79pmooney

The parking area at Rood Bridge is pretty small and not far from the entrance. We won't be hard to spot at all.

Ben

The Thin Man 

This isn't the most transit (IE: MAX) friendly location so I will state early that I would be thrilled to catch a ride with someone. I'm at roughly NE 47th/Halsey for an idea on where I'm coming from.

Andy_K 

It's about 3.5 miles from the Washington County Fair Complex MAX stop to Rood Bridge Park along a bike friendly route, but I can understand your wanting a ride. I'll be coming from Beaverton, so the best I could offer is a ride from a MAX stop out here in the sticks. I'm not sure anyone coming from Portland will be driving out, but it's worth asking.

PortlandEddie

Your best bet is to catch a Max blue. Hillsboro airport stop then ride to the park.

Andy_K 

Does that mean you're back in now that Cycle Oregon flamed out?

79pmooney

I'm playing it by ear. Let you know by Wed.

Ben

The Thin Man 

It's not necessarily the 3.5 mile ride that's the bummer, it's the 72 minute train ride prior to the 3.5 mile ride.

Andy_K 

That sounds more or less correct. The time estimates are on the conservative side, but no-drop rides to tend to go that way. If you're still contemplating the long ride, I'd suggest maybe riding the Springwater Corridor from OMSI out to Boring and back this weekend. If you can do that without coming to grief, you'll be fine for the ride out to Vernonia. If not, you can at least pop into Cartlandia for some tasty food.

A word about the elevation grades on the Banks-Vernonia portion of the ride: for most cyclists who doing a lot of longer road rides it will seem practically flat. @79pmooney will probably ride it with a 55x11 fixed gear. On the other hand, I have, on separate occasions, brought both my wife and my eldest daughter (neither of whom are even casual cyclists) to tears within two miles of the Buxton trailhead after promising them that it was an easy ride. I'm pretty sure there's nothing over 3% but there also nothing under 1% for six miles after you hit Buxton.

A word about provisions: As I mentioned previously, there are brick and mortar rest rooms with potable water at Rood Bridge Park and Fernhill Wetlands (about 12 miles in). There's a service station selling bottled drinks across from the Banks trailhead (about 25 miles in), and I think there's clean water at that trailhead. Once you're on the BV Trail there are port-a-potties at fairly regular intervals (not to mention many, many trees that could definitely use watering) but no clean water sources until you get to Vernonia. Two full size water bottles should be sufficient to keep you hydrated with a refill or two along the way. I'd recommend some sort of food supplement to eat en route. A PBJ sandwich or your favorite ultra-dense food bar should be sufficient, maybe two if you are prone to bonking.

All of this assumes that the entire state isn't on fire come next weekend. You never know.

Andy_K 

Fair enough. I used to live in east Portland and work out here, so I know exactly how much of a bummer that ride can be.

PortlandEddie

sweet Andy thanks i have something to do on Sunday morning. That will be a good test for me.

PortlandEddie

Ok so few things...

1. My taint is super sore from the ride.
2. I did the Springwater Corridor in a total of 3 hours (average pace 12.0 mph , Vixen ill be in the back with you)
3. I didn't die so thats a plus. towards the end tho i was snail pace.

gugie 

Couldn't get myself to repeat it. Soreness there is often not from pressure, but form rubbing on that sensitive area. What are you wearing down under?

If you're wearing cycling appropriate clothing, try something that will lubricate. Chamois butter is something a lot of people swear by, but I've been using a much cheaper product for decades called Bag Balm. Put some wherever it hurts before riding. Sometimes noobs aren't told that cycling shorts are worn commando.

PortlandEddie

Oh it was rubbing and it's raw skin now. I just had on gym shorts with the underwear built in. I don't have the fancy shoes and fancy shorts i have a few jerseys and my bike thats it. So bag blam ill see where i can get it locally. Do i try and get a softer seat...?

gugie 

Those will rip you up. The mesh liners aren't made to sit on. You want something that is soft next to your skin, with no stitching where you're getting rubbed raw. You don't have to look like Racer Rick to do it. A lot of "touring" style shorts look like regular shorts on the outside.

Yo don't need fancy shoes or jersies, but if you're on your bike for more than 10-15 miles, I'd recommend some shorts that are designed for cycling.

It's not how soft or padded the seat is, it's how it fits. Many of us ride on what you'd think was a very hard saddle - The Brooks line of leather saddles don't have padding, yet many distance cyclists swear by them. It's the shape that fits your body/riding style that's important.

Velocivixen

@PortlandEddie - I think REI sells a cycling liner only. It seems like awhile back I was thinking about something along these lines.

Of course, with my new recumbent, these issues don't arise.

Question: I know this is a C & V group, but does it matter what bike I ride? Could it be a new one?

Andy_K 

Absolutely! All bikes are welcome.

Andy_K 

We're getting pretty close to the day of the ride. Is it too soon to get a firm list of who is riding?
Here's what I've got so far.

The committed:

1. Me
2. @gugie
3. @PortlandEddie
4. @Dfrost
5. @The Thin Man

The maybes:

6. @Andy Antipas
7. @Velocivixen
8. @aggiegrads
9. @Lascauxcaveman
10. @79pmooney

Those who have been mentioned but haven't spoken up in any way giving an indication that they even might come:

11. @Insidious C.
12. @jyl

Have I missed anyone?


Also, PortlandEddie, any chance you can give The Thin Man a ride out to Hillsboro?

The Thin Man 

Thanks again for putting this together, Andy.

I'm sorry to say that I will need to be placed on the "Maybe" list.
Being car-free has its perks but not this time. If anyone is driving out from Portland and has room for a passenger, please let me know. With a 72 minute train ride (x2; there and back) and another 3.5 mile ride (x2; to the trailhead and back) I am not feeling the added time/miles.

All hope is not fully lost though. If it works out, I'm looking forward to seeing you all and the ride.

79pmooney

Andy, I am going to pass. Cycle Oregon is going to have a get-together at their headquarters Saturday afternoon. Poor substitute for what should have been a week of "together" but it is a chance to see people I see once a year.

Ben

Lascauxcaveman 

@Andy_K, I'm a pretty solid "yes" as of last night; I got cleared of family obligations for the weekend. Looking forward to it!

Probably riding down with David, if we can meet up at a mutually agreeable time/place along the way. Either way, we'll see you Friday evening.

PortlandEddie

I'm not a C&V but I'm glad i can go to. I don't think i'll find a new seat by Saturday so i'll look for some liners.

gugie 

Sumpin like these would do the trick without looking too geeky.

Lotsa other options too, you can get a plain set of lycra cycling shorts for not too much. Huge difference between riding gym shorts and something designed to be kind to your nether regions.

gugie 

Hey, what time this thing gonna start? I'm pretty sure it won't be real early, since @Andy_K is a software guy, and everyone knows they don't wake up until around noon to start coding...

Andy_K 

I was thinking we'd roll out of Rood Bridge Park at 9 AM. That is earlier than I start work most days, but I know some of y'all like to ride in the morning.

gugie 

Forecast is AM clouds, high of 80. Right now we're trending cooler than last year.