I Signed up for STP. Anyone else?

[smittykitty]

This will be our second ride. We rode three years ago. There are so many reasons not to ride STP, crowd and logistics to name two. I said I had checked it off the list, but it just kept calling!

I really want to look up once in a while (very briefly in a crowd of 10,000 cyclists) and try to enjoy myself. I was so nervous last time, now I know I'm capable of doing this ride. I also find I train better with a big event scheduled way in advance. Hopefully I will get a chance to ride soon.

Hope to hear from others who have signed up too.

[AppleTree]

Hooray Smitty! Me too! I thought you had done STP more than once? I did 2011 and 2012, and just didn't feel like doing it the next two years for one reason and another... I just feel like having a big goal to reach again, it is really motivating isn't it? The 2nd time I did STP, I was thinking at the start line "WHY am I doing this again????" For one reason, I wanted to see if I could better my time of 15 hours that first day, ha ha... and I did (by three hours!). Not sure what my goal will be this year... you definitely learn a few tricks each year you do it. We probably will stay in Winlock again I guess, but 120 miles is a long haul for me...but, like you said, we know we are capable of doing it. It does make a shorter day on Sunday.

Other than a few niggling knee issues, I feel pretty good, like I could do even better this go around. I'm getting my bikes tweaked and ready, so I am looking forward to some long training rides come spring.

And I think lauraelmore is signed up too??

[lauraelmore1033]

All the usual suspects. Dh and I are signed up as well and will do our usual tortoise and hare thing.

[salsabike]

We did tandem STPs in 05, 06 and 09, but haven't yet gotten the urge to do it again. I wish there was some way I could serve as a cheering section for you guys! But cheering someone on at 4 am in E1 just doesn't seem to be a useful idea. :)

[AppleTree]

We did tandem STPs in 05, 06 and 09, but haven't yet gotten the urge to do it again. I wish there was some way I could serve as a cheering section for you guys! But cheering someone on at 4 am in E1 just doesn't seem to be a useful idea. :)

We know you will be there in spirit Salsa...;)

[rebeccaC]

did the sunday one day ride in 2013 with some friends from portland and had a great time. One of those friends called a couple of weeks ago and asked if i wanted to do it again and i said yes.....so i guess i'm going.

agree with appletree on using it as a goal...i did a few doubles that summer/autumn that gave me some good purposeful training time.

[khg]

*Edit* Nevermind, we got impatient, and got a household Cascade membership and are signed up for STP. My 5th, my husband's 8th. Portland, here we come!


I haven't signed up yet, but have a calendar alarm set for when registration opens for non Cascade members. It will be my 5th!

My experience has been that it gets more fun each year, as I have fewer and fewer nerves about being *able* to do it at all, and am more and more able to smell the roses and enjoy the experience.

I'm also excited this year about the new route through Joint Base Lewis-McChord--I think it will be interesting in its own right, and it also cuts out one of my least favorite stretches on the ride. (To be fair, that stretch of 507 would be fine if you're on your own--but you can get trapped in pretty sketchy pacelines through there on STP).

[AppleTree]

I'm also curious about the re-routing through JBLM... I had forgotten about that. Way to go khg, it might have been worth signing up... I know they actually filled up STP fairly early last year, can't remember when it was.

RebeccaC, can't even imagine doing it in one day... you won't have time to take any pictures! ;)

Well, good luck in training everyone! Wouldn't it be fun to meet up Sunday evening for a celebration toast in Portland??

[rebeccaC]

....you won't have time to take any pictures! ;)....

....Wouldn't it be fun to meet up Sunday evening for a celebration toast in Portland??....

yeah i carried fuel not my camera's :)

i do remember posting a iphone photo here after the ride of some of the incredible chocolate desserts we were having at Papa Haydn’s in Portland …..I’m doing that AGAIN!!!....we can toast there!! :)

does this re-routeing mean that climb about 40+ miles in is gone??????

[lauraelmore1033]

yeah i carried fuel not my camera's :)

i do remember posting a iphone photo here after the ride of some of the incredible chocolate desserts we were having at Papa Haydn’s in Portland …..I’m doing that AGAIN!!!....we can toast there!! :)

does this re-routeing mean that climb about 40+ miles in is gone??????
Does that mean you're signing up?
No such luck on the puyallup hill, JBLM is well after that!

