Stp 2010

[XMcShiftersonX]

I'm surprised no one has talked about this yet! Less than a week away. Who is doing it this year?

I'm nervous but excited, as it will be my first STP experience. I'm doing the 2 day.

See ya out on the road!

-Jessica

[colby]

Looking forward to some race reports - I'm considering doing it next year. I really want to do it, despite it coming in at about 3 weeks after Ironman. I know I'd have to take it easy.

Good luck to everyone doing it!!

[Susan126]

That's me too . . . nervous but also very excited! It will be my first one day stp. I've already done the two day.

Good luck to everyone this Saturday! Tailwinds to all!

[thelawgoddess]

I'll be there on Saturday. First time STP rider. One-day. I just looked at my training log and I've ridden 1,699 miles since March 30th in training for this.

I'm also using this ride to raise awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.

[kfergos]

I'm not doing it this year, but I did it in 2008 and 2009. Be careful out there, ladies -- there are a lot of inexperienced, unprepared bicyclists out on this ride, and every year people get hurt.

Expect long lines for the port-a-potties.

Oh, and have fun, too! There's nothing like riding with 10,000 other people.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I'll be there on Saturday. First time STP rider. One-day. I just looked at my training log and I've ridden 1,699 miles since March 30th in training for this.

I'm also using this ride to raise awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Sheisse! That's more than I've ridden all year for this (I'm at 1,330 since January!), I think you will be more than ready. Good luck!

[XMcShiftersonX]

Looking forward to some race reports - I'm considering doing it next year. I really want to do it, despite it coming in at about 3 weeks after Ironman. I know I'd have to take it easy.

Good luck to everyone doing it!!

I could be wrong, but I think doing this after an Ironman, esp. if you did the 2 day, would be a piece of cake! It would be like a recovery ride... (haha okay, that may be a little exaggeration. ) Good for you for doing those though, I'm always impressed by people who can do them.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Anyone know what I should expect as far as parking wait times/traffic on Saturday morning? My friends and I plan to start no later than 5:45, so I'll probably want to be parked by 5:20-5:30. I'm coming from Renton and I was planning on leaving the house at 4:30. I know people said parking for Flying Wheels was bad and to expect an hour wait, but when I actually got there I parked within 5 minutes, so either they became more organized, or I was just there early enough. Any advice would be appreciated!

-Jessica

[ZooZoo]

It wasn't too bad last year. Just remember that this year the 45th street viaduct is not open (being demolished, actually) so make sure you print out the directions for alternate routes on the Cascade website.

Anyone know what I should expect as far as parking wait times/traffic on Saturday morning? My friends and I plan to start no later than 5:45, so I'll probably want to be parked by 5:20-5:30. I'm coming from Renton and I was planning on leaving the house at 4:30. I know people said parking for Flying Wheels was bad and to expect an hour wait, but when I actually got there I parked within 5 minutes, so either they became more organized, or I was just there early enough. Any advice would be appreciated!

-Jessica

[MM_QFC!]

Hey Jessica,
They're probably still using the E-1 parking lot and there are folks who camp there on Friday night so, no matter what time you get there, there will be plenty of activity. http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/stp_startline.cfm

1-day riders start exiting the parking lot onto Montlake Blvd at 4:45, so if you come along Montlake Blvd after exiting hwy 520, you may well run into back-ups as cyclists cross to Pacific St. There will be tons o' cars with full bike racks inching along at every entrance to the parking lot, so just be patient as when you get in, it's a lot large enough for all, as it shouldn't take long at all to actually park. You may walk a ways to drop off gear bags at the truck (pick the correct truck! look for a sign with your overnight stop name) and porta potties, but it's a fun atmosphere.
The start line area has plenty of music and announcements and riders are released in waves every 10 minutes or so. Take care as you ride south as the start line adrenaline is known to last most of the way to the REI stop at mile 25! People are excited, nervous, squirrelly on their bikes, passing on the right, not holding their line, hitting potholes, rocking down Lake WA blvd, being surprised at the short hill at Seward Park and stalling with lots of riders behind them, getting used to all of the police help in waving them through intersections, so they continue to blow through stop lights and signs on their own...all of the usual stuff to stay clear of!
Have a great time!
Mary

[ZooZoo]

I rode last year (didn't complete the full ride, for various reasons). It was great! One thing I would suggest is that in Spanaway - what would be considered the 'lunch' stop, continue on for two or three blocks and stop at the Safeway for lunch. They were prepared for us last year - had someone out front selling large sandwiches and a bottle of water for $3. And the Rite Aid next door had a real bathroom that they let us use. Well worth the slight detour.

I'm surprised no one has talked about this yet! Less than a week away. Who is doing it this year?

I'm nervous but excited, as it will be my first STP experience. I'm doing the 2 day.

See ya out on the road!

-Jessica

[lauraelmore1033]

Last year we spent a half an hour stuck on that !@#$#!$ viaduct and it was almost another half an hour to make it the rest of the way. This year the viaduct is closed and I am expecting it to be much worse. I'm almost tempted to drop off the bags the night before and then ride in from magnusen park.

What time did you hit Spanaway, Zoo Zoo? That safeway sounds like a good idea. The offical food stop was passing out mangled wrap thingies that did not agree with my stomach.

[salsabike]

Have fun, you guys! Looks like good weather for it, too.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Thank you everyone for the feedback, and good luck to everyone else riding this year!

Luckily, I don't have to worry about dropping off bags or anything. My friend that I'm riding with has a sister who is going to drive all of our stuff to Centralia and set up our tent, etc. So when we arrive, it will all be there for us! So, when I get to UW on Saturday, I just need to get all my stuff on, go potty, and start

I hope the traffic won't be too bad, I have the directions for the detour, so we'll follow that. I was reading on the Cascade website and someone said in the 8 years they've done STP, they haven't had a problem with traffic. So that's promising.

I am a bit concerned about all the people on the road that may not be the most experienced. I plan to stay to myself, or with my friends, and perhaps meet up with a couple other people if I get separated from them. But, try to be cautious and keep a safe distance from others.

I feel prepared though. Those first 25 miles, are part of a route I do often, so I know to shift down right before that short but steep hill at Seward Park. I just hope I don't get tangled up in someone else's misjudgment

As far as food goes, I can never eat anything too heavy while riding, so sandwiches are out of the question. In fact, when I did the Flying Wheels century this year I pretty much only ate what I had on me, plus 1/2 a plain bagel. I'm also vegan, so I don't expect most places to have anything for me, and plan accordingly. Plus, it's always risky to try something unfamiliar.

[lauraelmore1033]

Yeah, all sorts of shenanegins on that hill after Seward park. Be most alert for people who suddenly decide to bail out without pulling over, and, of course, all the wobblers...

Carrying your own food will actually save you a lot of time standing in line.