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Anybody doing STP next year?
I'm really thinking about it. Really really thinking about it. Is it one of those rides that you need to sign up for a million years in advance to get in?
I'm also doing the Danskin tri (August) so I'll be doing some juggling, I think.
Oooh, I wanna do the STP. Then I wanna do the RSVP.
what's the RSVP?
RSVP is Seattle to Vancouver Canada, the hubby and I are thinking we will do it instead of the STP next year.
STP takes lots of riders - I think 8,000 were admited this year - or was it 9,000 so its not too too hard to get entries. Even if it sells out you can usually find somone selling an entry right up to the last day.
RSVP admits far fewer so its best to sign up as soon as possible. The first opportunity I think may be at the Bike Expo in February and I think you will always get in if you sign up at that time- plus they take some money off the entry fee if you do it there.
As far as I know RAMROD is the only ride around here that there is serious competition for entries. You put your name in for a lottery and if you get picked you get picked and you are not allowed to sell or transfer your entry.
How's the weather usually for either one?
You definitely don't need to sign up months in advance for STP--they take 8000-9000 riders. RSVP, though, I hear, fills up fast, and takes a much smaller number of riders. Mimi can fill you in on that.
Having done the STP two years in a row, we're thinking of concentrating on other long tandem rides next year. I highly recommend doing the STP, though--it's a ton of fun. We did it in two days last year, and going over the Longview Bridge with gazillions of other riders, led by the Goldwing motorcycle folks, has a pageantry that's really, really worth experiencing once. We did it in one day this year---easier on a tandem than on a single, I think. The one day was also great, since you tend to stay ahead of the huge crowds, and your adrenalin keeps you going. We'll probably do it again sometime. My family doc, a totally delightful young jock, has done it on a tandem nine times as part of the medical team---once with her 65-year-old dad. Lots of people do it over and over again. So go for it! It's really fun.
Hey, Eden and I cross-posted. Eden, this year for RAMROD they started allowing transfers.
Weather for us for the two STPs has been good---2005, cool and cloudy; 2006, sunny, 80ish, and with a tailwind, even (not the prevailing wind direction so a lucky event). I have heard about one year that was really rainy, stormy, and awful. Mr. Salsa and I agreed on some drop-dead/no STP conditions---either very rainy/windy, or temp over 85. The week after this year's STP, it hit 97; we wouldn't have gone had that happened the week before--just too painful. Usually, though, our summer starts around July and goes through September--and once summer is here it is typically temperate and sunny for weeks and weeks.
I've done the STP 4 times now and the weather has been generally cooperative. I think it drizzeled one morning (out of all the times I've done it), but nothing worse than that. Our summers are usually pretty dry around here (well kept secret that), but not excruciatingly hot, so its nice bike weather.
BTW - both STP and RSVP are put on by the Cascade Cylcing Club and more information can be had at www.cascade.org
I signed up for a tri that weekend :( It's in my backyard (well, the bike goes by my backyard anyway ;)), so how can I argue. I really want to do STP someday, but I think next year I'll have to pass. There are always so many things going on that weekend, ARGH!
I am really glad I did STP, but I don't see any reason to do it again. I might, if I could have any hope of doing it in 1 day, but that's not for me. I rode with several people this year, 4 of us for the first time. Two of those 4 were smitten and talking about 2007 by the time we got to Portland. The other two of us were dumbfounded, why would anybody want to do this ride? It wasn't that pretty, it was way too crowded, it was dangerous in many places...
I think for me it was my blood boiling at all of the cyclists, rude to each other and terrible to cars! I completely understand the guy who (I'm told) puts tacks out in front of his house every year - he apparently didn't do it in 2006. The cyclist ride several abreast, cut off cars, just take over. I believe in "taking the lane" when there are 20 cyclists, I think it's safer. But, where there are 8000 - it's asking for some driver to go postal, they are completely trapped by cyclists for 2 days.
Between my high blood pressure at cyclists paying no attention to each other or cars and the lack of scenery (I really liked the ride around Napa View, I think it was), the constant turns (one good thing about all those other cyclists is not getting lost), the bad roads...
I won't ever do it again. I might consider it if they only allowed 4000 riders, might make it a fun pleasant ride.
I've heard many good things about RSVP, so that's what I'm shooting for next year. I'll never be a strong enough rider for RAMROD.
I was thinking about STP until I saw how many riders were involved. I'm completely with you TsP, I really dislike large group rides nowadays.
