august rides

[khg]

Last Saturday my husband and I did my favorite ride. I call it the Kitsap Loops, and it's based on the 2012 Kitsap Color Classic 63-mile route with three loops around Indianola, Hansville, and Poulsbo on the Kitsap Peninsula. The weather was perfect, mostly sunny and in the low-70s. I love the nice, smooth roads on this Kitsap route, and except for two stretches on busy highways, most of the ride consists of nice rollers, only a few short climbs, and a several long descents--my favorite!

Here's a photo of the funky house made from the bridge of the US naval tugboat, the M/V Jupiter Inlet, on Point No Point Road towards the Point No Point Lighthouse near Hansville:



Most people visiting the PNW like to go to the San Juans, but I always think riding on the Kitsap Peninsula is a lot more fun. I hate the rough chipseal roads on San Juan Island, not to mention the steep drops and climbs to get to and out of each of the harbors. Of course, that may have been because the only time I've tried to do a 100 km ride around San Juan Island, I'd only been riding for 6 months, and I was riding my heavy steel bike while my husband was a seasoned randonneur riding his light carbon bike. I'd probably enjoy the ride more now on a lighter bike, but I still don't think that rough chipseal will ever be any fun.

Thanks for posting the link to the route you rode. That looks like a really fun ride, and I'm looking forward to trying it out!

Chip seal is never fun--but I have noticed a difference from bike to bike. My first bike, the Jamis, is steel with a carbon fork, and pretty smooth. But when I got my Colnago, also steel but with the old-fashioned curved steel fork, I noticed that a lot of chipseal disappeared. Bad chipseal is still annoying, but the Colnago glides down the road so beautifully! I have pretty much the same tires on the bikes--25mm Conti 4000s on the Jamis, and 23mm ones on the Colnago, but on wider rims so that the 23's end up measuring 25mm--so I think the difference really is in the bikes.

(BTW, the only time I rode on any of the route you did was doing the Bainbridge-Port Townsend 200k permanent. I was 3 months into bike ownership, wearing tennis shoes, and riding with my husband, the seasoned randonneur... I remember the road from the Hood Canal Bridge to Poulsbo and then Bainbridge as being really really difficult riding! However, I was pretty tired by then, and I'd probably enjoy the ride more now... At any rate, I think it's neat to revisit things that were huge challenges a while ago, and see how much less intimidating they seem now--even if they still aren't easy. You might find it fun to bike San Juan Island in triumph now, even with the chipseal!)

[rebeccaC]

You women in Wa just keep making me jealous of your routes!!!!!

When I rode in the San Juan islands I had a great time. The newer paved chip seal roads on Orcas and San Juan used a smaller than usual aggregate and better emulsion and weren’t a problem at all for me. I assume that's what they are continuing to use now. Even the older paved roads weren’t too bad for me with 25mm tires, a carbon fork, Fizik gel padded bar tape and good gloves. I’d go back in a heartbeat……

[MarieV]

khg, I'm actually curious if riding on San Juan now would be a lot more fun, especially since my Colnago seems to absorb more of the rough road and it will definitely be much easier to climb out of the harbors. Still, there's a 10-15 mile stretch on the RSVP between Bellingham and Lynden that's mostly chipseal, and even on my carbon bike, it was AWFUL! I remember thinking I'd rather do a long climb than endure another mile of those seemingly endless, albeit flat, chipseal roads.

khg, did you do the original Bainbridge-Port Townsend 200K (~7500 ft. cumulative elev.) or the new Bainbridge-Port Townsend v2 200K (~6600 ft. cumulative elev.)? I want to do Bill's Bainbridge-Port Townsend v2 200K when I'm ready to start doing 200Ks. It includes the Hansville and Poulsbo loops I like, so only the other 100+ km will be new. I'm also going to submit my Kitsap Loops as an SIR permanent, so I can get credit for those rides and maybe even get a P12 some day.

