Pacific Northwest - STP: Am I NUTS?

I signed up for the STP just before they sold out. I'm still not sure I'll do it, but I registered just in case, knowing there would be 100 people who would gladly pay for my registration should I back out.

Here's my hesitation on the STP: I'm reading all this stuff about how I should be conditioning myself for the ride. I should be doing centuries, back to back 50+ mile days, group rides, paceline training etc. etc. etc.

I don't have time for ANY of that! Basically, I do the 30 mile R/T commute to work a few days a week, that's it. Been doing it for a couple months now and my old body seems to be handling this whole biking thing pretty well so far.

So ... am I stupid to take on the 2-day STP based on no further conditioning than the commute? Are back to back 100 mile days going to kill me? Or if I keep my pace reasonable, stop and rest often, will I have no trouble with this ride? Wadayasay?

I would say that you need to train more than 30 miles a few times a week if you want to enjoy STP. The main thing is saddle time. No matter how much resting you do, your butt will be on the saddle for at least 6 hours or more per century and if you're not used to it, it will hurt. What you can do, is go out this weekend and just ride a hundred miles and see how you feel. That will answer your question pretty quickly.

Dean

I signed up for the STP just before they sold out. I'm still not sure I'll do it, but I registered just in case, knowing there would be 100 people who would gladly pay for my registration should I back out.

Here's my hesitation on the STP: I'm reading all this stuff about how I should be conditioning myself for the ride. I should be doing centuries, back to back 50+ mile days, group rides, paceline training etc. etc. etc.

I don't have time for ANY of that! Basically, I do the 30 mile R/T commute to work a few days a week, that's it. Been doing it for a couple months now and my old body seems to be handling this whole biking thing pretty well so far.

So ... am I stupid to take on the 2-day STP based on no further conditioning than the commute? Are back to back 100 mile days going to kill me? Or if I keep my pace reasonable, stop and rest often, will I have no trouble with this ride? Wadayasay?

You NEED to make time or you'll suffer on that second day!

It can be done.

I've ridden two STP's, each in one day. The first year my riding consisted of commuting to work a couple of times a week (19 miles each way), some lunchtime riding, and some weekend riding; never more than a total of 80-100 miles per week. The longest single ride I did that year was 50 miles. I still finished STP in about 14 1/2 hours. The next year I did similiar training and did a 70-mile ride; I finished STP that year in 13 1/2 hours. I was 42 years old on my first STP and I'm not going to tell you how long ago that was.

30 miles r/t = 15mi per ride with an 8 hour break in between. It's good base mileage, but it's not going to condition you for a back-to-back double. I'm not saying that you won't be able to do it; but you will most likely not be comfortable with it.

Think about it in these terms: How long does your 15mi trip take you? A modest estimate is going to be 1 hour.
Now think about doing your round trip commute 3.5 times in one day, for two straight days.

If the longest distance you've ridden is 15 miles at a single time, there are many factors that you need to consider when increasing that amount by 660%. <-- Take a good look at that number. The suggested increase in distance until you reach the 100mi distance is 10 - 15%.
Hydration, caloric intake and electrolyte replacement all become concerns at the century distance.

I'm not trying to sound discouraging, but I don't want your first attempt at a century ride to be a physically painful disappointment that sours you from long distance rides in the future. If you want to know where you stand for the STP, you should ride the Flying Wheels century this weekend. Take the metric option (65mi) and see how you handle it. Then, ride a 40 - 50 miler on Sunday so you have an idea of what it feels like to do back-to-back long rides. After that, decide if nearly doubling that distance each day seems feasible.

I think you may suffer a bit, but you'll make it. As the prev. posters have noted, that's not really enough base mileage/saddle time to be strong and comfortable with centuries on consecutive days.

Having said that, yes you can do STP if you ride at a VERY easy pace (an easy pace for you, don't be trying to keep up with the fast riders), hydrate well and eat a little very often. Keep the nutrition going in, don't just wait for the rest stops/checkpoints.