Hmmmm, maybe I will do more research on the RSVP.
RSVP is a really pretty route. Hubby and I drove along Chuckanut Drive up to Bellingham a few years ago and we were thinking what a nice bike ride that would be. We wouldn't mind retiring up that way ... someday ...
Nuts. The RSVP looks like the same weekend as the Danskin Tri.
Yeah, the Bellingham/Whatcom County area is nice. That's why 75,000 new people have moved there in the last 15 years. Housing prices have skyrocketed. Traffic is crazy. The character of the "City of Subdued Excitement" has definitely changed. Fairhaven has turned into an "Olde Fairhaven" theme park.
The artists and hippies and old-timers have moved out to Everson and Sumas and Nooksack.
(oops, I'm sorry, is my bitterness showing?)
You know what they say "you can't go home again". Sigh.
Hmmmm, STP is sounding a bit like the Tour De Peninsula (Bay Area ride that friends don't let friends do the TDP), RSVP sounds better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TsPoet
I did STP once, it was quite an important accomplishment for me, almost a rite of passage here in the NW but i don't want to do it again. Too many miles on un interesting roads.
But i'd like to do RSVP again. Che Bella!!
It was so fun to go to Canada and through customs on my bike!
:)
Oh, WHY does RSVP have to be on THAT weekend? The Danskin website doesn't have the 2007 schedule up yet, but I have a sinking feeling.
http://www.cascade.org/EandR/rsvp/index.cfm
(oh dear, oh dear, oh dear)
Flossie wants to do both. RSVP sure would be fun with a bunch of TE'rs...
Yes, that's a drag. There are only a few really "safe" weekends in Seattle for weather. that one might be IT.
:rolleyes:
I've done STP 6 times, the first time was back in 1986 when there was only a few thousand folks. STP is well organized given the size and scope of the event.
As an experienced cyclist though, one has to go into it being prepared for the wide range of skill sets of those riding along. Yes, there's folks riding two or three abreast not giving way to cars, yes there's those who forget to pull over when they come to a stop in the middle of the bike path. But I don't think there's a ride out there with 9000+ riders on the road that's without people who lack experience (or good judgement) when riding in large groups.
My DP and I get a kick out of seeing people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, ages and ability out there working to achieving a common goal. Who can forget the skateboarder, those guys on big wheels, and the unicyclist, not to mention the old guy on the cruiser bike wearing jeans and the fellow who cycled all the way using a one-armed hank crank?
For many, STP is as much a social event as it is a double century, but we have found that we prefer starting early to get ahead of those for whom this might be their first big event, and we stay away from the large food stops (and long porta-pottie lines).
We're planning to do it again in 2007.
Yes, agree with all of your points, java...and I'm also a 6-time STP veteran - I rode it in 2-days during my first STP weekend in 1999, but have been a 1-day rider ever since. Speaking of the high number of people to ride it, that was the main incentive for me to ride it in 1 day, as one-day'ers have the road pretty much to themselves after the halfway area, where most riders stop, get their gear bags and head to their overnight locations...They don't close the Longview Bridge for 1-day riders and by the time I got over it each year, it became a mind game, as it's all psychological at that point, being in the saddle for so long and I just used the incentive of a cold beer as well as a hot shower - in my hotel room across the street, to keep me headed towards Portland! Yes, it makes for a long day, but I have a leisurely dinner, and can sleep in the next morning, enjoy a hot, sit-down breakfast and walk across the street to enjoy the finish line festival and welcome in any friends who are doing it in 2 days...
It is, as someone here mentioned, a kind of a rite of passage here in the NW, however my cousin's husband has come in from Fairfield, CT to ride the STP every year since 1997! The club opens up online registration for the STP sometime in January and yes, there is also registration at the Bike Expo (3/10, 11/2007) and @8-9000 riders are allowed. Also, since the STP weekend was moved to July, there has more reliable dry weather...although I've had to ride through some cloudbursts enroute a couple of times...and, if you start early early enough, you can avoid the hottest part of the day on the road.
Re: RSVP - yes, this used to be limited to 200 riders, but I heard that that number was increased recently;I'd still recommend registering early though, as it's become a very popular ride and for good reason. There aren't as many inexperienced cyclists who ride the RSVP, as it's a hillier ride than the STP (which is considered a very flat double century route). There is a need to plan your lodging early too, for both the mid-point overnight as well as in Vancouver, as well as arranging for yours and your bike's transport back home. It's a beautiful route and the acronym actually means Ride Seattle to Vancouver and Party! For the past few years, it's been on the same weekend as the international fireworks show in Vancouver too - spectacular!
