 50 mph, there were two lanes in each direction, and very wide shoulders..........and a great tailwind!  I paused briefly, then pedaled to Bremerton.  My friends decided to turn back.

I rolled into Bremerton, found lunch, then found the ferry to Seattle!   I spent over a half hour at lunch, and had to wait a half hour for the ferry.  I was on the phone to Julie and figured she'd be waiting a long time for me.  There was nothing I could do about it so I just watched birds.

After a long ferry ride I neared Seattle, as I did so I used my stupid smart phone to bring up a map and figure out the best way back to my pickup.

I pedaled across the West Seattle low bridge and turned on Avalon St, then on Faunterloy.  I as I neared my pickup I met Julie riding back toward me.  We had arrived back at my pickup within a minute of each other.  Love it when a plan comes together!




...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today................32...........0..............0..........0.............32 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July..............1217................0...............0..........0.............1217 Total...........4210.............0...............0..........0.............4210

Riding Around Mt Rainier

Bike? check
Garmin charged and route loaded?  check
Helmet? check
Headlight charged? check
Suitable bike clothes? check
Bike shoes? ....bike shoes?...shoes?  oops!

I was still busy with putting Race Across Oregon supplies away when it was time to load up and head north for RAMROD (Ride Around Mt Ranier in One Day).  I quickly packed up and took off.

I arrived at Enumclaw High School, the start location of RAMROD, just after 5 AM.  I filled my water bottles, attached my rider number, attached my helmet RFID tag, and was just about to hop on the bike when I realized I didn't have my bike shoes on.  At the same time I got a sinking feeling, I didn't remember bringing them. After going back to my pickup and checking, sure enough, the bike shoes were in a different state.

We've all pedaled a block or two without bike shoes, me included.  I just wasn't sure I could ride 150+ miles with long hills and fast descents without being clipped in.  There was one way to find out.

I finally got on the road at 6:20 AM.

The first few miles were gently descending and I managed to cope.  My feet floated around on the pedals a bit and I had to work at keeping them in the proper location. My athletic shoes have a soft sole and I was aware of the pedal's cleat pressing against my foot.  This was going to be interesting.

I stopped in Elbe and scored a chocolate milk right across from some brightly colored cabooses that are being used as a sort of motel.

 The climb up the mountain was mostly just a gently ascending pedal following the Nisqually river, no serious effort required. I had a late start after spending too much time thinking about bike shoes and now there was a steady stream of cyclists passing me. I literally did not pass a single cyclist in the first 30 miles.

As I pulled into the first food stop I realized just how far back in the field I was.  The volunteers and support staff were talking about the location of the last rider (and the sweep who was keeping track of him)  The volunteers were folding up tables and re-boxing supplies.......... not closing up they assured me, just "consolidating".  I hopped on the bike with the plan to begin working my way through the field.

It was a gorgeous day.

Nisqually River

So, Christine may be clumsy, but do we  really need to make facilities to watch her?

 I reached the top of the first climb. Now I was going to get to see if I could keep my feet from bouncing off the pedals on rough descents.

Refection Lake

 The road was a bit rough and it was a bit tough keeping the feet centered on the pedals. Once at the bottom, the route climbed again. I passed a few cyclists on the road, but made up my best time by limiting my time at the food stops.
 The ride organizers reminded us that the speed limit in Mt Rainier National Park was 35 mph and following a death during last year's RAMROD, the speed limit would be enforced by Park staff. Last year I rolled down Box Canyon at nearly 50 mph on the aerobars.  Today, I sat tall and caught the full headwind.  I maintained a 30-35 mph speed all the way down. This descent was smooth.

By the time we started climbing Cayuse Pass we were nearly 100 miles into the ride.  I began picking riders off one by one on the 9 mile climb. Unlike the first 30 miles where I passed nobody, now nobody was passing me.  I pedaled strongly up the pass.

We started waaaay down there!

As I crested the summit I saw The Motley Crew.(Dave, Diana, Eric, Doak, Paul, Max, et al)  They had started off this morning at least 45 minutes before I did, and I did not expect to see them on the road today. Just as at STP, their time at the stops was killing them.

I checked in and rolled out without stopping.  The run down to the Deli Stop (mile 118) was fun. There were a few pavement defects to keep an eye out for, and mottled shade and sun made them difficult to see, but the roll down was uneventful, and since we were no longer in the National Park, no pesky 35 mph speed limit. ;-)

I stopped at the Deli Stop and had a turkey sandwich. I also ran into friends Lynn Kuhlman and Lee Ann Derror who were volunteering there. It was nice to see both of them.