DO NOT Hammer! You have all day, and it's a long time in the daylight that time of year, so hammering will just do you in.

Without the adequate base mileage you will still suffer, but you will make it, you will survive, you will arrive in Portland on the 2nd day with a huge sense of accomplishment!

Rick / OCRR

Overall, it's probably a bad idea to try to ride 200 miles if you only do 15 mile rides. People may disagree, but not all "base" miles are created equally. You can ride 120 miles a week in 15 mile increments twice a day, 4 times a week, but that would not contribute to endurance as well as three 40 mile rides a week or a 30, 40 and 50 per week.

Find a day to give yourself a test, wake up early on a Saturday and see how you feel after 50 miles. I did the one day STP last year and my longest rides were 100 once, 60 once and 50 maybe three or four times and the STP was a breeze (aside from the butt soreness). It's a relatively easy course and pacelines save a ton of energy, but if you've never ridden 2 hours by yourself, you are not going to make it 6 hours without some serious pain.

I agree with the concensus. I've done STP twice and I think getting some longer training days in is pretty important. You don't need to do 80+ a whole bunch of times, but you do need to ride a few 50+ days to be able to finish without undue pain.

That's not to say you won't make it. But you will probably be hurting pretty bad.

- Mark

Thanks for the advice all. I understand and agree with what you all are saying regarding conditioning and doing some long rides before the STP. However, every weekend and every spare minute is booked solid from now till then. No time for rides, other than my work commute.

Over the last few months, I have done a couple ~40 mile rides. I seemed to handle them just fine. And I don't know if I've got a great saddle, perfect shorts, or maybe a pre-hardened butt, but I haven't experienced any butt pain from riding yet, aside from the first few commutes and maybe some minor discomfort on those 40 milers.

So the consensus seems to be: I'll make it as long as I keep a gentle pace, but I might be in agony on Day 2. I'm pretty stubborn, I don't back down from a challenge, I can handle a bit of agony, and I could use the bragging rights from a 200 mile ride. I'm thinking I'll go for it.

Your all welcome to send "I told you so" cards to the hospital at the conclusion of the ride.

Figure out what's causing your "minor discomfort" at 40 miles, and fix it now.
A minor discomfort at 40 miles can turn into a "holy sweet gods make it stop" pain after another 160 miles.

(I made that mistake on my first double after returning to LD cycling, and ended up with 3 toes and 2 fingers that I couldn't feel for almost a week.)

Being stubborn is one of the cornerstones of LD riding. Forget that it's hot, or it's raining, or it's cold. Turn the cranks. Or it's midnight and all the people going to the bar look like they're having a great time and you've been riding for the last 17 hours and there's still 5 miles of rolling hills to the finish. (Oh wait. That was my last big ride...) Turn the cranks.
The RUSA handbook has a great quote (I don't remember who from) regarding pain and LD riding: If you think it will heal up within 10 days, keep riding.

No time for rides, other than my work commute.


And your work commute is about 15 miles each way.

You need to figure out how to get more conditioning into that time / those miles.
Suggestions:
1. You are probably riding a bit faster than you were earlier in the season; but, don't leave home/work later, instead, keep using the same amount of time as you needed at the start of the season.
2. There might be more than one route you can take to work, or home from work. Find the hilliest route and ride that. Or, find a hillier route, ride it for a week, then go to a hillier one, etc.
3. When you get near work, or near home, and have another 5 or 10 minutes, ride a bit further, or take a detour to get in some more miles.
4. Do some interval training. Check it out in the books or on-line, but the idea is to force your speed up for a while, ease off for some recovery, then repeat. If you're riding at 16 mph, more or less, speed up to 18 or 20 for a couple minutes, then ease off to 15 for a half minute or so of recovery, then go back after it.
5. Practice things you'll need to do on the ride -- like, drinking an entire water bottle worth every hour. Fill your bottle, and drink it dry on the ride to work, and again on the ride home. Practice eating some snacks while riding. Gather up all of the gear that you think you will have with you on the bike, pack it however you'll have it on the ride. You want to avoid logistic and mechanical difficulties ... why add to your stress level when you're supposed to be having fun?
6. Find out now which electrolyte replacement drinks work for you and taste good to you. If the freebie drinks at the major stops aren't on your list ... just say no. Your innards will thank you.
7. In years past, there has been a single packet of Chamois Butt'r, or similar, in the registration material. But, you're riding two days, and your rump may need extra care ... put some in your bag that you'll be picking up at the mid-point, so that you'll have more for Sunday's ride.

