Pacific Northwest - A Clydesdale tired of pulling the beer wagon

How did it go? I am getting ready to start this week. And I am not in shape either. I plan to start tomorrow by riding home. the ride home is easier, but there are a few hills that get the heart rate up. I plan to ride to work on Friday for the first time this year.

I've been doing the R/T commute for about a month now, 2 or 3 days per week. I'm still slow, I still have to get off the bike and walk it up the occasional hill (like 52nd!), but I'm getting better. I'm down to about 1 hour 15 minutes each way now. Just got some clipless pedals and shoes so I'm looking forward to giving them a whirl.

I leave between 5:30 and 6:00 AM and try to leave work between 4:30 and 5:00 PM. If you ever want to ride with me, send me a note.

We will have to ride sometime. (let me get a few weeks under my too large belt)

I don't go straight up 52nd. I turn left at Broadway. It isn't as steep that way.

Ok I have done a few commutes now. (actually 4 home commetes and 2 work commutes).

I did walk up part of Lowell hill, but on the second ride I have cut that down to just the hardest part. My times are in the 1:20 range so that will need to improve. But I am on my way and working towards STP.

STP huh? Hmmmmm ... Amazingly enough, that weekend looks free on my calendar. Not sure this 50 year old body can handle back-to-back 100 mile days ... but maybe it can! Looks like I'll have to decide pretty quick though, apparently they're selling out.

Have you done the STP before? Was there a hospital recovery involved?

You definitely have to do some longer training rides to get ready. But it is doable. Heck I did it. I am trying to get back down to he same weight as last year. (I would really like to get down even a few pounds lower than that).

But yes it is going to sell out very soon.

Just one week left until STP. I did a short ride today. Sunday will be my last long ride before the STP. So as they say, ready or not....

i am within 5 pounds of last year. Of course I wanted to be the same weight or lower, bu tI spent the winter putting on weight like a bear getting ready to hibernate. So I down about 20 pounds in the past 10 weeks. I am pretty happy with that.

I am really enjoying riding with Howard. He is really coming along.

Nice! What's your bib # - I'll look out for you (I'm 465)?

Good luck on the ride.

Nice! What's your bib # - I'll look out for you (I'm 465)?

Good luck on the ride.

I haven't picked up my packet yet, so I am not sure what my number is.

I'll try to remember to post it here when I get it Thursday.

I haven't picked up my packet yet, so I am not sure what my number is.

I'll try to remember to post it here when I get it Thursday.


If you registered online, you should have received a confirmation email a few weeks ago with your number.

7346, yep that is me. If you can spot that number out of the 10,000 you have a sharp eye.

Just look for a guy seriously testing the limits of spandex.

I am seeing lots of people doubting their ability to do the STP. Come on people, if I can do it you can do it. I have lost 20 of the 24 pounds I put on over the winter. I have trained my 16 year-old godson. I have fixed up a garage sale bike for him (and more significantly, with him).

If any bike forum people see me and can recognize me (7346) do say hi. (and for god's sake give me a good 2 mile pull).

I am not as prepared as I could be, but who is. It will be tough, but if it were easy, everyone would do it.

I won't be riding my famous "rain bike", maybe next year.

I'm doing my first STP on saturday. One day - all the way to Portland! I got my road bike last October to commute to work, then decided to do STP and started training in January. Since then I have logged over 3000 miles. This will be the longest and furthest I have ever gone on a bicycle. I'm nervous, but looking forward to it!

Good luck to everyone this weekend!

3000 miles in that amount of time is a lot. The commuting really racks up the miles.

Good luck. Stay safe. Remember it is a ride, not a race.

I am going back and forth from excited to nervous.

I think I have a better plan this year, so that helps. I am still about 4 pounds heavier than last year.

For those following my thread I have dropped a solid 20 pounds getting ready (unfortunately I had put on 24 over the winter). But if it hadn't been for the STP goal and the fear of dissappointing my godson, I wouldn't be in this good of shape (and wearing my 40" jeans today!).

We made it. But with only 20 minutes to spare.

We may not have been the fastest team but I think we had the best helmet decorations.

I posted the full story on my blog.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef01157200dd49970b-800wi

Congratulations! I read the rest of the story on your blog. Sounds like you had quite an adventure!

Thanks Skyler. It was an adventure.

BTW my GPs logged about 3200 feet of elevation gain, compared to the claimed 1900 feet. I had almost that many on the first day.

I just saw a report on KOMO 4 about a bike share demo in Seatle. Tomorrow it is in Redmond. I wil be there with one of the groups