[rebeccaC]

I enjoyed the challenge last time and spending riding time with a great friend, her wife and one of their friends so when she called to see if i was interested again I had to say yes :) I'll just send a $200 donation to the Cascade Education Foundation which is more than a membership and registration. I think my portland friends do a family membership to register early.

[salsabike]

Tons of food at the food stops along the way, rebecca! In case you want to take less of your own and have room for that camera of yours. The standard joke is that STP is the only 206-mile ride where people can GAIN weight along the way because they're so well fed. My favorite was when the REI stop had boiled potatoes and salt.

[rebeccaC]

i have a thing about what i put in my body on a ride like that. I like the process of thinking it through, testing in training and then carrying things i know will work well on the time table i've set for the ride......and on a fast double i'd rather carry a tub of icyhot than my camera :)

i did ragbrai a few years ago and gained weight over the week of that riding!!!!.....but then that was more of a moving party across Iowa!!!!

[AppleTree]

Tons of food at the food stops along the way, rebecca! In case you want to take less of your own and have room for that camera of yours. The standard joke is that STP is the only 206-mile ride where people can GAIN weight along the way because they're so well fed. My favorite was when the REI stop had boiled potatoes and salt.

There were potatoes at one of the WAVE rides, I thought it was a brilliant idea! I get tired of sweet stuff pretty fast... also enjoyed the bagels and cream cheese...

RebeccaC, chocolate is a great way to celebrate anything, ha!

[esoterrica]

I'm signed up for STP, and Cascade's training series as well. I was not very enthusiastic about cycling over the fall/winter (just commuting), but the Chilly Hilly was lovely enough to re-spark my excitement. I'll be doing the one day ride with my boyfriend*, his second STP and my third.

*By the time STP rolls around he will be my h...h...h...husband. That is a hard word to type, never mind say, but I'll get used to it I guess?!

[lauraelmore1033]

Congrats!

[TrekDianna]

I'm also excited this year about the new route through Joint Base Lewis-McChord--I think it will be interesting in its own right, and it also cuts out one of my least favorite stretches on the ride. (To be fair, that stretch of 507 would be fine if you're on your own--but you can get trapped in pretty sketchy pacelines through there on STP).

UGH I was stationed at Fort Lewis and I will never enter that place again. That cut this ride out for me :(

[AppleTree]

UGH I was stationed at Fort Lewis and I will never enter that place again. That cut this ride out for me :(

How come TrekDianna? Awful road conditions or just painful memories?? :(

[khg]

So.... STP is sold out--did everyone sign up who wanted to?

Here's to reasonable temperatures and a tailwind the whole way!

[TrekDianna]

How come TrekDianna? Awful road conditions or just painful memories?? :(

Memories. I hated it there. Not painful, just really really hated living there. I don't even like driving by on the highway.

[ACG]

I am riding STP this year. Flying in from Los Angeles Friday, riding it in one day with some other friends who do this almost every year. I did it in 2012 but in two days. This will be my very first double. Hope to see you all on the road!

[salsabike]

ACG, wishing you a great ride! It's easier in one day than two. It really is.

[lauraelmore1033]

Have a great ride ACG! and everyone else. I'm relegated to the cheering section this year. Maybe I'll high five you at the finish line. Sigh.

[khg]

I'm getting excited for STP--fingers crossed, the weather looks like it will be pretty nice, cooler than the heatwave we've been having, and also cooler than last year's scorcher! I hope everyone has a great ride :)

[Trek420]

Not doing the STP but does anyone have thoughts re a pre ride TE dinner ?

[khg]

Not doing the STP but does anyone have thoughts re a pre ride TE dinner ?

Fun idea, but we already have plans with a friend that evening :(

Fyi, if you see two people dressed like this, say hi--it's probably us! We're going to test the theory that if we're in the same jersey, people won't as often try to steal my wheel from my husband, or his wheel from me. (Not like you're getting a huge prize by drafting us anyway, you're way better off drafting our 6' tall, broad-shouldered friend...)

https://mebikedolomitesoneday.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/wp_20141229_011.jpg

[salsabike]

Ride safe and happy, STP people! :)

[smittykitty]

Getting ready and a bit nervous! The butterflies hit all at once!

