STP July 14-15 2007

[Aint Doody]

STP?? Been there; done that--won't ever do it again.................

[Susan Otcenas]

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

[salsabike]

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??

[KnottedYet]

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.

[colby]

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).

[Eden]

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.

"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

[Dianyla]

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...

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.

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.

[colby]

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.

"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

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.

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

[Trek420]

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.

[Bike Goddess]

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.

[Susan126]

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! Wait until my daughter sees what I have in store for her come this spring!