Originally Posted by
smurf hunter
I did some volunteer work Wed. night so I could earn a bypass for 2009. I was with the crew placing the "flagger ahead - be prepared to stop" signs.
Is it true the last 40 miles are all downhill? Also, assuming you have a Garmin Edge 305, I'm guessing you either rode very fast or brought backup power source. Mine dies pretty consistently after 10 hours.
Thanks a lot for volunteering, the support was awesome. I volunteered last year to get a lottery bypass and I plan to volunteer next year. The ride is amazing, you will enjoy it. One hint - on the climb to Cayuse Pass you look up and see a road way way up on a ridge above you. Don't despair, that is the road to Chinook Pass. You don't have to climb all the way up there on this ride.
The last 40 miles is almost all downhill but there was a strong headwind and I hear that is almost always true. It's definitely worth looking for people to paceline with after the last food stop.
I have a Garmin 705 and I get about 15 hours out of a charge. The battery is only a month old. I'm going to try extending it with
this for even longer rides.
The ride took me 11:44 on the clock, 9:56 on the road. Descending at 40 mph offsets climbing at 6 mph.
