Pacific Northwest - Spokane Lilac Century update with pics

Well gang I made it to the ride planning on the 25mi ride that I signed up for but, that nice lady with the microphone said hey, youre early but you dont need to wait for the 25, the 50mi is rolling out in 20 min! Sooo... (yes, I'm a sucker! And she was nowhere to be found after the ride! :D) off on the 50mi route I went.
Now the ads for the ride said "a challenging early season ride..." Hello!! Being a flatlander, this was a CHALLENGING early season ride! Bunches of hills, some short but some long climbs too. A rediculously fast descent on charles road (I believe that was the name), a long descent was nice after all the hills. Worried a bit about the younger riders after I finished that one, it was tough to keep your speed down to a safe mph! FUN! :thumb:
Food stops were well stocked and the folks who ran them were great and the riders were the friendliest bunch you could imagine! From the elite roadies to the rec and family riders, everyone offered advice and support to everyone else. As it should be :).
I did get a bit crampy with about 10 to go, but while I was stretching my quads out, every rider that passed offered a hand. Love it!

Kudos to Spokane Aurora Rotary club, who put on the event! To North Division Bike shop who offered support and to the Christian Motorcycle association for watching over us out on the road!

I cant wait for next year!

Warmed up and ready to roll
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury001.jpg

Spokane river
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury003.jpg

Nice views!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury004.jpg

This old barn has seen a lot.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury005.jpg

New friends met along the way...
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury007.jpg

And more new friends
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury013.jpg

9 mile falls rest stop
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo127/1bluetrek/SpokaneLilacCentury012.jpg

Looks like it was a beautiful day in Eastern Washington. Was it warm?

Low 40s at the start -mid fifties when I finished, light breeze, just enough to keep you cool. Perfect weather! For 2 weeks the local news has been perdicting rain for sunday, I got a few drops on my windshield on the way home after the ride :)

Here's a couple of pics from the 66 mle route. It went around Long Lake so it was slightly different than the 50 miler, plus the benefit of additional hills:)

Typical shoulder, but un-typically flat
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/lastimpressions/IMG_07781.jpg?t=1240880897

See those hills on the far side of the lake, we were up there later:twitchy:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/lastimpressions/IMG_07791.jpg

Gee I miss Spokane. I really loved living over there.

Here's a couple of pics from the 66 mle route. It went around Long Lake so it was slightly different than the 50 miler, plus the benefit of additional hills:)

Typical shoulder, but un-typically flat
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/lastimpressions/IMG_07781.jpg?t=1240880897

See those hills on the far side of the lake, we were up there later:twitchy:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/lastimpressions/IMG_07791.jpg


Your pics are of my normal road routes going through Tum Tum then out to 231. It's a great ride with little traffic. I live in Suncrest but couldn't do the ride last weekend. Glad you had a good time..

Thanks for posting. I missed Lilac this year but it's always been a good ride.

Did any of you get to meet fellow BikeForumites?

Looks as if it was a great day for a ride :D .

East Hill

No, I didn't meet anyone from the forums that i know of. I did however meet a ton of great folks! Spokane is full of em! :thumb: