From Vegas, and did a 2 day STP last year and will ride the event again this year. Everyone I encountered was friendly, the small pace lines that passed us were polite, but we started late. We could not rouse one late night party fool for an early ride start.

Coming from Vegas, the green and cool July weather was very desirable, and the lack of continual 20 mile viability was what I remember the most, (Green & trees were everywhere). There were a number of outstanding wooded vistas in the STP, I was intent on a finish, maybe if i was a much stronger rider and did not need to worry about time I could have captured many Kodak moments. Riding here in the Vegas valley 90% of the time in almost any location we have 20 mile or more viability, with few trees to block a view across the valley.

I enjoyed the Seattle to Portland ride a great deal: the summer weather was amazing from Las Vegas viewpoint, the start was well controlled with many, many cyclists in one location, the lack of technical climbs was welcome, and the long sections through farmland & rolling hills surrounded by forest that were almost deserted. The people that live along the route, participate with enthusiasm, cheering groups, welcome Northwest brewed coffee stands, and one hydration station with a stage for Karaoke performers. I could not believe my ears as we approached a Violin & Haunting Flute performance near the entrance of a small farming community, and further down the road around dozens of turns a surprising melodious organ recital at the roadside ice cold lemonade stand.

Climb Impression: The first hill was not really a hill, but as we left the lake near the start there was a sharp right hand turn up a 100 foot steep incline that came without any approach warning. About 43 miles Puyallup has the honor of being remembered as the infamous "Big Hill". This was an interesting climb, it has a false summit about 2/3 the the way up I did not know about, and many riders were stopped at that location making navigation fun (a genuine climb for most riders: maybe 350 feet elevation under a mile) Napavine delivered a climb of the same intensity as the feared "Big Hill" but shorter, you can see the 90% of the elevation, that in itself is quite different than the "Big Hill". Moving from Seattle to Oregon, the Lewis and Clark bridge is a hill in its own right. The bridge was built high enough to allow shipping traffic to pass under neath. This crossing was well organised and traffic is stopped with police ******* to let a group of riders enter Oregon, after many Washington miles in the pedals. The final climb and bridge crossing before touring the East Side of Portland was a traffic jam horror. The finish line que was welcome diversion prior to being allowed into a lanes with cheering spectators lining both sides of this section of the park in Downtown Portland. I also enjoyed the various bicycle vendors east of the Beer Garden location, and hope there are more companies represented this year.

The ride was wonderful the first day, temperatures that were perfect and unremarkable. On the second day it rained Mid morning, and the branded light weight shell provided was enough protection, or as the northwest locals kept say it was wet fog. In the rolling hills the paint on the road was very slippery during this wet moment, but the roads dried quickly, and the sun appeared as the clouds moved eastward. It seemed everyone became excited and the speeds increase on the downhill sections as the ride continued towards the bridge. Reaching Oregon, the speeds also increased, and with the crossing to the east side of Portland, I can remember a few groups of people cheering riders along, but I was tired and this tour through older style gingerbread neighborhoods became a blur.

No headwind last year, understand prevailing wind direction comes from the North along the STP route. I have ridden one year, can't comment on rain gear if a storm weekend appeared...

My one year ride experience, and great coffee everywhere are memories I shall renew this year...

JR