I got back on the bike and started down the hill.  There was a headwind, but the gently descending terrain was just made for pedaling.  I was moving along in the mid 20's and passing everyone in sight.  At one point I had a guy hook on for a draft.  After about 5 miles of pulling him along I thought it might be time for him to take a pull.  He declined, saying he wasn't strong enough.

After another mile or so I saw my chance as I came to a fire station.  Being a fire guy I figured I could always "just stop to talk shop". Just before pulling in I hit some rough pavement and me feet bounced off the pedals. It took a few pedal revolutions to get back on them.  I turned in to the parking lot and be darned if the guy didn't pull in with me!   His comment? "Dude, tennis shoes on clip pedals? You are sooo badazz!" After a few minutes I got back on the road and pedaled.  I brought the bike up to nearly 30 mph, slowed it to 12, no difference, this guy was going to stay on my wheel.  I just soft pedaled for a long distance thinking this guy would eventually get bored and take off on his own.  Finally another rider came around us and my "new found friend" stood on his pedals and latched onto this guy instead.

I pedaled the last few miles back into Enumclaw. I kept passing riders as I made my way down the road.  I was ready for the ride to conclude,  My feet were tired and the effort to keep the feet on the pedals was beginning to make itself known.

I pulled into Enumclaw High School, got my RAMROD patch, a fudgesicle and a ride photo.

It was a good day.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today...............153...........0..............0..........0............153 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July..............1185................0...............0..........0.............1185 Total...........4178.............0...............0..........0.............4178

The benefits of getting older

John Henry Maurice and I entered Race Across Oregon as a two man 50+ team named "Predator and Prey" in a bow of the head to our Furnace Creek 508 totems, Hoary Marmot and Desert Coyote. We finished the 535 mile route 18 minutes slower than when Lauren Bayard and I finished it in second place in 2010 as a two person mixed team named "Flying Aquarians". One of the benefits of getting older is despite a slower time than when I raced with Lauren, is that this was good enough for divisional first place, and a course record, also we snagged an Ultra Marathon Cycling Association 500 mile championship.

I had my digital camera along, and my GoPro, but neither ever got turned on. :-( There were many good photo opportunities, but we were racing!

We arrived in Hood River and got inspected and checked in. With cell phones at the ready some of this activity was recorded.

Getting checked in to race at the Hood River Inn

Lauren and Lorie going over the game plan

Getting a quick bite to eat just before the pre race meeting

I rode surprisingly well and was reasonably happy with my performance. I had a camera and GoPro along, but never carried them. Too bad, there were many awesome views. Snow capped peaks, coyotes on the center line just sitting there wondering what we were, owls, a beautiful full moon, the list goes on. It was a race and we were doing short pulls, there just wasn't time to be taking photos.

I'll scrounge around facebook, and beg my crew to share some of the photos they took. I'll get any of those I'm able to get, and provide a more complete ride description in the next few days.

And yes, we had fun!

2x Men 50+ RAO course record holders, and UMCA 500 mile champions

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today...............297...........0..............0..........0............297 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July..............1032................0...............0..........0.............1032 Total...........4025.............0...............0..........0.............4025

Following the Desert Coyote - 204th phonecast

Race Across Oregon coverage

I am scurrying around on Race Across Oregon preparations.  No time for a ride today. :-(

In most years, Race Across Oregon updates are difficult to obtain.  The remoteness of the course means that cell phone service is extremely limited and internet access even more rare.  Yesterday we were told that this year the racers will have the option to be tracked via satellite.  My partner, John Henry Maurice and I jumped at the chance.  We are racing under the team name "Team Predator and Prey" and you will be able to see just how slow or fast we are, and be able to see our relationship to other competitors on this map.



You can go to the satellite tracking page directly HERE.

The satellite transponder will be in our support car, but 99% of the time it will be right with us, and at night is required to be so.

The Race Across Oregon website is woefully out of date, but hopefully once the race gets underway there will be updates posted there as well.

If I can get my Ipadio app working correctly I'll post updates to this blog when I'm able.

It's only a number

My friend Mark H had a milestone birthday a few days ago.  He put word out that instead of a traditional party he wanted to be included in activities during the month that he had shared with friends in the past.  Well, for me, it had to be biking.  I rode with Mark when he was just starting out on a bike.  I watched him improve to the point that instead of being the newbie, he was riding with the big dogs.