You will be sore Saturday night; you will be stiff Sunday morning, and Sunday night you'll be beat. But happy.

8. (added) If you are worried about making it up "The HILL" just past Puyallup: since you're showing Snohomish as your address, take a ride up the Col Hollandaise, i.e. Dutch Hill. Go east out of town on 2nd/becomes 92nd/becomes 88th. It's all up after the turnoff to the soccer fields. The total distance to the top, and the climb amount, are virtually identical to The Hill. The false-flat section on the Col Hollandaise is longer than the flatter part of The Hill; that means that the steep parts of the Col H. are steeper than their counterparts down in Pierce County. When you are done, you can either turn around and come back down, or take a left on 131st, drop down an incredible slope north of Dutch Hill School, take a left on 3 Lakes and cross over Hwy 2 by the pallet factory and return to town on the Centennial Trail.

I would get at least a 75 miler in before. Word to the wise.... make sure your seat doesn't have any raised logos or what ever on it because it will transfer to your butt.

Is it at all possible to sell your place this year and plan ahead to train properly next year?

I'm not riding this year because I need to catch up on work on the house and yard that I didn't do last year because I was training every weekend. Biggest work load for me is the garden; it really suffered last year, as the gardening season is also the STP training season. And, I'm doing a lot more than I usually do so that next year I can train for the STP and the yard won't be so pathetic-looking.

I predict lots of pain :twitchy: (plenty of Ibuprofen at the rest stops though.)

I agree with most of above. Your butt WILL hurt that said I'd wager you can do it but how much fun will you have? Perhaps you enjoy suffering.

This will be my third STP. I am not as prepared as in years past but I am comfortable with where I'm at.

Ride safe

Get in more mileage the first day , if you can. I went to Winlock ( Egg! ) and found the second day to be a cinch

Get in more mileage the first day , if you can. I went to Winlock ( Egg! ) and found the second day to be a cinch

Not a bad idea, if you can make it over the Napavine hill, since it's basically downhill from Napavine to Winlock; and, you'll have the worst of the uphills out of the way.

Dude, go for it. I'll be doing the hobbles with you. Granted I've been training, but I am still one fat clyde and the furthest I could ride in February was 7-8 miles.

Re: Winlock...

It's worth riding the hill to stay a the High School (if they have any room left) rather than staying at the elementary school (basically on the route).

The showers at the elementary school have a direct pipe feed from the terminus of the Nisqually Glacier. I have never felt water that cold from a showerhead in my life.

There were literally schoolgirl shrieks....coming from the men's showers.... :-)

Re: Winlock...

It's worth riding the hill to stay a the High School (if they have any room left) rather than staying at the elementary school (basically on the route).

The showers at the elementary school have a direct pipe feed from the terminus of the Nisqually Glacier. I have never felt water that cold from a showerhead in my life.

There were literally schoolgirl shrieks....coming from the men's showers.... :-)

One of those shrieking was me. It was still 90 degrees and I stepped into that shower and my teeth were chattering in about 3 seconds!

Go for it! I want you to, because I plan to ride it next year, and I haven't been on a bike in 15 years. So I'm looking to hear the experiences of others, and learn what works for everyone else! Keep us all posted!

