bunnyrabbit

55/Rad et al. -- Did you make it under 10 hours?

Here's my day:

At 2 AM "Friday", I came home and set my alarm for 4 AM (I think?). At 7:30 AM, woke up, saw that it was light out, freaked out, scrambled, managed to get down there just in time to put my backpack into the one-day truck. Okay, no partners, 3 hours late, no other fast riders left, but I can do this...

Not 5 miles into the ride, I was hauling ass trying to get around the masses of 15 mph riders, when I caught my front tire in one of those grooves in the center of Lake Washington Boulevard. The crash knocked both wheels (Bonty Race Lites) out of true, and my helmet broke upon impact with the curb. I was a c*** hair away from calling it quits, but since I brought my spoke wrench, I sucked it up, trued the wheels, ignored the road rash and bleeding gashes, and kept going on what became basically a 200-mile solo time-trail. About 6000 "on your left's" later, I rolled into Portland, with a total time of roughly 11.75 hours (including stops and several first-aid sessions...).

Well, I sure am disappointed that I missed the bikeforums train. Maybe next year?

A hint at the damage:

gonefishing4eve

Got up on time, got to the start line in plenty of time and the weather was perfect, contrary to the forecast. This was my first STP and I did it in one day. It took me 11 hrs 55 mins on the bike for a 16.8 mph avg and 14 hrs and 30 mins total. (Stopped for 45 mins in Centralia for a good lunch). It was a great challenge, I have run a marathon recently and I don't remember being that tired. It was very satisfying. The riders on the road were nice enough, except those who refused to yield to "on your left". I met up with the guys from the forums, but as soon as I did, one of the bolts came out of my shoe and I couldn't unclip, almost crashed. So, if you read this Rad/55, it was nice meeting you guys if only for a moment. I am happy to report that other than the shoe problem, which took 2 mins to fix, I had no problems, my $500.00 Giant OCR3 with its Sora components performed flawlessly. So to answer the question it went damn good.

Deanoldo

I wasn't able to hook up with those guys either. Now that I've done my first STP, I know that there is now way on this earth I could have done it in 10 hours anyway..... I ended up starting at 5:15 and finishing at 7:15. I stopped about every 25 to 30 miles for water and food and I spent an hour in Centralia where I ate some spaghetti and rested up a bit. The pace lines were absolutely amazing. I hooked up with 4 other guys around Spanaway and we were cruising along at about 22mph, I went to drop back and all of a sudden there were like 20 people all lined up behind us. I don't even know where they came from.... I saw three crashes, all due to people not paying attention and crossing wheels. I've also never seen so many people changing tires. I think there was someone fixing a tire about every 100 yards..... Heck, I was filling my water bottle in Centralia just standing there next to my bike and I heard a sound like a gun shot. I look over and by rear tire just exploded....... All in all, it was an amazing experience. I'm definitely in again for next year......

Dean

55/Rad

Ride was fantastic. We were able to keep to a 20 mph average and I'm sure I speak for the group when I say we are feeling it right now.

I have stories to share but will wait until I can keep my eyes open.

Gonefishing4eve - it was great to meet you. I feel like a shmoe for losing you.... Honestly, we were cruising pretty good there and when we got to natural slowing place, I looked back to see you were gone. I'm sorry I didn't realize you had the shoe problem....we would have have certainly waited.

55/Rad

Jakey

Did it in two days... could've done it in one.. No crashes, no flats... spent too much time cleaning the bike though...damn rain. Funny thing is... I would look back and have a dozen riders on my wheel....then we would hit a small little incline and the whole group would just shatter. I really hate riding with the 'we can go fast downhill' groups... Do these people ever climb?

Stjtoday

Kept my eye and ears open for anyone from the forum, but had a couple buddies to ride with so wanted to make sure I didn't loose them. (My first STP) Would have been great to meet you all, don't think I could keep the 20 mi ave, we finished at 17.3 but was an awesome day. The weather window was incredable, as if the sky opened up just for our ride.