This ride used to be held on the first Friday/Saturday in August, but it looks like it very well may conflict with the Seattle Danskin triathlon next year, which is usually scheduled during that 3rd weekend in August...beware too that the Danskin registration fills up about as fast as the RSVP does though, so those of you who want to do both may have a tough choice ahead of you.
That's my $.02!
Tailwinds!
Mary
STP?? Been there; done that--won't ever do it again.................
I've done STP three times
1) 2 days on my single
2) 2 days on a tandem
3) 1 day on a tandem
The only way I can ever see doing it again is if I decide to try it on my single in 1 day. I tend to agree with TsPoet. It's really not very scenic and I don't especially enjoy riding with that many people. That's the great part about being a one day rider. After the REI rest stop in the morning, it really thins out. On my one day ride, we didn't even stop until mile 45. That got us out of the crowds fairly early on.
I'd very much like to do RSVP. I have several friends who've ridden it who say its a delightful ride. Much more scenic than STP. I also hear its a great route for a tandem (lots of rollers) so perhaps Jeff & I will make it up there this year. I've never been to Vancouver BC, so I may have to make a real vacation out of it!
Susan
Susan! Vancouver is GORGEOUS. The secret to this weekend is to try to make reservations at the Best Western Sands Hotel on English Bay--then you just get some picnic food and books, and hit the beach two hours before the fireworks, which are out on a barge right in the bay. It is fabulous! We haven't done RSVP yet, but we did do the fireworks thing several years in a row, going up on the train. You really see fancy stuff. One year China did a wisteria tree in fireworks. Was just telling SadieKate about all this. Best neighborhood restaurant---Malaysian, the Banana Leaf, right around the corner on Denman. And not far away is the Great Blue Heron rookery in Stanley Park.
Can you tell I like Vancouver, yet??
What if we all did RSVP next year, and made reservations there and did the fireworks, too?
I've got all kinds of connections for cars and rides and emergency contacts on the route.
I would love to do RSVP, it sounds REALLY cool. I LOVE Vancouver, too :) RSVP must be a ton more scenic than STP, that is not necessarily the world's most scenic route (at least it's not Seattle to Spokane, that would probably be worse -- not to mention climbing 2500+ feet).
There is Red-Spoke, Redmond to Spokane put on by the Redmond Rotary Club. It takes 5 days and from looking at the route it actually sounds pretty nice - they go over route 2 to then down through Grand Coulee to get to Spokane.Quote:
Originally Posted by colby
"Rotary Club of Redmond welcomes you to our Redmond to Spokane bicycle adventure. Started in 1988 as one of the club's fund raisers, this event is known throughout the bicycling community as the premier ride of its kind in the Northwest. With the sun in your face and the wind at your back, experience fun, excitement, fellowship and adventure on this 300-mile ride across beautiful Washington State. Enjoy the splendor of the Cascade Mountains, the majesty of river canyons and the beauty of rolling wheat fields. This premier, fully supported ride is limited to the first 100 riders." www.redspoke.org
I also have mixed feelings about doing STP again. The only time I did it was two years ago. I had been training to do it in 2 days, but a few weeks before the event I suddenly had a business trip come up so I decided to just go for broke and do it in 1 day. 19 Hours of Hell On A Heavy Mountain Bike later... :rolleyes:
In spite of the total mayhem and crowds and safety issues I would like to do it again someday, still in 1 day but this time fully prepared and on a light roadbike. Oh, and not being seriously anemic would also be nice. :p
Like many of you, I have been lusting over RSVP for years. I'm planning to buy a ticket once the online registration opens (Jan 1 2007). Although, if I wind up taking summer term classes in 2007 I may have to bail and sell off my registration.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dianyla
Ouch! :eek: I bet all that effort made for a really productive business trip too....
Wow, only 100 riders. A Highway 2 ride would be WAY more scenic than I-90, and 5 days to cross might give you enough time to actually enjoy it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden
They should do a Bicycle Washington tour like Bicycle Idaho and Bicycle Oregon. I suppose you could do your own if you linked STP, RSVP, and this all together ;)
You ain't kidding. I reached the Portland city limits around 11pm and called for my SAG at the Shell in St. Johns. Was in bed within an hour. All I remember about the next day's 6am flight to Chicago was sitting down my seat, slumping over, and suddenly we were landing. My anklebones didn't show up until Thursday due to edema. I should be glad I didn't get DVT, in retrospect. Yeah, I was pretty useless.Quote:
Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas
Thankfully, it was just a training class in which I was a student and already knew much of the material. I was just showing up to do the boot camp thang and pass the certification test on Friday.