You'll be fine if you don't ride those super long pacelines when they crash. Your butt will hurt but everything else will be fine. Don't eat the watermelon (if they still try to kill people) at rest stops because it is a diuretic and you need to keep as much water in your body as possible. I did it twice many years ago with about 7 days of training just before the ride. I figured out how many calories I would need and bought super dense calorie bars and just ate them according to my schedule, not relying on hunger. Same with water, drink a certain amount, don't wait until you're thirsty. The first year I didn't sign up for it so I just put on my panniers and rode with the group. You'll be fine.

I figured out how many calories I would need and bought super dense calorie bars and just ate them according to my schedule, not relying on hunger. Same with water, drink a certain amount, don't wait until you're thirsty.

That is what I am trying to figure out. It looks like I would need about 1000-1200 calories an hour. That seems like a lot. But I rode 50 miles today and I had to stops for food. I probably only had about 300 calories at each stop and I don't think that was enough.

In the heat I was really fading towards the end.

That is what I am trying to figure out. It looks like I would need about 1000-1200 calories an hour. That seems like a lot. But I rode 50 miles today and I had to stops for food. I probably only had about 300 calories at each stop and I don't think that was enough.

In the heat I was really fading towards the end.

No.

That's approximately 4 - 4.5 times the amount your body can process in an hour. If you try to eat that much, you're going to end up in serious g.i. pain. My last long ride was over 15 hours; I can't imagine trying to take down 15,000 calories. That's almost 4 days worth of food.
I ride a decent bunch of long distance. 6 centuries, 2 double metrics and a triple metric so far this year. The 300 calories you ate at each stop is about the amount you should be eating per hour. 250 - 300cal is the general amount your body can process; don't try to force more than that in.
If you're eating constantly, that's 1 Clif Bar and 1 gel per hour. Don't cram all your food in one 5 minute break each hour. Nibble while riding.
I eat sandwiches while riding: I cut them into quarters and keep them handy in my front bag so I can chow down while on the go.

Follow this thread from NorCal for advice regarding what you are getting into:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=555214

Yes, on a long ride, don't stop to eat, just keep eating little bits all day.

Holy CRAP! I am SO friggen on the fence about this thing right now.

The weekend before last I did a ~50 mile ride with a friend of mine. Rolling hills, nothing too tough, but this friend is in MUCH better shape than me and is a pretty hard core biker. He's cool, and he tried to hold at my pace, but I also pushed myself a a lot harder than normal. My legs started to give out at about Mile 35 or so, I made it back, but barely. I was a wreck that evening.

So just this last weekend I did a 62 miler on my own, at my own pace. A little tougher, a couple nasty hills in there, but again I made it. This time I did better than the previous ride, but by the time I got home I was pretty pooped, and I was thinking "Ain't no WAY I could do another 40 today, let alone 100 tomorrow".

However, for both these rides I don't think I drank enough water early on (waited till I was thirsty, then guzzled), and I didn't meter out the food throughout the rides. That could have been part of the issue.

So I'm seriously thinking about bagging the STP this year and selling my registration. I'm just not ready for back to back centuries, I can't do it.

But then again, I'd be admitting that I'm too old, feeble and frail to do something that 10,000 of my buddies have no trouble with. That's just not settling well with me. I'm having a hard time telling my body "NO!". And I know how incredibly proud I'd feel if I made the ride. It would do wonders for this whole midlife crisis thing I'm going through. So I'm thinking "Yeah, I should go for it!".

But then again, what if my body gives out on me? How miserable would it be to be in the middle of nowhere, exhausted and in agony, having to figure out how to get my loser self and my bike back home?

I'm soooooo CONFUSED!!

So just this last weekend I did a 62 miler on my own, at my own pace. A little tougher, a couple nasty hills in there, but again I made it. This time I did better than the previous ride, but by the time I got home I was pretty pooped, and I was thinking "Ain't no WAY I could do another 40 today, let alone 100 tomorrow".

