STP July 14-15 2007

[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.