Pacific Northwest - Ramrod 2010

Ok, who's in? I AM! :D
Any specific training tips, other than climb a lot?
Planning to do the STP 1-day 12 days prior...see any problem w/ that?

Even if you're not a member of the Seattle Randonneurs, you can download the route sheets for their Permanents routes.

Go ride The Alplet 100k (http://permanents.seattlerando.org/2009/07/pending-alplet.html), The Alplet Plus 150K (http://permanents.seattlerando.org/2010/01/alplet-plus.html), and The Alps 200k (http://permanents.seattlerando.org/2008/10/pending-10k.html).

There's your hill training. You can curse my name as you ride each one.
I don't see an issue with riding the STP 2 weeks before RAMROD, but our club does all sorts of crazy back-to-back weekends of long distances. YMMV.

I'm in too. It is going to hurt. I'm planning on ramping up the miles and the climbing. 120 is the longest I've ever done.

You can curse my name as you ride each one.


Excellent rides suggestion, thanks -

Crap - forgot all about it this year. After not getting in the last 2 years, I think thats why I'm giving up on entering the lottery.

Maybe if one of you lucky ones who don't train enough or something comes up that prevents you from doing it, please let me know! :)

I'm in.

I'm in. I need to lose some weight.

I'm in. I need to lose some weight.


Amen to that.

Anyone know where I can get a GPS file (.crs, .gpx, etc.) of this year's course?

I'm not OFFICIALLY in...I'm 32nd on the waiting list, but I'm proceeding like I'm in.

It's time to get serious...!

I'm not OFFICIALLY in...I'm 32nd on the waiting list, but I'm proceeding like I'm in.

It's time to get serious...!

Last year I had a friend make it in that was around 275th on the list. I would bet you get in right after registration closes for the riders that were initially confirmed -- probably first week of May.

I'm in

Got lucky in the lottery the last two years (2008 (http://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.com/2008/08/ramrod-2008-starting-in-seattle.html), 2009 (http://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.com/2009/07/ramrod-2009-from-city-to-mountain-and.html)), and rode from Seattle to the start of the ride, and back. Long but lovely days indeed. I love that ride!!

This year I'll give my lucky spot to someone else, but I hope to do that route on a different day.

Maybe I can talk some folks into doing the 75-80 extension to the ride? Clifton, think of it like a 400k, except that you get to quit early! =]

For those of you that haven't done Ramrod, the views will look something like:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2722962258_56fb9ca894.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/3774439950_5bf6dcf163.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3535/3774464970_53724efcf3.jpg

Have fun!

My ride report:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?667035-154-miles-around-a-volcano-RAMROD-2010-%28ride-report-w-pics%29

Saw BF member northbend on a fixie (!); he did the course *lots* faster than I did.

I've been wanting to do this ride for a couple of years, but have missed the registration deadline. I'm thinking of doing the route self supported. I know where all the water fountains/faucets are, and with three bottles, I would be o.k.

My question is: what is the best day of the week to do the route solo without getting killed?

The tradeoffs are:

Weekdays-less RV's and sightseers, but more truck/commercial traffic in the lowlands.
Weekends-less truck/commercial traffic in the lowlands, but more RV's and sightseerers.

I've been wanting to do this ride for a couple of years, but have missed the registration deadline. I'm thinking of doing the route self supported. I know where all the water fountains/faucets are, and with three bottles, I would be o.k.

My question is: what is the best day of the week to do the route solo without getting killed?

The tradeoffs are:

Weekdays-less RV's and sightseers, but more truck/commercial traffic in the lowlands.
Weekends-less truck/commercial traffic in the lowlands, but more RV's and sightseerers.

My recommendation -- instead of doing the RAMROD route, do a loop that takes in the highlights of the route:

It's here: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/-ashford/549125572701516265

Start in Ashford, goes in the southeast corner of the National Park, climbs pasts Longmire, to Paradise, then down Stevens Canyon, and then out the southeast corner of the park to Packwood. Then you follow Skate Creek Road back to Ashford.

it's 83 miles, but you could easily tack on additional miles if you want to start closer to Seattle (say, Elbe) and/or climb up Cayuse Pass before exiting the park.

The advantage of the loop is you get 90% of the scenery, with lots less "highway" miles/traffic.

I did it on a Sunday morning; I started before there was much traffic in the park. Once you get pass Paradise you have a lot less traffic. From Packwood to Ashford there is almost no traffic.

This is great day on the bike...

I did that same loop last fall. A little boring riding down to Packwood and up to the the East entrance, but overall it's a pretty awesome ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route//wa/ashford/423127724791997650

Love to do it again, presumably faster and with less difficulty this year. :)

Weekdays-less RV's and sightseers, but more truck/commercial traffic in the lowlands.
Weekends-less truck/commercial traffic in the lowlands, but more RV's and sightseerers.

I can't imagine there would be very much commercial traffic on most of the route, except maybe on 410 in coming back down toward the end. I'd venture to say any time during the week would be good: Tuesday through Thursday. If you'd like company on this ride, let me know.

BengeBoy, a friend of mine calls that loop RATROD, ride around the Tatoosh Range in one day.

Thanks for the replies; you all aren't the first ones to suggest the alternate route. I guess the only reason to do RAMROD proper is to check it off the list.

As one who has hiked the Wonderland Trail in it's entirety numerous times, I definately know that there are areas more beautiful than the highways around Enumclaw.

Well, no RAMRODding for me for a while. About 51 miles into my St. Helens Windy Ridge ride on Tuesday, the left knee really started hurting. Thank God it was mostly descent by that time. Looks like I need to put my cowardice aside and actually go see a doctor. :( Hopefully I'll be ready for it next year.

BengeBoy, a friend of mine calls that loop RATROD, ride around the Tatoosh Range in one day.

Excellent! I'm going to steal that.