[khg]

I hope everybody had a good ride! Ours went really well, overall. Even though we had a headwind instead of the usual tailwind, I was so happy with the weather this year--I think cloudy and comfortably cool is my power weather...

I really enjoyed the new route through Joint Base Lewis McChord--I hope that becomes established tradition. Twelve miles of traffic-free roads, instead of angry drivers. Yes please! (As a return to reality, soon after we emerged from the base onto Highway 507, a pickup went by, flying a large Confederate flag, and rolling coal.)

This year seemed to have less sketchy riding than years past--maybe it was just the little bubble that I was in, but whatever it was, it worked for me. There was a woman in the first few miles--when we're 6+ across the road--complaining "you're supposed to call out 'on your left' when you pass"--given that anyone on her left was also on someone's right, I'm not sure how she thought calling out would do anything other than confuse things. But for the most part, people seemed to be attentive, aware, and not taking silly risks

At any rate, for the most part we were able to avoid scary group riding, but were able to hook up with some nice strong pacelines, or just go on our own, and it was probably the least-stress STP I've had. And no mechanicals!

This year really highlighted for me the different kinds of fitness involved in bicycling. I don't have as many long rides this year, but I have been pushing it on the rides I do, both on my commute and on some of the hilly/mountain rides I've managed to get in. I could feel the lack of longer rides in my neck and wrists, and my lower back protested a few times, but on the other hand, I felt way stronger overall. There are a couple places that are always low points for me, and they were again, but there were some other spots where I felt the best I ever have on STP. I felt fast, and strong, and that was really fun!

I'm looking forward to next year!

[rebeccaC]

khg....Thanks for the report I was hoping you and the others here that did it had a good ride….sounds like you did. :)

Two stretches on the bike that really help me on a long ride are a core and back stretch where I sit upright with my back straight. I take my left hand off bar and reach around behind me (to the left) in a twisting motion. I rest my left hand on my right hip and hold. Then I repeat with the right arm and twisting to the right. Obviously since I’m facing backward for a bit I have to be careful when/where I do it. For my wrist/forearm I bend my hand back as far as possible rotating my wrist back and forth.

[lauraelmore1033]

I'm glad you had such a great ride this year khg! This is the first time I've had a chance to see the one day riders roll in--since I'm usually still on the road for myself--but I was kind of in awe of the obvious difference in fitness levels between one and two day riders. It seemed to me that most of you guys looked really fresh, and were riding effortlessly. Breezy smiles all around. Myself, I look like a reanimated corpse that's been forced to ride at the finish (I've seen the pictures, yes I do!).

[VeganBikeChick]

I saw lots of cyclists heading out from Husky Stadium when I was driving home from work on Sat AM. Looked amazing!

[khg]

I'm glad you had such a great ride this year khg! This is the first time I've had a chance to see the one day riders roll in--since I'm usually still on the road for myself--but I was kind of in awe of the obvious difference in fitness levels between one and two day riders. It seemed to me that most of you guys looked really fresh, and were riding effortlessly. Breezy smiles all around. Myself, I look like a reanimated corpse that's been forced to ride at the finish (I've seen the pictures, yes I do!).

Ha ha! you should have seen the one-day finishers last year. We looked like death warmed over--or death thoroughly cooked, considering the temperatures...

I really enjoy watching the second day finishers come in, before we head back home. I find a lot of them way more impressive than the one day finishers, in that for a lot of them, it was clearly more of an achievement than it was for the one day riders. I love seeing that sense of accomplishment, of having taken on a huge challenge, and finished it.

[ACG]

I am very honored to have completed my very first double century at the STP. We finished in the dark. Two of my friends who are double century veterans helped me though it.
I loved every minute of it, all 15 hours of riding. Even in the dark! I'll try to do this ride again next year. The logistics of flying up and hotels, is a hassle but it is so worth it.
I'm just back now, arriving home here in California, just a few hours now. I'm still dreaming good dreams about STP.

I hope everyone else had a good time.

