STP July 14-15 2007

[KnottedYet]

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.

[Trek420]

what's the RSVP?

[Eden]

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.

[Trek420]

How's the weather usually for either one?

[Eden]

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

[salsabike]

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.

[colby]

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!

[TsPoet]

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.

[jobob]

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.

[KnottedYet]

Hmmmm, maybe I will do more research on the RSVP.

[jobob]

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 ...

[Grog]

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.

I'm in the exact same situation. I can handle 2000 riders, but not nearly 10000.

Same for RAGBRAI.

That's too bad. But I'd rather be safe than nervous and tense for two days.

[mimitabby]

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 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!

[KnottedYet]

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...

[mimitabby]

Yes, that's a drag. There are only a few really "safe" weekends in Seattle for weather. that one might be IT.