What was "your own pace" for the 100k you rode?
Think about it this way: Assuming a 14mph slow rolling average, that's approximately a 7hr (rolling time) century. With breaks, figure closer to 8 - 8.5 since the stops are crowded at STP.
If you were rolling at a 14mph average, that's 4.5hrs on the bike for a 100k. Even with proper hydration and caloric intake, would you be comfortable keeping that up for another 3 - 4 hours... and then doing it again the next day?

I'd be admitting that I'm too old, feeble and frail to do something that 10,000 of my buddies have no trouble with.

Actually, I'd guess that at least half of the 10,000 riders will be struggling at some point.

The thing about the STP is that it's more of a rolling party/event than a typical group ride. Generally about half of the riders are new to the STP and endurance riding each year. To many, if not most, of those - the STP is a major life milestone for many different reasons - age, fitness level, new to cycling, etc.

I'm not suggesting that you ride/don't ride but don't beat yourself up over the decision either way.

If you do ride, there will be lot's of folks out there who are taking their time and working hard to get through one mile at a time. Take the ride at your own pace, spin don't mash, and nibble/drink frequently. Personally, I'm a big fan of bananas, pbj sandwiches, cliff blocks, nuun tablets, and Hammer Gel.

If you don't ride, keep up the training and set yourself a goal to not only ride it next year, but to ride it in style without worrying about whether or not you'll have fun or make it. If you have time, hop into the Cascade CTS series next spring.

Just do it! Yes, you will suffer some, but if you take the advice given in this thread, you'll make it.

My wife and are staying in Vader (just a bit further along than Winlock), so that gives us about 75 - 80 miles on the 2nd day. Don't know if Vader is sold out though.

Rick / OCRR

Holy CRAP! I am SO friggen on the fence about this thing right now.



So I'm seriously thinking about bagging the STP this year and selling my registration. I'm just not ready for back to back centuries, I can't do it.



The only one who can talk you out of it is you. Just like Lowell Hill. If you did 62 miles, you can do it.

We did a 50 mile ride Sunday and it was pretty tough, it was also pretty warm. Today we went out and rode a fast 20 miles on the trail. It felt really good, cooler, and also drafting.

If I can do it you can do it.

BTW I plan to ride to work tomorrow for my last ride before STP.

So I'm seriously thinking about bagging the STP this year and selling my registration. I'm just not ready for back to back centuries, I can't do it.

I'm going to offer a dissenting view here and say that bagging it would be the wise choice. I thought you were crazy when I read your original post, and I didn't think you could do it with the amount of riding you said you were going to do in advance.

Based on what you've said, I think you could push yourself through a century this weekend if you wanted to. You'd probably be doing the last 20-30 miles on will power alone, but you could do it. Getting up the next day and doing another century would be, IMHO, out of the question.



But then again, I'd be admitting that I'm too old, feeble and frail to do something that 10,000 of my buddies have no trouble with.

To quote Marcellus Wallace, "You feel that sting, big boy, huh? That's pride f****in' with you! You gotta fight through that s**t!"

Seriously, any of those 10,000 people who aren't having trouble put in some serious base miles. The only thing you'd be admitting was that you didn't have time to get ready.

The Gods have spoken, I'M DOING IT !!!!!!!

Here's the deal, I put my STP ticket up for sale a couple days ago. A guy called about it and we cut the deal. His girlfriend was coming up and wanted to ride it with him so he was in desperate need of another ticket for her. We were to meet at REI tomorrow, pick up the packet and transfer it over to her.

I've been feeling really wierd about this ever since I agreed to sell it. Like I said above, it's been eating away at me that I'm dropping out because I don't think I can handle it. I've been regretting selling my ticket.

Well, she broke her elbow on a practice ride with him and can't do STP.

My condolences to the girl, but I'm taking this as a sure sign from the Gods that I'm supposed to do this ride. I'm hopeful those same Gods will look after me during the ride and infuse the energy and willpower into my body to see me through to Portland. If I end up as a quivering pile of sweating flesh alongside the road in the middle of nowhere, I will be cursing those same Gods!