[smittykitty]

Our group of four also had a great two day ride. We rode 140 miles to Castle Rock the 1st day, which made Sunday pretty easy. This was our 2nd ride. I felt much stronger and way more confident this time. We did see three different accidents along the way, two on the Yelm - Tenino trail. I sure hope they are ok.

And yes khb, for me, the two day is a huge accomplishment! Thank you! I could have gone further on Sat., but a one day is a little out of reach!

STP is a crazy thing to do. So many riders, lots of traffic, and the logistics are complicated. Yet we are already talking about a possible next time! Who knows! It seems to call you back! I've found without the commitment, we just don't ride as much.

Cascade is doing a great job. The food was improved from a few years ago, support was good, and JBLM was a highlight. The food voucher and souvenir item (love my new t- shirt) were also a great improvements.

I had a massage and took it easy today. Back to work tomorrow!

[lauraelmore1033]

I am very honored to have completed my very first double century at the STP. We finished in the dark. Two of my friends who are double century veterans helped me though it.
I loved every minute of it, all 15 hours of riding. Even in the dark! I'll try to do this ride again next year. The logistics of flying up and hotels, is a hassle but it is so worth it.
I'm just back now, arriving home here in California, just a few hours now. I'm still dreaming good dreams about STP.

I hope everyone else had a good time.

Congratulations! It can be oddly addictive...

[salsabike]

So glad to hear people had so much fun! The JBLM part sounds supercool.

[AppleTree]

It was the best of rides, it was the worst of rides... ;) KHG, I'm glad you were in a good bubble. The bubble I was in seemed crazier than I remembered. It might have just been me though... still a bit nervous on rough patches of road after my crash (and concussion) in April. And so many people were passing so close to my left, I didn't have room to maneuver around obstacles or ruts. I kept pulling over to let big fast groups ride on by... Didn't see any crashes though, but saw so many close calls with cars... riders not pulling over to the right when they COULD easily have... riders pulling out right in front of cars speeding by, drivers laying on their horns, no wonder they hate us...whew, made me so nervous. There seemed to be a lot more riders this year, every rest stop was just crazy busy, especially the REI stop in Kent. But again, maybe that was just the bubble?? As late as I got into Portland on Sunday, (after 5 pm) the finish line was a zoo, and they WERE OUT OF CHOCOLATE MILK!!! :eek: I was living for that chocolate milk the last 10 miles, ha!! But I did get a massage and that made up for it!

Headwinds slowed me down more than my usual slowness, but it didn't seem all that bad, and I was so grateful for the cooler weather, I didn't mind. Had some rainfall just outside the Tennino trail rest stop, but it didn't last long.

I also loved the route through JBLM, such pretty roads, and nary a car the whole way, wow!! I was unimpressed by the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches though, after getting the impression we were going to get something "special" at the base, but my DH (who was riding at least an hour faster) said he had a nice turkey sandwich. Well, that's what you get for being slow I guess, ha.

One of the best moments for me was right before we got to the Longview Bridge and a big group of riders stopped at the traffic light...a group of riders wearing top hats on their helmets singing along to "Minnie the Moocher", so everyone else joined it. It was hilarious, what a moment! Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-ho...

[AppleTree]

Not sure what the name of the food truck that served the soft carnitas tacos, but still dreaming about that, and the cantaloupe pineapple juice they served... the free meal ticket was great! But I have to say I wasn't impressed with any of the finishing line gifts, gave my ticket to my hubby and he got a metal mug... oh well.

[AppleTree]

. Myself, I look like a reanimated corpse that's been forced to ride at the finish (I've seen the pictures, yes I do!).

LOL! I resemble that remark... hahaha. They have pictures of me coming over the tops of hills... mouth hanging open panting for breath...not a pretty sight. :p

[AppleTree]

Oh, almost forgot...CONGRATULATIONS to all who finished, especially the one day riders. I am totally in awe... :)

[khg]

Yes, congratulations all around! And mad props to those of you who rode 100+ miles on Saturday, and then got up and rode a ton more miles on Sunday--I don't know if I could have done that (or if I had, I would have been so grumpy I would be banned from future participation in STP...)

I guess whichever way you do it--one day, two day--it's a pretty impressive, crazy, and fun thing to do!