Time has a way of morphing one's life.  He no longer rides as much as he used to, but jumped at the chance to go for a ride tonight.  I suggested a ride from Beaverton, where he lives, out the Fanno Creek Trail to  John Barleycorn's for a birthday burger and brew then back.

It was a nice night for a pedal.

The path was busy, but peaceful in its own way. Certainly it was scenic.  The roads on each end of our journey were good, either low traffic or well marked bike lanes, and most importantly, polite drivers.

We wrapped up just as the sun was setting.

Why yes, that is a pretty Renovo wooden bike!

Thanks Mark for allowing me to share in your birthday celebration!

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today................18...........0..............0..........0.............18 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July...............735................0...............0..........0..............735 Total...........3728.............0...............0..........0.............3728

STP +1

As I do many years, I followed a one day STP with a second day on the route riding with the two day riders. I just can't get enough STP!

I got an early start from Portland and back tracked the route to Longview.

I saw my first STP rider heading toward Portland just after 7AM. That turned into a steady stream of riders by 9AM. I was riding against a pretty stiff wind and holding a 14-15 mph pace most of the time. I was glad when I got to the Longview Bridge and was able to turn around putting that wind to my back.

As I was pedaling along my phone sounded a text message. I pulled off and found that friend Julie was in Lexington. I decided I would wait at St Helens and ride in with her. I calculated with the tail wind she would arrive in St Helens about noon. While waiting there for her I couldn't help but notice the difference between 1 day riders and two day riders. At one point from where I was sitting I could see three bikes laid down on the derailleur side, a no-no if you care for your ride.

At 12:04 she pedaled in. She is very social by nature and would have been happy flitting around the crowd there for hours. Instead I stepped into crew chief mode, got her fed, watered, and back on the bike in 30 minutes, with orders to pedal to Portland. ;-)

She was in her ride ref jersey, I had retired mine the day before. We came across a guy with his second flat within 4 miles, and not a whole lot of skill in how to deal with it. I sent Julie on her way, and I stayed and got the guy back up and running. I now had my work cut out for me. It had probably taken nearly 15 minutes to deal with the flat. It was all time I was going to have to make up.

I pedaled hard. I kept the bike moving 25-27 mph, accompanied by a steady stream of "on your left" and a ringing bell. I eventually caught back up with her.

We got to Linton and she said she was losing her MoJo. I helped her find it back with a rice krispie treat and a nice cold drink of water from the water fountain along the highway.

The last few miles in Portland were a struggle for her, and it took some cajoling from me, but she made it.

She beat her friends in, and set a new PR in the process.

I picked up my "finisher" medallion.

I then spent some time around the finish line festival. It is always moving to see some of the finishers, coming in with tears in their eyes, and overcoming many obstacles to cross that finish line.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today...............101...........0..............0..........0............101 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July...............717................0...............0..........0..............717 Total...........3710.............0...............0..........0.............3710

STP

Today was STP (Cascade Bicycle Club's Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic) As usual, my brother-in-law Dave and I rode one of the Portland Wheelmen's chartered buses up to Seattle and stayed in a UW dorm room the night before. Unlike past years, we didn't ride together. I was a ride ref and knew I would have my ride interrupted frequently. Dave was riding with a half dozen or so friends who planned to start out at 4AM, ride in a paceline, and get some ground covered.

I got down to the start line, loaded my bag on the Portland truck, and pedaled out with the second wave at 4:55 AM.

The first issue came just across the University Bridge, about a mile into the ride. A cyclist hit a center curb and went down hard. His moment of inattention cost him some blood and his one day STP, he'd be leaving the course in an ambulance.

On "the twisties" going down to Lake Washington a woman was on the side of the road with her bike. She had a rear wheel so badly out of true that even with brakes open it rubbed. I adjusted the brake cables to  open the brakes even more and told her to ride carefully to the REI stop at mile 25 and have a mechanic see if he could true the wheel up good enough to ride. I've got to wonder if people even look at their bikes before taking off on a 200 mile ride.

I rolled then along Lake Washington, always pretty at dawn.

At mile 7 I came across a rider who had clipped the rear wheel of the bike in front of him. His STP was done now too, also ending up with an ambulance ride. I heard several other sirens during the early hours of the ride, and heard from other ride refs of other crashes. It seems that the first few miles of STP were even crazier than normal this year.