Thanks to all for the great arguments both for and against, along with all the great advice on how to get through this thing. I've carefully considered ALL your words.

Djwright, what time you planning to take off from UW? Where are you spending the night?

I sent you a PM. I will be hitting the start line at 5:30. We are staying in Centralia, but I hope to make it to Vader, (we will drive back).

Also look for the emerald green suburban at mile 30 (hiway 18 underpass and park and ride) and again just before the fork in the road after Spanaway heading to Roy. I would love to log some miles with you.

Give me a call at 206-579-5463.

You'll do fine. Eat along the way, drink when you see anyone else drink and ride a pace you are comfortable with. You'll make it fine and feel all the better for it

By the way, I'm bib #9118. If you see me along the trail (hopefully still upright on my bike), cheer me along. Or better yet, tell me what a fat slow loser I am and that I'll never make it to Portland, that'll get the muscles pumping!

I'll certainly be carb loading at the Centralia beer garden Saturday night, maybe I'll see some of you there.

Portland or bust!

Awesome! Be sure to report back and let us know how it went.

But if you find yourself tied up in Zed's basement, don't say I didn't warn you. :D

I have found myself with an extra registration anyone want it?- cost is the original price.
V

I stopped by display and costume to pick up my helmet decoration.

We have matching purple mohawks. So that will help you spot us.

Hey, you made the right decision in going through with the STP. Just go do it. Enjoy it. If you can't finish in one day... try two days. If you can't finish in two days... so what - there is no shame in not finishing. However, if you commit to do something and you don't even start... that's where you feel bad about yourself.

If you don't finish this year, you will learn a lot that will help you finish in another attempt. Good luck. Think positive.

I'm sitting here in the beer garden at Centralia College enjoying a nice cold Fat Tire. I gotta say, that 100 miles just breezed right by and I did it in style! Heck, even "the Hill" was a piece of cake! I've decided this whole long distance riding thing is all about attitude and preparation. I've followed much of the advice given to me on this forum; hydration, electrolytes, munching continuously, heck I even spread that butt butter stuff in my shorts (eeewwwww)! I had a blast chatting it up with fellow riders, forming pacelines, relaxing at the great rest stops etc.. I'm ready to tackle the next 100 tomorrow!

Oh, lookie there, my beer glass is empty. Better do something about that. Later ...

I'm sitting here in the beer garden at Centralia College enjoying a nice cold Fat Tire. I gotta say, that 100 miles just breezed right by and I did it in style! Heck, even "the Hill" was a piece of cake! I've decided this whole long distance riding thing is all about attitude and preparation. I've followed much of the advice given to me on this forum; hydration, electrolytes, munching continuously, heck I even spread that butt butter stuff in my shorts (eeewwwww)! I had a blast chatting it up with fellow riders, forming pacelines, relaxing at the great rest stops etc.. I'm ready to tackle the next 100 tomorrow!

Oh, lookie there, my beer glass is empty. Better do something about that. Later ...

:thumb:

Hurrah :D .

I'm sitting here in the beer garden at Centralia College enjoying a nice cold Fat Tire. I gotta say, that 100 miles just breezed right by and I did it in style! Heck, even "the Hill" was a piece of cake! I've decided this whole long distance riding thing is all about attitude and preparation. I've followed much of the advice given to me on this forum; hydration, electrolytes, munching continuously, heck I even spread that butt butter stuff in my shorts (eeewwwww)! I had a blast chatting it up with fellow riders, forming pacelines, relaxing at the great rest stops etc.. I'm ready to tackle the next 100 tomorrow!

Oh, lookie there, my beer glass is empty. Better do something about that. Later ...

I'm sitting at my computer this morning, slightly sore from my one day STP, watching the doppler radar. Looks like there are some pretty vigorous thunderstorms moving through the Chehalis Valley right now.

I'm in Olympia and have thunder and lightening. Hoping the worse they have is rain.

