STP Hit & Run Article

[oxysback]

Thought I'd post this about the cyclist that got hit about 40 miles from Portland on Sunday.

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_071507WAB_stp_ride_hitandrun_SW.7a934bde.html

Hope everyone else that did this ride got to Portland safe and sound. I was on support car duty for DH this year...but maybe next year!!

[mimitabby]

my husband was by there on the tandem right after it happened. He saw them taking folks away on stretchers.

Anyone else ride STP? (I didn't, i was designated driver)
They had pretty good weather except sat. afternoon was really hot.

[dex]

I did it. Luckily, other than a blown knee, I finished relatively unscathed. Seeing that hit-and-run article kind of turned my stomach a little. I really can't wrap my head around what kind of space cadet could manage to hit a rider during an event that big. The roads were pretty well covered with cyclists, so you really couldn't miss seeing them.

I'm trying to put together a ride report, but I keep getting distracted. Hopefully, I'll have something coherent sometime today...or else you'll get a bunch of random bullet points with *'s to block out the cussing. LOL.

[mimitabby]

it was a drunk ex-convict.
and he fled the scene. But they found him!

congrats on finishing. what do you mean, a blown knee?

[dex]

congrats on finishing. what do you mean, a blown knee?

Thanks. :)

I was having some knee problems in the couple of weeks leading up to the STP, and about forty miles in on Sunday my left knee was letting me know that it was very not happy. Ibuprofen, frequent stops, and ice packs kept the pain at bay enough for me to finish (I was absolutely determined to get to the finish line), but a check-in with the doctor this morning has confirmed that I'm probably off the bike for a bit--at the very least until all of the swelling and fluid pressure is gone.

Other than that, I feel awesome. I'm loving running my hands over the solid tightness that is my leg muscles, and thinking about how far they carried me this weekend.

[East Hill]

Congratulations, Dex! We'll let you recover, then we'll expect you to join us again on Sundays :p .

Well, if you want to, that is :) .

East Hill

[dex]

Oh, I'm sure I'll join you again on Sundays. It just may take a couple of weeks to get my knee to agree. :D

[East Hill]

Just let us know! I'm sure glad to hear that you are all right except for the knee--I've seen so many reports of riders down and injured from the STP that I think we were all worried :o .

East Hill

[orcoz]

This was our first STP. My hubby, his brother and brother's wife and I all made the two day trek together.
We started late - 7:30 - last of the "official" starts. Seattle was nice in that the traffic control was really good. The officers were polite, and I think the riders were polite in return. The roads were not in the greatest shape, but I don't ever ride up there-so that may be normal.
The lake was gorgeous in the AM!
When we pulled into the 1st Stop (REI), there were lots of riders there - we felt like we were gaining ground. Then it took the mechanic 45 minutes to change DH's flat. They were literally closing down the stop by the time we were done. (ugh!)
Off we go - Kent and Auburn just weren't pretty. Kind of dusty too. Puyallup was nice. Again the officers did a great job of traffic control, and there were a bunch of people just cheering the cyclists on. I wish they'd have had an officer at the bottom of "the hill." We hit the light at red and started up that bugger from a standstill. Regardless, it really wasn't bad.
The top of the hill to the Spanaway stop was kind of a blur. The line for water was insane! Again we made it to the stop with lots of folks present, so we were feeling good again. However it took another 30 minutes to get brother-in-law's tire replaced - so we were towards the back again.
The next segment was more of a blur until we reached a narrow stretch of highway (must've been 507). For as far as we could see - riders - all going pretty SLOW (we weren't speed demons).....trying to pass along that stretch was dangerous at times. Ick.
The bike path was nice. We saw one rider down, but medics were already on scene and I heard something about a shoulder injury.
We went to Chehalis the first day. Other than the occasional hoot from a loud truck and then a gun of an engine - it was nice. We couldn't imagne trying to camp in Centralia...did any of those people sleep?
The second day with the rollers was a refreshing change. We started earlier, and I think we were generally with more experienced riders. We came across one gal who we think took a header, knocked out some teeth and broke her nose. They were being cautious though and making her stay still. Again - QUICK aid response - very impressive!!
Except for another exceptionally long pit stop (45+ minutes to look at a derailler) we were clicking along.
Once we crossed the bridge into Oregon - it was very different. The riders were still nice, but fatigue was setting in for most, and we didn't see one officer or, well, anyone doing traffic control. We thought highway 30 had the potential to be very dangerous. And once we got to St. Helens, it stopped being pretty. That was kind of sad.
The finish line was awesome. They did a great job organizing a very festive finale.....
Overall a GREAT ride. Lesson learned though - leave early, be aware, and have a great time!!

[dex]

We couldn't imagne trying to camp in Centralia...did any of those people sleep?

Pretty much everyone started passing out in/around their tents around 8:30. It was actually really quiet pretty much all night (at least in the area I was in).

[bikerchick68]

thanks for posting the article... we were ahead of the accident, and saw police, fire and then ambulance fly by us heading north as we rode south... I knew it wasn't good...and then on the bus home there was a guy who had witnessed it... it shook him up too. I'm REALLY glad the rider lived and has been upgraded to fair condition... great news that!

we rode to Kelso the first night and stayed in a motel... I slept like a ROCK! :)

[oxysback]

thanks for posting the article... we were ahead of the accident, and saw police, fire and then ambulance fly by us heading north as we rode south... I knew it wasn't good...and then on the bus home there was a guy who had witnessed it... it shook him up too. I'm REALLY glad the rider lived and has been upgraded to fair condition... great news that!

we rode to Kelso the first night and stayed in a motel... I slept like a ROCK! :)

Oh, absolutely! It could have been much, much worse than it was.

Thanks for posting your ride report...I love reading them...especially for a route I'm semi-familiar with (not because I've actually ridden it...but I've driven it for 5 years!). Maybe next year will be my year. :)

[mimitabby]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/323898_stp17.html

new article about the STP rider who was hit.

[bikerchick68]

mimitabby... thanks for that update... I'm back in San Diego so I wouldn't have seen it... so glad to hear he's feeling positive and doing OK all things considered... :)