mattm

who else is doing it in about two weeks? https://www.redmondcyclingclub.org/RAMROD/RAMROD.html

150 miles, 10k feet of gain. sounds like a blast.




this will be my first year doing it, but i've already done cayuse pass as part of our june 600k brevet. can't wait.

tessabrick

i'm going as a 1st timer. i look forward to the challenge, but i have to admit that i'm terrified. also, i have been dealing w/ some knee issues (hamstring tendons and it, mostly) which have limited my training, but i feel like i can't not do the ride at this point! very torn about the whole thing.

mutantdunk

I'll be a volunteer at backbone ridge taking down bib #'s. My buddies and I are doing this so we can all be sure of riding it together next year. Say hello when you go by.

microtonal

I'll be there. Although I've done a number of the RAMROD training rides I'm sure I'll be suffering. Can't wait

sharkey00

Not this year. But next.

Skyler_WA

Currently I'm #102 on the waiting list, so I'm hoping that lots of people cancel in the next ten days!

patentcad

I'm amazed that in an area so mountainous a 150 mile ride only has 10,000 feet of gain on the route.

That ride is for Wussy. But harder core Wussies than myself.

tessabrick

i posted this in road cycling, but nobody's responded-i'd really love some input...

1. what should i wear? the weather seems unpredictable at best; do i wear long sleeves, tank w/ arm warmers? will i want my leg warmers/tights? jacket?
2. how much food should i bring? i'm spoiled by cascade's supported rides, and this appears to have fewer stops, but i also don't know how much i'll eat, given the level of exertion. also, is the breakfast worth it, or should i have something at my hotel?
3. what time should i get there in the am? i am pretty sure i'll take all 15 hrs to complete the course, but i don't know what kind of traffic and parking stuff to anticipate.

thanks for your advise!!

mattm

rest assured, there are bigger rides out here in the PNW - but they aren't well-publicized events with custom jerseys, big entrance fees, etc..

for instance the 600k brevet in september will do the RAMROD route, plus a jaunt up to the Mt. St. Helens blast zone. that one should be well over 20k feet of climbing!

so for some of us, Ramrod is just a training ride in itself (not to say that it'll be easy..)

scotch

that ride would f-ing kill me.

chairmandave

I did the alternate route last year (due to the damaged roads to the normal course) and it was the best organized ride I've ever done, no question. I wussed out this year to try racing, but it is on my to-do list next year.

The organizers did a great job of providing a wide variety of sensible foods, so I ended up not using most of the food I brought myself. Although, I did eat some of my own beef jerky and fig newtons just to add something to the mix. I'm picky about what I drink, so I also brought some Nuun hydration tablets.

I was riding solo, so I started 15 minutes after the starting line opened. I melt in the heat, so the cool air of the morning was a great way to start the ride (I didn't bother with any jackets or arm/leg warmers).

Have fun!!!

John H.

I'm in.

I plan to start the ride with arm warmers. Knee warmers if it's going to be below 50 at the start of the ride. Last year the route took us along the river valley for the first couple of hours -- I had no feeling in my hands or toes by the time we got to the base of the Sunrise climb.

I wouldn't load my pockets with a lot of food. There is plenty at the stops. Just take enough with you to tide you over between rest stops if you need it. I'll take a few bags of clif bloks.

Try to be on the road by 5:30.

Most important -- Ride your own ride. Set your own pace. Enjoy!

mattm

i'm brining arm warmers, long-fingered gloves, and a rain/wind-proof jacket, just in case. i've ridden enough mountain passes to know that the weather below usually isn't the same up top.

btw here are two writeups from riders who've done the route solo or in small groups, some photos included:

* https://tripieper.blogspot.com/2008/0...-ramroded.html
* https://greenhornetrandoing.blogspot....-126-ramr.html

it's gonna be fun - i'll be on a blue/white ciocc.

tessabrick

ooh! long-fingered gloves! hadn't thought of that one!!!! sounds good so my fingers don't freeze, as they're prone to do

zacster

That ride always scared me. I considered doing it in the early days back in the 80s, but never felt like I'd be strong enough to finish.

tessabrick

I'm not sure I am strong enough. But I'm going to give it a try. Wish me luck!!!

tessabrick

(and everyone else, as well!!)

TheKillerPenguin

?

Skyler_WA

Post-Ride Report:

It was a beautiful, mostly-clear day with temperatures from 43 degrees up to about 75 degrees.

I wore arm warmers, long-fingered gloves, and a windbreaker vest at the start and took them off at the first food stop, but then I put the vest back on for each of the three big decents. I brought my tights with me but never needed them.

I rolled out from the start line right at 5:30am and got to the finish line at 4:42pm.

Matt, I looked for your blue Seattle Rando jersey (like I saw on the ST) but never saw it -- maybe you were wearing something different this time?

How was the ride for you guys?

mattm

it was a great ride!! sounds like you finished pretty quickly, skyler - congrats.

i rode to enumclaw, 38 miles away from seattle (had to start at 3:15 AM!). got on the course a little late, probably around 6:15 or 6:30, so i was behind you all day i guess. finished at 6:15 PM. didn't see a lot of other riders until the climb up to paradise, where i caught up with the "pack."

some pics:

the view of rainier from about 30 miles away from enumclaw (heading down hwy 169):


view of rainier with its lenticular cloud on top:


entering rainier natl park:


getting closer (taken from the paradise climb):


awesome view from paradise:


riders at the top:


the whip atop of cayuse pass:


it was an awesome ride, and afterwards i rode home (luckily mostly downhill!). unfortunately was hit with a decent amount of rain by the time i got to renton. those last 10 miles took forever, due to cold feet. got home at about 10 PM.

ride distance: 226 mi / 363 km
total time: 3:15 AM to 10 PM, roughly 19 hours overall.

BengeBoy 

Congrats all!

Beautiful ride, it's my goal for next year.

Matt, hope to see you on the High Pass Challenge....

sirpoopalot

there is a gay bar in boston called the ramrod.

mattm

thanks for the tip..

tessabrick

Well, I wasn't as fast as the rest of y'all, but I'm pretty proud of myself for finishing in 14 hrs. I was afraid I would be swept up at Inspiration, so as far as I'm concerned, I did well! Goal for next year: no cast on my hand!

mattm

congrats on the finish! with a cast on your hand too?! nice.

fwiw i think the fastest did it in ~7 hours (!!), so we're all slower than someone else..