Grats all, and glad to hear eveyone is safe!

velocity

Feel a little tired in the glycogen stores this morning but all is good. I keep a 19.1 mph pace second day first day rode at 17 something with the original group but had to shake it for a more serious push. Went to the beer tent at Centrailia and watched the Tour on the big screen that they provided and drank a cold ONE. Fell a sleep so fast it hurt. Next day rained in the morning and tapered off in the afternoon. Got back a little after 2 on Sunday. Good don't you guys just love that little insult hill at Montgomery Park? Velocity

And to all those wheel leaches out there thanks for nothing

DinoShepherd

55 - Does this mean I won't see you at PIR tonite?

-Z

gonesh9

It was exhilarating! So great to ride with Rad, FormulaBen, BarleyRocket, Patriot, Mr. Ballistic... Like Rad said, we finished with a 20mph average, although it took us over 15 hours with all the stops. We were certainly one of the tougher pacelines out there, cruising by countless others throughout the day. Everyone did their share of pulling the train, although Rad did a little more than his fare share. It blew me away when he took off on a 28 mph sprint at about mile 180. At that point my ass was feeling like it just went through the wood chipper. All in all a wonderful, grueling, pain-inducing ride, with 5 super strong bikeforum members, all with a lot of heart.

bunnyrabbit

When did you guys roll in? I started out around 8:00 and rolled in at 7:45 +/- 10 minutes (ok, so I guess that's 11.75 total). I tried not to dally at the stops. I'm still curious if anyone recognized me, as I'm sure I was hard to miss. I was wearing a yellow/blue jersey (big COLOMBIA on the back) with definite signs of carnage behind the right shoulder. Also, depending on the time of day, a bloody or bandanged forearm. I spent most of the day pounding in the drops on an orange Sarthe.

I can't pedal today. I don't know if it was the crash or the spinning, but a ligament or tendon in the front of my right knee hurts acutely when I try to pedal. There is no pain to the touch, and it's not muscle pain. Does anyone know what's going on? inflamed ACL? I was starting to feel it a little bit at the end of Saturday, but it didn't get bad until a few hours off the bike.

Patriot

I can definitely say it took so long for us, because with the exception of the last couple stops where I REALLY needed the rest, all the other stops I just kind of enjoyed hanging out with you guys, shootin' the breeze, checking out all the blondes....I mean BIKES, and just all around soaking up the whole experience and enjoying it to the fullest.

You know, normally the second day after is the worst for me. however, yesturdays drive home was the very tough. My body was quite stiff. Last night, the wife broke out the lavender oil, and treated me to a fantastic lower back and leg massage. Then, I took a long hot soaker in the tub. I also spent the whole day eating like a famished pig.
Anyway, today, I am a little sluggish, but otherwise feel like a MILLION BUCKS. Matter of fact, I may even do some stretches and get back to commuting tomorrow.

Oh, and whoever that couple was on the tandem on the later part of the second half. I couldn't thank them enough for helping get the pace back up.

koreansteve

I would be in Oregon right now if it weren't for my job (i'm 19, and my whole family left for a family reunion in Portland/Sunriver 2 days ago) and i know that the 3 hour drive to sunriver is magnificent so I would guess that even though it was tough, it was an excellent ride. You can actually see across the state border from my grandparents' house in Portland, as well as Mt. St. Helens.

Just curious, how far is it from Portland to Seattle?

I've been to crater lake before and i definitely want to bike it next time i go.

bunnyrabbit

Man, it kills me to know that I may actually have been able to meet you guys.

Thanks ke422. I think I was averaging slightly over 20 mph while riding but I don't have a computer. I didn't dally much at the stops because I was worried about making it to Portland in time. I left the UW parking lot at 8:00 +/- 10 min, then crashed, but managed to get to Centralia around 1:30.

