Seattle to Portland (STP)

[yoyostock]

Has anyone ridden this? What's the word on it?

[CliftonGK1]

Has anyone ridden this? What's the word on it?

I'm riding it this year. I have many friends who've ridden it.

Overall, it's a great ride. Well supported, easy route, very little climbing. Easy to make it your first tandem century or double century ride.
Drawback: It's crowded. There are 9000+ riders for the event, and you need to get an early start and skip a rest stop or two to get out of the crowd of stupids... The people who think it's acceptable to draft you on their aeros, the people who overlap wheels in a pack, etc.

The advice I was given was start early and just go, you'll easily out-pace the discourteous and distracted, and it's smooth sailing from there. I'm looking forward to it as my first double century ride.

[Athanasius]

The wife and I are doing this for the first time this year with a pack of friends. I've just started riding in the past couple weeks, so I am ramping up to it.

I'll be one of the idiots in the back. :)

[CliftonGK1]

I'll be one of the idiots in the back. :)

Sorry. I didn't mean to imply that everyone riding at the back of the StP pack is an idiot. Just that the experiences my friends have had indicate that you're less likely to encounter dangerous behaviours (such as riders you don't know, latching onto your rear end and drafting you while on their aero bars) if you get out early with a faster group.
I'm not exactly gonna be Speed Racer burnin' up the course out there, but I do understand etiquette and safe group-riding techniques. From what I've heard, there are a lot of people of those 9000+ entrants who are a bit less familiar with those concepts.

[Porter20]

I am planning on riding this ride this year. One thing that I think is nice is the people doing the 200 in one day get to start an hour earlier than everyone else. Although they expect 2500 to ride the whole 200 which means you have 2500 starting in an hour.

I am hoping to meet some fast & respectful riders on the board since I am coming from the right coast (east coast) so I doubt I will know anyone in the ride. I am trying to talk some friends into it, but they are hesitant at the moment.

[CliftonGK1]

Of those 2500, it's a fairly varied group. There's the ultra racers that are out to rocket-bike the whole 208 miles in under 13 rolling hours, all the way to the "I hope I finish in 18 hours total" crowd like me. The whole field, whether one day or two day, spreads out pretty well within the first 20 to 40 miles.

[moleman76]

Cascade Bicycle Club's site has a pretty good description. The "real" map comes out in June, but in the meantime you can probably find sections of it on Bikely.com or elsewhere, if you're so inclined.

http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/index.cfm

My then 15-1/2 y.o. son and I rode it last year in 1-1/3 days -- he had 8 punctures on one rim (long story) so we just got as far as crossing the bridge into Oregon on Saturday. Finished up the next afternoon.

There's a climb of about a mile's length at 6% about 40 miles into the ride (Puyallup), a similar but a bit shorter one at about 125 miles (Napavine), and a few sections of rollers. Other than that, terrain is not challenging. There's the potential for headwinds, but then there's also potential for a nice tailwind for the last 45 miles into Portland, too.

All sorts of riders and all sorts of wheeled vehicles ... a 2-day skateboarder, unicyclists, you name it. I think the most inspiring finishers we saw were some disabled vets who completed the trip in two days on handcycles. 204 miles is a lot of cranking.

Those intending to finish in one day do get preference to start the first hour or so, but they let riders go in waves at about 10 minutes apart, so it's not so bad getting through town.

Lots of options for places to stay if you're planning on 2-days, and CBC will handle two bags apiece for you in a moving truck -- duffle bag with tent and sleeping bag, for example. The midway part of the ride was severely impacted by floods this winter, but mud should be off of the roads in July.

Last year, the last registration sold in mid-June.

[ken cummings]

Some guy on a faired recumbent did it in just under 8 hours.

[CliftonGK1]

Some guy on a faired recumbent did it in just under 8 hours.

Was he hiding a jet turbine under that fairing?:eek:

[Rushfan]

I've done it twice in the past four years, first over two days and two years ago in one day. I'm planning on one day again this year. It's the easiest double century you'll find. I've found that the food choices are underwhelming compared to other organized rides I do, and the first two hours of riding can be scary with a lot of riders taking stupid risks. Also, the route is not as well marked as other rides, but with the vast hordes of riders, it's hard to get off track. Otherwise, great ride.

[CliftonGK1]

and the first two hours of riding can be scary with a lot of riders taking stupid risks.

Phrased in a more polite manner than I was able to express. :) It's no wonder there's a buffer layer between what I say and what our product support technicians actually tell our customers.

[Athanasius]

Sorry. I didn't mean to imply that everyone riding at the back of the StP pack is an idiot.