Rebecca, when I rode on San Juan, I was riding my steel Bianchi with 25mm tires at 80 psi, but it was still rough. Looking back now, though, I may have been exhausted by the climbing more than the rough roads. I just remember getting so frustrated when I would climb a hill then instead of cruising downhill and recovering, I'd actually have to pedal even going downhill since the roads were so rough--UGGHHH!!! Were you riding your Seven when you came up to visit? I wonder if your Ti bike just soaked up all the roughness. You shouldn't be jealous; you should just plan to visit more often, so you can ride with us.

[Crankin]

I disliked the chip seal in the San Juans, even on my lovely and smooth custom titanium bike.
There is no chip seal around where I live and it was not an experience I'd like to repeat. The riding itself was fine, but truthfully, San Juan Island was not as big as I thought it would be and Lopez was pretty, but not that thrilling. We skipped the climb on Orcas as we just didn't have enough time. I am glad I went, but...

[rebeccaC]

Marie, yes, my Seven, which also has a carbon seat tube, seat stays and fork. I wonder since my trip was within the last year if they have changed the chip seal formula. As I mentioned there was a difference in aggregate size in older paved roads and newer ones.

In the last year or so I’ve done three trips to the PNW doing the one day STP with Portland friends last year, then a San Juan island trip and, because Eden posted some photos of one of her rides to Mt. Baker, on a business trip to Huxley College in Bellingham a few months ago I rode the Mt Baker Highway. It’s been great weather each time too……I do like year round sunny California 70 +/- degree days though...
I mentioned to khg earlier in the July rides thread that I’d like to do the North Cascades highway one of these days. Would luv to have anyone who wanted to ride it join in!!!!

Crankin, I found Lopez to be a nice break between Orcas and San Juan. Nice art culture vibe on the island with some interesting people. Great climb from the ferry landing too.

[roo4]

I rode a nice 20 miler with two people from the bike club. We hadn't met before, so we spent some time on the ride chatting about family and jobs and general information. Happily for me, they rode at my pace (about 14 mph last night). I'm feeling stronger on the hills, although I must admit that our route was the flattest possible route in the area. Unfortunately some of it was newly chip sealed, but we get that a lot around here.

[khg]

khg, did you do the original Bainbridge-Port Townsend 200K (~7500 ft. cumulative elev.) or the new Bainbridge-Port Townsend v2 200K (~6600 ft. cumulative elev.)? I want to do Bill's Bainbridge-Port Townsend v2 200K when I'm ready to start doing 200Ks. It includes the Hansville and Poulsbo loops I like, so only the other 100+ km will be new. I'm also going to submit my Kitsap Loops as an SIR permanent, so I can get credit for those rides and maybe even get a P12 some day.

We did the original one--this was four years ago, so the new one didn't exist yet Actually, it was a gorgeous ride, and for the most part I really enjoyed it, though it was a ridiculous thing to do given my level of experience at that point, and I went to my dark place a few times. It's definitely a ride worth doing, but save it for a day you're feeling like a challenge! Bill's v2 sounds nice too, though I'm not sure how much easier it will really feel!

You could try doing the 100k of it that is new to you as a stand-alone ride, and then put it all together. With a good lunch stop and rest in Port Townsend you can tell yourself you're not doing a 200k, just 2 100k's in the same day Or at least, that's the sort of mental game that sometimes works for me--I guess I'm easily tricked... At any rate, that other 100k would be a really nice ride in its own right, and I think that a challenging ride like the full 200k is made easier by having some familiarity with the route. Once I'm familiar with a route, it always seems shorter and easier. But that might be just me--I like to research routes ahead of time so I know what to expect, but I know people who prefer for it to be a surprise, with a "I won't worry about the big hill if I don't know it's there" kind of philosophy...

[emily_in_nc]

I have been away from this thread for a bit. We recently took a side trip and rode several excellent trails in the Moscow, ID - Pullman, WA area. Lovely! I'll be doing blog posts on those, but in the meantime, here are a couple of blog posts I wrote recently on favorite rides in this area (Walla Walla, WA):

Favorite Bike rides 1: Touchet, WA: http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...s-1-touchet-wa

Favorite Bike rides 2: Milton-Freewater, OR: http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...n-freewater-or

I've now reached the milestone of 5000 miles ridden this year. Never, ever thought I'd be here. Very happy and feeling grateful that I am able to ride with almost no pain now!