/hijack
This kind of exists already in the form of RAW.Quote:
Originally Posted by colby
I am adding STP to my goal list for 2007. But so many negative thoughts. Is it really that bad? I would be in the two day group, I don't think I could even hope to go that far in one day. A local riding club is getting a group together for next year. I've been getting excited about it, but now I'm not so sure.
Would this ride be to much for a humble dryside person? The biggest I ride I've been on to date would be LRRH. I think there were about 1000 riders . . . and it seemed fairly under control.
The other ride I want to try next year is the Chilly Hilly. Any coments on that? The chilly I can handle. It's the hilly that worries me! bikerHen
See Jim Carson's web page for many ratings of STP ("would you do this ride again?") and you'll get a better idea of people's experiences with it. There are many people who love it and do it year after year.
http://www.northwestcycling.com/x/ri...cgi?ride_id=71
I'd say that for a lot of us it's really not that bad, it's just "Been there, done that, got the tshirt!" And then there are those who totally love doing it every year and have a big ol' party.Quote:
Originally Posted by bikerHen
You won't know until you do it at least once. :)
KnottedYet "What if we all did RSVP next year, and made reservations there and did the fireworks, too?"
when's the RSVP? Oh, I'll go look it up. I get to pick my vacation schedule soon, would have to ask Mary (dog sitter)...but it sounds better.
I agree with Dianyla-I've done this ride 3 times now and each time it's been an adventure.
Although some people complain about the scenery, I thoroughly enjoyed riding the back roads of western Washington. Yes, it is a pain to get through all of development at the beginning of the ride, however, Lake Washington is beautiful, and once you get past the Puyallup stuff, it's pretty much country from there on.
Why do I continue to do this ride? Probably because each year someone says they want to do it and I volunteer to come along. I've always done it in two days so I can enjoy the scenery and the great food (if you know where to stay, that is!) and, I've always gone past the mid point which means a double metric the first day instead of two back to back centuries. It makes the 2nd day much more fun and fast!
When you get to the finish line in Portland, you get a hero's welcome! Bannners, crowds of people cheering you, it's very fun. Besides, once you get back to Portland, you can get home in one day by car.
RSVP is a much more difficult ride as there is considerable climbing involved and the weather isn't as reliable. I do love Vancouver BC (site of my first marathon), but somehow I've not wanted to do the ride up there.
Since moving to this area I have been in many biking events EXCEPT the STP! So this year, 2007, is the year I finally get down and ride this dang PNW cycling right of passage! And bonus, my daughter will be doing it with me. I finally get to find out for myself what all the hoopla is regarding this ride and to spend some quality time with my daughter. She and I are eager to begin some serious training the end of February. Right now the weather around here has not been the best for road biking so we have been going to the gym and riding our mountain bikes on the weekends. So here's to July 14 and 15, 2007 and a great ride and time to be had!
Oh, I already have our training routes all planned! :p Wait until my daughter sees what I have in store for her come this spring! :rolleyes:
Hi, to ride the STP has been my goal since last July when I tore my achilles and started this biking thing. But, I will not make it home from VA, until the next week. So I am saddned but looking for a similiar ride in dc/va area. Know of any. oh you can sign up on the STP webpage.:)
Is it better to start off in the front, middle, or end of the pack? I know they send groups out at 10 minute intervals or something like that but where do you think the best start position is among the thousands who ride the STP?
Susan, we always start as early as possible. Sometimes food runs out if you're in the back. If you start early, you miss a lot of the inexperienced and slow riders. Then of course, if you're not fast, people pass you all day, but of course
the other part is, the earlier you leave, the earlier you are done riding!
Both times we started around 4:15 am. It's great! You avoid major crowds for a very long time---the really fast one-day riders pass you early, and then you have long stretches without tons of people.
Thanks Mimitabby and Salsabike for the info regarding start position. I will make sure I am as close to the front this July 14th :)
My daughter said she will do it with me. She has never done anything over 40 miles so this will be a challenge for her. I have done double centuries with my husband before. We are going to start our serious training the first of March. Hopefully the weather will start to calm down by then. She is a fair weather rider. Hmmmmm She is young (24) so it shouldn't be too hard for her to train.