Ah, don't worry - I wasn't offended in the least! :D

[chairmandave]

I did the ride solo in 2003. I was bored out of my mind- too flat and not always scenic.

If you are up for a challenge, look at the RAMROD- Ride Around Mt Rainier in One Day. 10,000 feet of climbing over 150 miles. I did it last year and it was very good experience: excellent organization, beautiful views, physically challenging, and less stupid riders (rider cap set at ~800).

[Shifty]

I agree, it's too big, the cap should be much lower than 9000. Last time I rode it an amateur team got mad at me for getting to close, so they surrounded me and tried to run me into a trailer parked at the curb. It didn't work, but that's the kind of riders you can expect to be around. Logistics can also be complicated and expensive, between rooms at beginning and the middle, transportation, it really added up.

The ride has some nice spots in the middle, but a lot of the route is just so-so. The last 40 miles along rt. 30 in Oregon is NOT fun, and the locals there are not very bike friendly seeming. Portland does roll out the red carpet at the finish.

[yoyostock]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm hoping to go (we'll see) and do the one-day double. I need to convince a couple of buddies of mine to not only go across the country to ride in this, but also prepare for the one-day. 9000 is a lot of people. I think the most I've been a part of is just under 1000. But it's good to hear that it's a fairly flat route. I saw the elevation map on MapMyRide and it looks very managable. I'm looking forward to it! If anyone has a good training schedule to prepare for a double century (this will be my first), I'd really appreciate your forwarding that to me.

[charles vail]

Quite a few riders do this ride on single speeds and fixed gear bikes. Its a perfect ride for a recumbent and if you are a strong rider on a recumbent you could do it in under 10 hours easily. I think the fastest time a few years ago for the route was 7+ hours with an average of just under 27 mph. This was done by a 45+ year old (but very in shape) recumbent rider on a P-38 Lightning and a fabric fairing.:eek:

[Rushfan]

Phrased in a more polite manner than I was able to express. :) It's no wonder there's a buffer layer between what I say and what our product support technicians actually tell our customers.

I was a business analyst for a while and have been a real estate appraiser for five years, so unfortunately I've learned how to phrase really bad news in the mildest possible terms... ;)

[Rushfan]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm hoping to go (we'll see) and do the one-day double. I need to convince a couple of buddies of mine to not only go across the country to ride in this, but also prepare for the one-day. 9000 is a lot of people. I think the most I've been a part of is just under 1000. But it's good to hear that it's a fairly flat route. I saw the elevation map on MapMyRide and it looks very managable. I'm looking forward to it! If anyone has a good training schedule to prepare for a double century (this will be my first), I'd really appreciate your forwarding that to me.

I really like this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Long-Distance-Cycling-Confidence/dp/1579541992/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200508976&sr=8-1

That said, for STP two years ago, I built up to riding a strong century one month before the ride and then tapered. Unless you live in the plains, your normal mileage will most likely be on tougher terrain than STP, so if you can ride a strong century, maybe extending to 120+ miles, you should be fine. I also rode with a friend just a little slower than me, which left me with all sorts of strength. That 0.5-1.0 mph difference was significant.

[CliftonGK1]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm hoping to go (we'll see) and do the one-day double. I need to convince a couple of buddies of mine to not only go across the country to ride in this, but also prepare for the one-day. 9000 is a lot of people. I think the most I've been a part of is just under 1000. But it's good to hear that it's a fairly flat route. I saw the elevation map on MapMyRide and it looks very managable. I'm looking forward to it! If anyone has a good training schedule to prepare for a double century (this will be my first), I'd really appreciate your forwarding that to me.

Ask around on the Long Distance Cycling forum. (Ignore any derogatory responses from Richard Cranium. The guy is a 70th level ******bag who seems to thrive on telling other people what they're not capable of.) I've gotten a lot of good advice on bike setup, nutrition, and pacing for century rides and farther over there. Machka is a wonderful resource for LD riding. Her personal page is packed with info and links.

[MillCreek]

Cascade Bike Club, the organizer of STP, posts a training plan here: http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/stp_mileage.cfm

[dougfoot]

This year will make my 7th one day STP on my trike. Last year I completed it in 13.5 hours, 12.5 rolling.

Good advice to bypass the early rest stops (I stop about every 50 - 75 miles). I carry enough liquid and food to ride 100 miles non stop.

My average was 17.6 mph for the 208 miles. One thing to look out for (hopefully it will have changed this year) is the road markers - by the time I got to Napavine, the markers had blended with the road (a near black red on black pavement - hard to see), and I missed a turn and did Napavine twice and added nearly 13 miles to my ride - I still beat my ride time from prior years...

[moleman76]

Cascade BC has a lot of information about "their" ride, naturally, on their website.

