Hi All.....

I will be doing my first STP this year, just signed up for it on friday. Anyways, I have heard there is a killer hill about 45 miles out of Seattle, and then just rolling hills into Oregon. How can I best prepare myself for these?? Any tips and suggestions would be great!!

Thanks!

The "hill" isn't bad at all. Just practice on your local hills and you'll be fine.

most likely no worse than this:

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3990/elevationgraphid12062td1.gif

I wouldn't worry too much. I'm still wondering if I can make the whole 230 miles in a day, given I'm too cheap to overnight at a hotel.

The 'Killer Hill' is the one leading out of Puyallup and really isn't anything to worry about. I recall that it took all of 5 or so minutes to roll up. Not terribly steep or long. It's early enough into the ride that you should be pretty fresh.

Now, the rolling hills starting in Napavine - they aren't really too crazy either, it's just that they come at about mile 130. So, if you're doing it in 1 day they can be a little challenging, but if you're doing it in 2 days, I wouldn't worry about them either. As Mash Master says, just include some hills in your training and you'll be fine.

Just remember to pick a pace that you can maintain up the entire hill and go at your own pace.

Hills are nothing to worry about unless all of your training has been on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The 'Killer Hill' is the one leading out of Puyallup and really isn't anything to worry about. I recall that it took all of 5 or so minutes to roll up. Not terribly steep or long. It's early enough into the ride that you should be pretty fresh.

Now, the rolling hills starting in Napavine - they aren't really too crazy either, it's just that they come at about mile 130. So, if you're doing it in 1 day they can be a little challenging, but if you're doing it in 2 days, I wouldn't worry about them either. As Mash Master says, just include some hills in your training and you'll be fine.

Just remember to pick a pace that you can maintain up the entire hill and go at your own pace.

I pretty much agree with everyone else. The scariest part of the Puyallup hill is other riders weaving every which way.

Work on endurance and butt-on-saddle time and you'll do fine.

+1 on that hill near Napavine. If you are doing the one-day STP it will probably be the most challenging hill of the day. If I remember correctly, it's somewhere between the 120-130 mile mark. For me, that meant I was climbing it around 2:00 pm and the temperature was about 88 degrees. There is an unofficial rest stop at the top that has restrooms, a park, and most importantly a hose with cold water to drench yourself. This was the most appreciated rest stop of the day for me. There were some kids selling drinks, frozen snickers, and ice cream across the street. The hill in Puyallup wasn't as difficult for me because it comes at around 45 miles and in comparison to the Napavine hill, you are still relatively "fresh" at the 45 mile point... not so at mile 120.

If you are doing the 2-day STP, I don't think you have to worry about the hills if you have trained properly. Stay hydrated and stretch at the rest stops.

If you're still concerned just do like I did and go out and ride it before the STP. I agree with the rest it's not a killer if you've done your miles including some hills.

I still think the toughest hill on the STP is the very short steep hill by the hospital near the end. If there are other riders around who don't know the course, there's usually a jam up of folks who haven't downshifted wobbling all over the road...

The hills south of Napavine are a little aggravating. And Seattle Shaun...that is the toughest hill, right near the end as you enter Portland. The Puyallup hill is a hill that people feel that must race up and than often stop to rest at the top. Go moderate and keep moving.

It's nothing worse than ypu will find riding Jordan rd.

Check the postings on the Cascade Bicycle Club messages -- some answers there, too, for your question.

I remember sitting at the top of that Napavine hill for a loooong time. Partially because I was tired, and partially because you're starting to realize Portland is getting close.

I still think the toughest hill on the STP is the very short steep hill by the hospital near the end. If there are other riders around who don't know the course, there's usually a jam up of folks who haven't downshifted wobbling all over the road...
There was a guy in front of me that tried to answer his cell phone while riding up this hill - he fumbled the phone, reached for it, and went over sideways into the street. That was the third crash that I witnessed that was a little too close for comfort. All these were on the two-day ride; makes a convincing argument for doing the 1-day next time.

All these were on the two-day ride; makes a convincing argument for doing the 1-day next time.

I guess this is why they changed it to a one-day start and two-day finish instead of the old two-day start where everyone finishes at the same time. You had 9-hour heroes bearing down on 2 day riders.

Exactly. Friends of mine who did the one-day reported no crashes and fewer crazies. It was my first STP, though, and I wanted to experience the full deal. Not to mention I didn't have the training required for 200+ miles in one day.

most likely no worse than this:

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3990/elevationgraphid12062td1.gif

I wouldn't worry too much. I'm still wondering if I can make the whole 230 miles in a day, given I'm too cheap to overnight at a hotel.