At mile 38 I came across another rider on the side of the road. It ended up being a friend from Vancouver, John H. A rider had gone down in front of him, he plowed into him, and broke the carbon fork on his bike. His one day STP dream was now gone for this year too.

Near Yelm I spotted a 2010 Furnace Creek 508 finisher's jersey. I forgot his totem, but seem to remember that it started with "G", but he's an old guy like me. We pedaled along together for a short while and chatted.

With all the stopping for crashes, flat tires, and bike adjustments, I didn't arrive in Centralia until 12:30PM, a full 2-2.5 hours later than I normally arrive. I took an offered orange sherbet/vanilla ice cream bar, then a Darigold chocolate milk. I made my way back toward the one day rider kibble, but saw a line several hundred feet long. A one day STP is not about speed, but time management. Being over two hours later into Centralia I was concerned that I might not make it to Portland before the finish line closed at 9, if things continued the way they had. I turned around and went back around for another ice cream and chocolate milk then got back on the course and headed south.

Centralia is the half way point and the two day riders, and the issues, thinned out considerably. As predicted, we had a gentle head wind in the early morning hours. That had now come around and was a gathering speed tail wind.
I was making good time now. I only had to stop twice to help with mechanical issues or supply a spare tube.

I was bypassing all mini-stops today, only stopping at the main food stops. I arrived in Lexington and ran into friend Joe T, he and his sister were riding a one day STP this year. It wasn't too long ago that this endeavor would have been out of the question for Beth. I was pleased to see her to the point where this was a challenge she was ready for.

I rolled across the Longview Bridge. It seemed easier this time.

I was now in Oregon, and pressed along to St Helens. I saw Eric W there, I was surprised, as he was one of the Motley Crew that was riding with Dave. It was just before 5PM, and with their early start, and pace line assistance, had expected them to be nearly in Portland by now. Before long I had seen the entire crew milling around the crowd. I also spotted my second 2010 Furnace Creek 508 finisher's jersey. This time it was being worn by the daughter of a finisher, Tim "Muskox" Hewitt, from Pennsylvania. She had crewed for her dad when he competed there. There aren't that many people who ride FC 508, let alone in any one particular year. To see three, well, 2.5, Thrasher last week, the Yelm guy, and Muskox's daughter today was a bit mind boggling.
I grabbed some watermelon, grapes, turkey wrap, rice krispie squares, a banana, and some tortilla chips, refilled my water bottles and took off on the last 28 miles of STP.

I was riding well. The helpful wind kept the bikes moving in the low 20's, but when we came to a little incline the group would slow down.....well, except for me. I got good use from my bell and an "on your left", as I picked them off one by one.

Hwy 30 has two lanes in each direction, a painted center divider, and dedicated right turn lanes. I was surprised that at nearly every intersection people played "gutter bunny" and rode to the right of the right turn lane. When I pointed out the dangers of doing so (part of my ride ref duty) I was met with "they don't have turn signals on", "it's not safe to be out in traffic" and worse. My unvocalized comment would be "It is safer to ride with traffic than to be run over by it".

I came into Portland right near 7PM, not bad considering the delays of morning.

I picked up my 9th "1 Day Rider" cloth medallion.

...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today...............207...........0..............0..........0............207 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
July...............616................0...............0..........0..............616 Total...........3609.............0...............0..........0.............3609

Pre STP

I took the Portland Wheelmen bus up to Seattle today in preparation of tomorrow's STP.


I wonder if all these grey haired folks are up for the task? ;-)

The bus ride went a bit quicker than past years, the driver figured we were all big folks and could ride for 3 hours without having to take a 30 minute rest room break. The bus had facilities for those in dire need. That was just fine by me!

Dave and I got checked in, grabbed our bikes from the transport truck, and had lunch at the dorm.

We then relaxed a bit at the room before going to RAM Pub in the U District. That is our usual location for meeting other STP riders and enjoying just a bit of happy hour.


I took advantage of secure parking almost a mile away from the STP finish line to leave my pickup for the night.


...............road bike.......rollers.........mtb.....lifecycle........total
Today.................1...........0..............0..........0..............1 Jan..................93..............0...............0.........0..............93 Feb................411..............0..............0.........0............411 March.............653.............0..............0.........0............653 April..............696..............0...............0.........0............696 May...............900...............0...............0.........0.............900
June..............484...............0..............0..........0...........484
 July...............409................0...............0..........0..............409 Total...........3402.............0...............0..........0.............3402