Googling may turn up someone's posting of last year's, or a prior year's, map, and you can find a few of them traced on Bikely.com as well.

Last year they used an eco-friendly paint for the Dan Henry markings for turns. Like dougfoot said, the color was well-nigh undetectable, especially after a few tires had ridden over it. On the other hand, with that many riders on the road, there's probably always going to be someone ahead of you to follow.

I would agree on the food; not gourmet quality, but it did have some calories in it. The banana-flavored sports drink giveaways -- yuck. Use your training rides to figure out what you like to eat, and buy a case of it if it comes that way; if you want a specific flavor in your water bottles, pack the powder in pre-measured ziplock bags. Along with physically getting in shape, use your training rides to get comfortable with your saddle -- you're going to be on it for a while.

[yoyostock]

I really like this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Long-Distance-Cycling-Confidence/dp/1579541992/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200508976&sr=8-1

That said, for STP two years ago, I built up to riding a strong century one month before the ride and then tapered. Unless you live in the plains, your normal mileage will most likely be on tougher terrain than STP, so if you can ride a strong century, maybe extending to 120+ miles, you should be fine. I also rode with a friend just a little slower than me, which left me with all sorts of strength. That 0.5-1.0 mph difference was significant.

Thanks, Rush. I'll have to check that book out. I rode three centuries last year and after each one, I definitely felt like I could have done another 40-50. If I start back up again now, I think I should be in better shape that last year.

[Rushfan]

Thanks, Rush. I'll have to check that book out. I rode three centuries last year and after each one, I definitely felt like I could have done another 40-50. If I start back up again now, I think I should be in better shape that last year.

If you're already riding strong centuries, you might not get that much out the long distance cycling book. Sounds like you're in a good position to do well on STP.

[yoyostock]

Any local Seattleites know of a LBS that rents decent road bikes? I'm wondering whether I should ship mine out, or rent a comparable one...

[CliftonGK1]

Any local Seattleites know of a LBS that rents decent road bikes? I'm wondering whether I should ship mine out, or rent a comparable one...

Check with Montlake Cycle near the UW campus. I know they rent bikes.

If I was you, I'd ship yours out. I wouldn't want to do a double (or back-to-back) century on a bike I'm not familiar with. Go to your LBS, ask for a bike box (they'll give it to you for free.) Pack up your bike in it and send it to a FedEx/UPS/DHL drop center here for pick-up.
I had a bike shipped that way from Cleveland and it only cost $95.

[moleman76]

Might depend a bit on how far yoyostock is coming from, and what the pre- and post- ride plans are.

Fly to Seattle, pick up bike (or, for the ultimate in luxury, have bike shipped to a pre-arranged LBS in Seattle, so you don't need to pack tools for re-assembly); put the CBC/STP luggage tags on your bag and have it ride in the U-Haul/Ryder truck to Portland. Fly home from Portland.

Getting the bike home from Portland? Might want to contact an LBS there and have them pack it, etc.; there may be a few people wanting to ship bikes home from Portland, so you might at least want to reserve a box.

Or, with some advance planning, be sure your airline will take your bike/box for a nominal cost and have it come with you.

Similar drill works if you want to spend the time on AMTRAK if that can work for you; I think they sell you a bike box for about $15. It's pretty easy to get from the Seattle station to the UW area by the day before the ride, and the Portland station is about as convenient for the end.

Come early, stay late -- many nice places to check out around Seattle and Portland, and it is the driest time of the summer.

[vdubsta05]

For someone that has never biked competitively. Hasn't biked pretty much ever, just when he was young. Lets say isn't all that fit. Basically lets turn this into a MTV MADE. Would you say 5 months is enough time to finish the Seattle to Portland under 2 days? With hard dedication and work?

[dougfoot]

When I completed myh first Seattle to Portland 1 day ride, I had 2.5 months to get ready.

5 Months would be plenty of time to get ready for a 1 day ride, let alone a 2 day one.

The object is seat time, distance training, and pacing. Averaging 15.5 mph for my first STP, I completed it well within 15 hours.

[Rushfan]

For someone that has never biked competitively. Hasn't biked pretty much ever, just when he was young. Lets say isn't all that fit. Basically lets turn this into a MTV MADE. Would you say 5 months is enough time to finish the Seattle to Portland under 2 days? With hard dedication and work?

It's possible. You might consider picking up something like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-...0508976&sr=8-1

There's detailed training plans to get you up to 200 miles in one day, or 100 miles if you want to split it up. Plus a whole lot of other info for just getting started. The nice thing about STP is that it's about the easiest 200 mile ride around, so unless you live in the plains, your training routes will most likely be harder than the route, so the actual ride will be that much easier.

Good luck.