Since I just got my confirmation last night, (bib #7075) I was looking over the STP threads and found this.
Maybe a typo (230, instead of 203) but yeah, STP is just shade over 200 miles and not 230.

This morning's edition of the Braking News (CBC newsletter) says STP registration is full up! If you still want to ride, then you need to find someone who's selling a registration because there are none left.

This site (http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/STP_Details.cfm) (cascade.org) says 202.25 miles. When I did it on 2003 it was officially 206 miles and I think my computer showed 207.

I guess your mileage may vary depending on how many wrong turns you take!:notamused: The Dan Henry's were tough to see sometimes last year. When I rolled into Portland Saturday evening all of a sudden I was by myself and obviously off track. (Actually I wasn't alone, some poor sap thought I new were I was going and followed me. When he found out I was lost he was not pleased.)

I ended up at 208 last year because I got lost in Centralia.

I agree with Mash Master and others. If you are riding hills and rollers now as part of your normal Saturday/Sunday rides, none of the hills will be a big deal but some will definitely be harder than others.

I still think the toughest hill on the STP is the very short steep hill by the hospital near the end. If there are other riders around who don't know the course, there's usually a jam up of folks who haven't downshifted wobbling all over the road...

yup i remember that one, it''s probably at mile 195 or so - i haven't seen any crashes here but i remember this splitting up our impromptu paceline pretty bad, even though it's only 1/2-block long!

if you're going for a fast finish and want to separate yourself from other riders, that's the place to do it.

overall i'm surprised we can do 206 miles of riding in the PNW and do so little climbing!

overall i'm surprised we can do 206 miles of riding in the PNW and do so little climbing!

+1

Back when I did STP I wasn't much of a climber. In fact, I wisely thought that hills were to be avoided, and stressed about "the hill" as well.

Now I've got an altimeter and fewer brain cells, as evidenced by the fact that I seek out hills. Looking at the stats, under 2k feet of climbing in a double century? Absolutely astoundingly low, especially given the surrounding hilly terrain. If you had asked me I'd say there must be 4 or 5k in there somewhere despite the generally flat route. I am still amazed. Less than 1 foot per mile??

These days 2k climbing is like getting out of bed. I'm at 30k for June and shooting for 50 or 60k. I'm still not really a climber, but it is more interesting than the flats, and it's easier to plan a route because you don't go so bloody far in 6 or so hours.

For fun, I mapped the "Hill" on veloroutes ( thanks mattm for the site!)
http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=14770

I can't beleive I actually made it up the hill. You want hills, try the seven hills of kirkland ride. :-)

I thought the challenging climb was up the bridge between WA and OR. Due to traffic you have to ride single file so you can only go as fast as the people in front of you. If someone slows down, you better have some easy gears left.

I can't beleive I actually made it up the hill. You want hills, try the seven hills of kirkland ride. :-)

Even the century at the 7 Hills ride wasn't too tough. There's 14 hills total, but the longest one is Novelty Hill (from Avondale) on the less steep side, and the steepest one is Winery Hill, which is really short.
I'm looking forward to the Chelan Century Challenge next year (couldn't afford the travel this year, so I did FWSC as a 200km instead). Chelan is almost 9900' of climbing.

I'm not worried about any of the hills on STP. I'm really just getting antsy about the ride because there's only 1 week left until! :)

I thought the challenging climb was up the bridge between WA and OR. Due to traffic you have to ride single file so you can only go as fast as the people in front of you. If someone slows down, you better have some easy gears left.

They stop traffic now and let the riders cross as a group.

They stop traffic now and let the riders cross as a group.

Two years ago that was only for the two day riders. Us one day folks got to ride alongside traffic.

I thought there was a curb between the bikes and cars on the bridge. But it is narrow.

I can't beleive I actually made it up the hill. You want hills, try the seven hills of kirkland ride. :-)

Or, try the summits of Bothel or the SRS "Mountain Populaire". Those make 7 hills look easy.

One day riders are "on their own" for the bridge crossing at Longview. Yes, there is a curb. The expansion joints don't stop at the curb, however. Batten down the water bottles before entering the bridge.

Or, try the summits of Bothel or the SRS "Mountain Populaire". Those make 7 hills look easy.

or riding in the passes - but even then, our mtn passes are small compared to those in colorado and other places.

the WA-OR bridge isn't so bad, I just hate all the wood-chips on the road!

Or, try the summits of Bothel or the SRS "Mountain Populaire". Those make 7 hills look easy.

I did SOB but it was later so maybe I was better at hills. I'm looking at doing my local hill ride here in Austin now. It is http://www.tourdashugel.com/Home.html

Wow. I've never been to Austin. I had no idea they could string together 14k+ of hills, that's impressive.

Yeah, I'm wondering how they will get all the climbing. I'm getting used to the flat roads here.