Pacific Northwest - Slow Pace one-day STP... looking for riders.

Do you have a goal of completing the one-day STP? Can't keep up with the 18-25 mph pacelines? I can't either. I'm looking for riders that plan on completing the ride at a pace of 14-16 mph. I imagine that it won't be a problem finding people to ride with in the morning to Centralia. But, are there any slower riders planning on continuing from Centralia to complete the one-day ride? I have a friend that completed the one-day ride last year but he pulled into Portland at around 9:45 pm and he said that he spotted only one other rider on the road that late.

I wouldn't mind leaving Centralia at 1:00 pm with a 14-16 mph paceline. I'd have the goal of getting to Portland by 9:00 pm (right when they are cleaning up the finish line activities.) If this sounds like your pace and you have the same goal send me a message. Maybe we can get a group together to pull eachother to Portland in a slow pace line.

I was thinking of doing it this year but like you I don't think I could really go fast but would like to do it in one day. I will be interested to see how you do.

I did the Flying Wheels Century with an average of 16 mph, so I'm going to go for the STP in one day.

With a big ride like this, I don't think there's much point in trying to find one specific person among the 9000 to ride with.

I just set my own pace, draft behind others when I can, pull in the front for others when I can, and if I get dropped from a pace line I can't keep up with, there's always another to catch on to a few minutes later.

My goal is to get to Portland before 8 PM so I can see what's happening at the finish line before they close it up.

I did the Flying Wheels Century with an average of 16 mph, so I'm going to go for the STP in one day.

With a big ride like this, I don't think there's much point in trying to find one specific person among the 9000 to ride with.

I just set my own pace, draft behind others when I can, pull in the front for others when I can, and if I get dropped from a pace line I can't keep up with, there's always another to catch on to a few minutes later.

My goal is to get to Portland before 8 PM so I can see what's happening at the finish line before they close it up.

I think your idea is what I plan to do also. It's just that 90 percent of the one-day riders that I know plan to finish between 3-6 0'clock. I don't see myself keeping that pace. I'm hoping that I can find some pacelines to ride with when I leave Centralia. I just don't know of many riders that are planning on leaving Centralia after 12-1 o'clock. At 16mph on the flying wheels I know you're too quick for me. I understand that the flying wheels is a hilly ride compared to the STP. Good luck on the ride. If you see someone riding in the dark... that's probably me.

i'll be out there tomorrow, but i have no idea what my overall time will be. i did the stp in two days on a fixie in 2005, but now i've got all kinds of gears to play with, so i'm going for the one day too.

i'll be in all kinds of pacelines, fast at first i'm sure, then the slowers ones towards the end. say hi if you see me, i'm # 1178.

it's gonna be a loooong day no matter how fast you do it.

good luck on the ride!!

How did you do, InTheRain?

This was my first ride over 104 miles, so I took three 30-40 minute breaks at Centralia, Lexington, and St. Helens and ended up crossing the finish line at 7:40 PM.

Hope you guys did well at this. I am hoping to do 1 day next year at this pace.

How did you do, InTheRain?

This was my first ride over 104 miles, so I took three 30-40 minute breaks at Centralia, Lexington, and St. Helens and ended up crossing the finish line at 7:40 PM.

It was brutal. I went out too fast and paid for it at the end of the ride. But I'll be back next year!

Skyler,

Did you do it?

I am just starting to think about doing the one day next year. I have to lose some weight or it will be brutal. The rain bike is helping me keep riding, so it is shortening my off-season.

I am shooting for a 17 mph average, get into Portland at 6:00.

I started in the first group after the 1-dayers departed in '08 and arrived in Vader (the 130-mile mark) at about 1:30 averaging somewhat over 17.5 mph, so I suppose I could have made it to the finish by 6pm. If I go for the 1-day in '09 and start a bit earlier that sounds even more reasonable, however, I think that based on the way I felt at Vader (OK but with a tired butt), that it might have been difficult to keep up the pace, especially as that day got progressively hotter. I might not have been able to skip as many of the mini-stops as I did to that point. I think if I make it by 7 or even 7:30 I'll be satisfied.

As for joining a group, I don't know, but it seems like it would be a minor miracle to find a group that you've never ridden with before that matches your desired pace. If that's a high priority it seems like the best thing to do would be to join a big club and find a group that plans to do the ride at something near your pace and to ride with them several times before STP. I find it easier to take an ad hoc approach and find a group or groups that are riding at about my speed and ask to join. That said, I rode probably 90% of the ride on my own, not drafting or pulling anyone.

I rode to Vader but didn't get there until about 5:00.

I did the whole ride on my own. My "partners" joined pace lines and made much better time.

But to do it in one day I would want to plan on riding at my pace. If I could get 2 or 3 guys who could commit to riding together then we could practice drafting.