Butcher

I am training for the STP and planned a routed using my new Edge 705 around the Puyallup hill. The hill was not as bad as I expected, although it was not 90-100F this last Sunday. If that is the worst part of the ride then it should be a piece of cake. Of course my son [stoker on our tandem] wished the length of the ride was shorter and we had lunch before the hill. I guess living off James Street hill in Kent makes all hills lame.
Now I need to train to sit on a saddle for >14 hrs in one day. That seems like the tough part of this ride.

stringbreaker

Are you going to do it in one day? Depending on the age of the son why not do it in two day and then be able to do it at a more leisurely pace. If it isn't fun the kid is going to crab the whole way and make both of you miserable.

swc7916

My wife and I are working toward the same goal. If you see a blue Rodriguez tandem smoking the field at the start line , that's us.

Ashen

Similarly, if you see a dark green Rodriguez tandem lagging back and taking frequent stops, that might be me and my wife

Daveyboy

The Puyallup hill is no big deal. What's tough are the rolling hills after Chehalis, after 100 miles, in the (hot) afternoon sun. Just make sure your stoker keeps pedaling on the hills.

Last summer my son loved to ride up hills on his tag-along behind my bike. But I eventually discovered that he stopped pedaling and was just along for the ride!

Good luck.

Butcher

My son is 16 and we most likely will do it in two days. We are training for one day and have a two day fully planned [places to stay if things do not work out]. It is our first and may be our last since my wife is not so keen on riding/weight training time that I have been doing.

As you know it can be a handful to control a tandem. With all the people around it will hard to maintain a straight line while looking behind us for a blue Rodriguez. But if you should see a Yellow/Blue Campagnolo/Kuwahara with a whinning 16 year old in that back, that would be me.

moleman76

I'd agree - Puyallup is no big deal; Napavine, at about 110 miles and mid-day, is tougher, and that rise coming out of Vader, before the right turn onto the West Side Highway, can be warm, too. The rollers which follow that - on the way to Castle Rock - are at least in the shade.

I wish my 17.5 y.o. son would join me on our tandem ... we're close enough in size that we could trade off stoking/captaining. Oh, well, so much for getting him to do the work for me.

swc7916

I am well aware that it can be a handful to control a tandem. For STP, I am most anxious about the stretch from the start line 'til we get past the haripin turns at Lake View Park. In some places the streets are very narrow and with all the other bikes around, it's going to be pretty crowded.

Looking behind you? You mean as you're pulling away? Oh, that hurts (but probably true.)

jazzyrider

The Puyallup hill is not hard at all, more like complicated because of the number of riders that you're passing and weaving through. While it would be nice to normally pass on the left, some rider underestimate themselves and remain on the left and don't get back on the right. But thats part of the game because they're trying to pass someone as well.

Either way you do it, take it easy on the "hill".

I agree-- later in the ride past Centralia is where the rolling hills really play a part. Its more of attrition that gets riders because of heat plus all the excitement energy in the morning.

Butcher

Just joking. Went ot the last STP meeting at REI last night and I am seriously thinking I may skip the start. We are staying at a close by hotel and may ride down to the starting line to experience it but most likely not start with all the others. Sure would hate to cause a major pileup. But if I should change my mind and cause a pile up I just blame it on the stoker.

stringbreaker

Get yer tag and everything then start in Kent or Auburn if thats allowed. I know its kind of cheating but as long as you don't try to pass off as if you did the start in Seattle I don't see a problem with that. I have heard of some really bad crashes at the start and I'm not sure if I would want to get mixed up in all that insanity.

moleman76

Don't skip the start, just line up near the rear of your group, take your time and wait for however much street space you want. That way you won't have to worry so much about being overtaken until they let the next batch loose 10 or 15 minutes later ... you'll be focussing on the pavement cracks along Lake Washington by then (just kidding). Oh, and if you don't like riding on grating-style bridges, there is a solid section at the far right side on the University Bridge.

Do expose yourself to a few larger group rides so you will be more at ease, before the STP.