I love thunderstorms, when I am inside a house.

Little bit of hail, but nothing like the pea-sized 10 minute barrage I took out in the open on Livestrong. Wet most of the day and really started coming down just after we got into PDX at 4ish. Thunder and the nasty deluge with it only lasted a little bit before it switched over to the more typical NW steady rain.

I made it! Rolled across the finish line about 4:00, just before the real rain started. Day 2 was GREAT! Overcast, cool, a little drizzle on and off, and some very interesting riding. I especially enjoyed taking over that bridge across the Columbia in an immense field of bikes.

I don't know what got into me after that last St. Helens rest stop, but I found energy from somewhere. I BOOKED it the last 20 miles! I was yelling "On your left" more during that last 20 than the rest of the trip combined!

Anyway, great ride and a great weekend. Thanks again to all for the great advice and words of encouragement.

a hearty congratulations..., when you finish strong on a 200 mile ride you obviously did everything right. Again congrats.

-Jason

Awesome to hear you not only made it but had a great time doing it!!! As one who is woefully out of shape but hopes to be in good enough shape to do the STP next year, I'd love to hear some stories/tips while the whole thing is fresh in your mind. Worst part? Best part? Didja fall? Flat tires? Anything you want to share, I'm all ears! And congratulations!:thumb:

I'd love to hear some stories/tips while the whole thing is fresh in your mind. Worst part? Best part? Didja fall? Flat tires? Anything you want to share, I'm all ears! And congratulations!:thumb:

Hey, seeing as I'm still basking in the STP afterglow here, I'd be delighted to elaborate.

Worse part? There really was no worse part that I can think of. Everything went spectacularly smoothly for me. I guess maybe the cost of the weekend could be considered. With registration, accommodations, bus return, and of course the STP jersey and Tshirt, this ended up being a $300+ weekend. But I'm not complaining, worth every penny of it in my book. Oh wait, I did just think of a "worse part". It was that bufoon in the seat in front of me on the bus ride back who just HAD to recline his seat all the way, jamming my aching knees for 3.5 hours!

Best part? Maybe rolling into Centralia college. I was like "What, I'm HERE already!". I was thrilled to complete my first ever century so handily. Plus the volunteers were great, passing out ice cream bars, cold chocolate milk. And I especially enjoyed swapping war stories over a couple cold ones in the beer garden.

Did I fall? Yup. once just before rolling into Portland. I saw an inviting bench on the side of the road and decided to take a banana break. Typical scenerio, unclipped left but leaned right and down I went. No big deal, but when I crossed the finish line in Portland the lady said "Oh my god, do you need a medic?". I said "Huh?" and looked down, my shin was streaked with blood from a minor owwie from the fall. I hadn't even noticed! Maybe I should have accepted a med-evac ride back to Seattle, would have been easier on my knees than that bus ride!

No flats or any other bike troubles. The ol' Sequoia performed like a champ. I used to get flats too often, but now I'm liking those Armadillos I mounted up!

Anything else I want to share? Yeah, JUST DO IT! Seriously, I have no idea why this ride turned out to be so manageable and enjoyable, even though ~50 mile rides just weeks before STP about killed me! Maybe it's something psychological about being part of such a big group, maybe it's a matter of nutrition and water, whatever. All I know is my old out-of-shape (but getting there!) body made me proud!

I'm trying to talk the wifeypoo into doing it with me next year. So far she thinks that's just insane. I've got a year to work her over ...

My video memoirs:

http://www.vimeo.com/5675360 (music's a little loud)


No crashes, no flats, one guy had some shifting problems possibly related to his bicycle suitcase.
We started with six (most of us didn't know each other) and had two abandon at Goble (mile 160). Four of us finished together, quite a bonding experience.

Best part - hills were MUCH easier than everyone was warning about.
Worst? ?? Barely made it in time to get my stuff before they closed the bag room Saturday night... thanks to whoever decided to stay open a little late.