Patriot

When we got to Centralia around 11:30 or so, we sat and ate lunch, shot the breeze, and really took our time. I suppose we could have easily left alot quicker at most of the stops, since resting an extra 10-15min really isn't going to make a big differance in your performance overall, but does make a differance in the over all time. You figure, if you take 20-25min for a rest stop, when you really only need about 5min, then you just added a good couple hours to your total time. Either way, it didn't REALLY matter to me, but I was kind of glad we had more fun out of it, rather than trying to break some kind of record.
My computer at the end said something like 19.7, but I tended to putt around the parking lots at the rest stops quite a bit, so that really affects the average. However, our actual riding average was a good 20mph, and I am more than happy with that.

bunnyrabbit

Well naturally, an OCP pres should remember to spend an extra 15 minutes at every rest stop in order to allow other cyclists to appreciate his good example.

I on the other hand showed up at rest stops like it was a Halloween ride...

Disappointingly, I did not run into any cute girls offering sympathy (unless first-aid people count).

velocity

OK I wonder if there were any complaints while riding. I had the usual car stuff and then the usual unanounced wheel suckers not to mention the amount of non communications between the riders that made for close calls.
Velocity

Jakey

Wheel suckers who won't take a turn.

The food could've been better... the lunch on the first day was a joke...and the lines for the portajohns were rediculous.

Day old pb&j sandwiches are AWFUL! Thank god they had those BBQ chicken wraps.

All those rest stops, and I think only one with any sort of sports drink... wtf?

8000 riders at ~$80 each = ~$600,000 I know its alot of people...but I *THINK* they could do a better job with the food... That said I'll probably still do it next year...though it will be in one day I think.

bigskymacadam

... was at the end of a three hour training ride and caught up with a 20-23 mph group on sunday. had enough legs to pull them from sauvie island and up the montgomery park hill. soon after, the route changed and i had to head back home. didn't think i had it in me to keep riding. can't imagine how y'all felt after riding for so long.

good job.

formulaben

Gonesh9 is being much too humble here, folks. At one point he pulled for far too long, and he rode a FIXED GEAR bike!!! I was very impressed. I was undoubtedly the weakest of the bunch and at times was just hanging on, trying to do my fair share of pulling towards the end, but it was a struggle just to keep up in the pacelines, let alone the hills. The only saving grace was my extra ballast helped me catch up on the downhill portions! The breaks could have been shorter, but I was having serious issues with back tightness/cramps. Jerry did a great job of motivating us to get on the road and keeping the pace up, but I thought he nearly had a mutiny on his hands in St. Helens! The look of weary bikers was taking over, but there was no way any of us were going to come that far and not finish. I want to thank you all once again and I promise I'll be in better shapee next year. This was only my 2nd century and it was painfully obvious I was unprepared. I spent much too much time behind Rad, Gonesh9, and Patriot; thanks you guys for pulling me along!

Hipcycler

....that's all well and good, BUT, more importantly, which jersey did you end up going with!????

Patriot

I decided to wear the blue Trento. My suspicions were right on target. I must have seen at least two dozen other riders with the new Performance USA jersey. It's a beautiful jersey, but you know me, I need to stick out.

I am going to start a war-thread with Canada here in a minute.

velocity

Hey how long did you guys take turns pulling or was it pull tell you almost puke??
You were so lucky you missed Sundays weather. It was wind and rain burdened untill afternoon. High way 30 and wind/rain what a combination. So whats the next goal ladies and gentiles?
velocity

khuon

Well, I didn't do it this year. I should have considering all the folks from BikeForums who turned out. Oh well... anyways... here are two figures for distance. You decide which is correct.



Curiously enough, the computer was fairly dead-on in Centralia...

khuon

RSVP of course. Although I am going to need to skip that too this year.

Patriot

The thread-lock on the screw holding the computer mount to my bike wore off, and there was a few roads that were so rough, the darn computer almost fell off my bike. I tightened it once with Gonesh9's multi-tool, but soon came loose again, so off it came. Anyway, it still recorded, even though it was in my jersey pocket. I honestly can't recall the total miles it said (something over 200), but the avg was like 19.7mph.