I work in Kent so when I headed home this morning I decided to drive up the route back to the UW and see what things looked like. From the 516 interchange at 167 in Kent to the 520 I helped 11 or 12 folks with repairs. I keep a couple of spare tubes, tires, and a pump in the back of my truck just in case and I had my bike on back on the way to ride so I had my tools. I gave away all 3 tubes and 4 tires, pulled a bad case of chain suck out (chain looked as if it hadn't been lubed since it left the factory, gave a guy a ride to Center Cycle in Renton, and tweaked a few shifter cables for people who were sitting on the side of the road because their bike wouldn't shift. I would say that about half the folks I helped had bicycles that didn't look reliable enough to ride around the neighborhood let alone a ride to Portland.
I don't want to sound like I'm *****in because I don't intend to. I carry those old tires and tubes in the back of my truck for just such occasions. I figure that if I help enough people karma's gotta come around for me sometime, right? But I wish that folks would think ahead just a tick and at least get a tune and lube leading up the ride. At some point common sense has to kick in right? BTW...if you got help from a guy in a red Toyota Tacoma this morning you're welcome. I'm jealous that I have this weeken and can't ride with you. Hope you had fun but it sure seems like it's pretty hot out there.
Mike
stringbreaker
07-14-07, 04:34 PM
Funny thing about that my wife and I were driving north on West Valley highway between Sumner and Auburn and there was a guy on a Mt bike with an STP number on his backpack riding north so he either had a really bad sense of direction or just bonked and couldn't make it. This was just about an hour ago so I wonder how far he got. He was a huge guy that looked like he didn't ride much, he was wearing what looked like a golf shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. He was really going slow
East Hill
07-15-07, 06:53 AM
I was heading home early yesterday morning after doing some OT, and spotted STPers at the intersection of Interurban and South 196th. I got off Interurban and rode to the bottom of the overpass to watch everyone go by. The early morning folks looked mostly fairly prepared, but even so, there were a couple of people who looked to be riding MTBs.
Good on you for being there, mcoomer, that was kind of you.
By the way, where do you work in Kent? Perhaps I've seen you without knowing.
East Hill
mcoomer
07-15-07, 11:30 AM
I work at Rockwell Collins, located right next to the DMV in the business complex at the 516/167 interchange. I commute to work a lot on the Interurban, coming down from Bellevue. I'm on a Specialized Tarmac with a black and orange messenger bag on my back so if you see me be sure to say hi.
Mike
East Hill
07-15-07, 04:55 PM
I very well could have seen you! I ride on the Interurban quite a bit. I change bikes a lot (got around 12 of them), so if you see a woman riding a different bike each day--that's me :) .
East Hill
oldblue
07-15-07, 07:26 PM
I did miss seeing big wheel guy this year on STP. He was riding a big plastic big wheel trike and wearing a Viking helmet with the horns last year. He was pretty funny even though when he did one of those big wheel 360 spins like like my kids used to do out in the driveway he almost took me and my bike out. We saw him down by Centralia again later in the day but his rear plastic wheels where not looking to good. Doubt if he made it to much farther but one never knows.
Mash Master
07-15-07, 10:38 PM
Did you see the skateboarder? We passed him in Kent. Man that must suck
Deanoldo
07-15-07, 10:48 PM
I saw him at the start. As I was passing him I asked him if he was the same guy who did it on a skateboard last year (I assumed not too many people skateboard STP...) It was the same guy. He told me he finished in 25 hours last year....... Apparently what really sucks is walking your skateboard up those rollers........:eek:
Dean
Dogbait
07-16-07, 12:33 AM
Did you see the skateboarder? We passed him in Kent. Man that must suck
I saw him going through Scappoose at about 3:15 Sunday afternoon... he looked to be better off than some of the cyclists in the heat.