Courage Classic this weekend ....

[Susan126]

Anyone else besides me doing the Courage Classic this weekend?

Sue

Courage Classic (http://www.courageclassic.com)

[Susan126]

2003 Courage Classic Pictures (http://community.webshots.com/user/gloxy)

[MM_QFC!]

Hey, great pics, Sue! So, how was it? Looks like you had great support, great weather and a great ride (root beer floats on the climb up Stevens - better than having to dig hot, mushy power bars out of your jersey pocket, eh?!).
I'd like to hear more about it, from your perspective, so if you're up for sharing more info about it, would you please?
I know I kidded you about the "princess ride" w/hotel rooms, but I also know that it didn't make the ride any easier. It may have helped you get the rest that you needed, in comfort, but I know it was still a tough ride - great job!
Mary

[Susan126]

The ride was just great! Pat stayed at my place on Friday night. My hubby Joe drove us to North Bend for the start. We woke up to thunder, lightning, and rain! But the further east we drove the clearer the sky got and the less rain came down until there was no rain. Our three day ride was to be sunny and warm. Low 80's. On the first day of the Courage Classic we rode entirely on I-90. It was the only part of the Courage Classic that I did not care for. The traffic was loud! You could not hear a thing. I had to scream, "On your left!" and even so, people could not hear me. The shoulder was wide but glass was everywhere. We only got off I-90 for our rest stops and lunch. Lunch at Snoqualmie Pass was wonderful. Dinner in CleElum was a feast! Baked salmon, dozens of salads and side dishes, Fajitas, roast beef, BBQ, desserts galore! Peach and blueberry cobblers, cake, cookies, and fruit. Day two was 100% better. NO I-90!!!! The climb up Blewett, in my opinion, was gradual and easy except for the last 5 miles. The first part of Blewett I was in my big gear up front and middle gear in back! The last 5 miles I was in my granny gears! The downhill was awesome! 15 miles down Blewett at 45 miles per hour for me! Wow! At the finish in Leavenworth Pat and I had wonderful massages. We started at 7 and finished at 1 pm! Not bad! Checked into our hotel, showered, napped, then got up and headed for the Leavenworth Lions park for dinner (we stopped at Visconti's for a glass of wine on the way). Dinner in Leavenworth was chicken, steak, baked potatoes, salad, rolls, fresh fruit, baked beans, and carrot cake for dessert! Day three and our final climb started off once again sunny and bright! We went back to the Lion's Park for breakfast of scrambled eggs, waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, danishes and pastries, coffee, juices, and tons of fruit. After breakfast we began the 45 mile climb to the summit of Stevens Pass! First part was very gradual. Rest stops along the way were fantastic. Bagels, cookies, rootbeer floats, fruit, power bars, you name it they had it! After our final rest stop we began what must have been the hardest climb I have ever did since I started road biking. It was HARD and very very STEEP! I won't kid you when I say I almost got off and walked and I have never walked a hill. I really considered it a few times the last 5 miles going up Stevens! But I beared with it and made it! After another fantastic lunch Pat and I began our 19 mile downhill descent. I didn't have to pedal to reach 40 miles an hour in seconds! I felt like I was in the Tour de France going down the Pyrenees! I had the entire right side of the road to myself. It's a four lane and there was very little traffic. The cars that were going down used the left lane leaving the far right lane to us bikers. It was a fast screaming fun descent. I never knew a bike could go that fast! About 14 miles down we took a side road. Iron Goat Road. How beautiful. It took us off the main road onto a single lane road through some beautiful forest. It followed a little river or stream. It was surreal to me. I was sad to see the finish line. Pat's husband, John was waiting for us. After signing in and collecting our luggage we headed home. I couldn't believe what a fun weekend it turned out to be. I had so much fun! I would do it all over again in a flash. Words just can't describe it all. It is something that you will always treasure. It was great!

I don't think that it was a hard ride. You bike 60 miles a day with full support. There were usually two rest stops before the lunch stop and a rest stop after the lunch stop. Then dinner at the end of every day. 60 miles is not that bad. If you start at 7 you can be finished by 1 or 2 and that includes rest and lunch stops. At least Pat and I were finished by 1 or 2. This gives you plenty of time to shower and nap before dinner at 5:30. Training is key. Pat and I trained and rode a lot in May and June.

Don't let the three passes scare you. Pat and I were apprehensive but found out we worried over nothing. Yes, Stevens was a hard climb but it's doable. Just train. It was the highlight of my summer so far. But my summer is not quite over. This Friday Joe and I are leaving for Sunriver, Oregon for a week. We are taking both our road and mountain bikes along with us for a week of biking fun! So .... stay tuned, Mary!

Sue :D

[waterlilli]

Food yum! Just kidding, that almost sounds doable for me, maybe something I could work towards (someday).

I love your photos, they are absolutly inspiring. My favorite one is you and the Dirt Chixs.

[Susan126]

Thanks waterlilli ... the dirt chix picture is one of my favorites, too. Melissa, the dirt chix teammate on the far right in the specialized jersey, she has that same picture blown up and framed on her wall in her computer room!

The Courage Classic is doable and a ton of fun! We are going to try and get a "team" together for next year! The more the merrier so they say!

:D

[MM_QFC!]

Hey, thanks for the ride report, Sue.
Yeah, while I haven't done that particular ride, I have ridden each leg over the years; I love to ride Blewett the most! Have done it from both sides and think it's easier from the Ellensburg side...the grade gets a bit steeper only close to the summit and what a screaming downhill, eh? It's for a great cause too; glad you had fun.
Mary

[waterlilli]

Susan126- Tell me about the fundraising please. Did you find it easy/hard? I am bad at asking people for donations, but 400$ does not seem like it would be too hard. When did you start?

[Susan126]

Hi waterlilli,

Sorry I didn't answer sooner but I just got back from a week vacation in Sunriver, Oregon. Hubby and I just rolled back in tonight.

To answer your question ... it wasn't that hard at all. I am a paraeducator and I asked everyone at the school where I work for donations. I explained what the Courage Classic was and even made up little flyers! I told them it was for a great cause, and it was, and they just jumped right in and donated. I raised over $1,000.00 so I made the minimum $400.00 that was required. The Courage Classic was in August. I started asking way back in April. That was when I committed myself by mailing in my registration!

You'll be surprised how giving people can be when they know it's for a good cause. The Mary Bridge Children's Hospital is a well known hospital in our area. And many people already knew about the work they do with abused children.

You know I was afraid myself, waterlilli, but after the first few encounters at asking it started to get easier. Go ahead and go for it and see for yourself! Let me know, ok?! :)

Sue