[Crankin]

Rode 19 miles with DH this afternoon. I had a meeting at the high school I see kids at, and although it was like 20 minutes long, it negated me going on the club ride, which was in SE MA/RI, in an area that I really want to explore more. Oh well, next year. It was DH's 3d ride post surgery and he is doing well. I am recovering from some kind of viral/allergy thing, which was helped along by traveling to CA and it being 97 degrees there for the whole 5 days. We did go out and walk every morning there, but I haven't ridden in 8 days. Today's ride was beautiful, perfect and dry New England weather.
I seem to have developed an issue in my right hamstring, from something I am doing in boot camp. I've been really lazy about stretching and using the foam roller, too. I suspect by this time in the season, my quads are way overdeveloped and I have a huge muscle imbalance.
I could spend all day working on my body. Who has time to work, even part time!???

[emily_in_nc]

That's a good question, crankin! Now that I am retired, I don't know how I ever found time to work. Of course, I rode a lot less than I do now. Glad your DH is able to get out for some short rides. Sorry to hear you've been sick, though.

I've been riding most days around 40-45 miles total. Today was a day off, and I picked a good one -- it was very windy, though lovely with fall-like temps, low humidity, and sunshine. Hoping for lighter wind tomorrow. I hate fighting wind!

[roo4]

Another easy 20 with the bike club, this time at about 13.7 mph. Good news: DH is going to the bike store to pick out a new bike! He is looking at a Cannondale Synapse, aluminum with carbon fork. We may get to ride together!

[Crankin]

I commuted for the first time in 2.5 weeks. I went to boot camp (in the car), came home, ate, showered and rode to work. I must say, it is so nice to have a cloudy day. After 5 days of hot scorching sun in LA and beautiful, but sunny weather since Monday, I need the break. Didn't have to do too much of a clean up when I got to work and I even wore my Terry knickers with a minimal chamois, so I was able to keep them on and just change into a tunic type top from my jersey. Saw a couple of clients and came home. Actually got sprinkled on, on the way home for a bit, but it was just a spritz.

[ny biker]

I rode last night after work. Started later than usual because (a) things suck at work right now and (b) I had to wait for a thunderstorm to pass. The roads were still wet for much of the ride. My legs felt pretty tired, which is not good since I'm planning to do a 50-miler on Saturday that will not be flat. I needed my headlight for most of the ride, because it's getting dark earlier. It was cool at the beginning -- I started with light arm warmers and a vest -- but it was super humid, with steam still coming off the pavement hours after the rain ended. So all around not the best conditions. Still, it was a decent ride.

I probably should have put the fenders on my bike last night but I was too lazy. I had just cleaned the bike the night before, because this past Sunday I did the Covered Bridges metric in Lancaster, PA. This ride should have been called the Tour de Poo. Most of it goes through farmland inhabited by Amish and Mennonite people, so there's horse sh*t all over the roads. My friends have been going on and on about the beautiful scenery on this ride, but I was mostly focused on not riding through the piles of sh*t. And it rained for the first 40 miles, which just made things worse. I have SKS Race Blade fenders (easy to put on and remove, but not full-coverage), and they helped keep me and my bike cleaner than most folks, but I still had lots of cleaning to do after the ride ended. (I didn't have my Camel Back with me so I covered my water bottles in plastic wrap. It was a pain to have to unwrap the top of the bottle before taking it out of the cage to drink from it, and after about 45 miles the plastic had torn so I had to toss it. But it definitely helped keep the poo spray off the bottles.)

[Crankin]

Rode 25 pleasant local miles with DH today. So nice and cool, about 71 and partly cloudy. We did the flattest ride we can do, and then added in another loop with a hill. Saw some seriously egregious riding when a guy on a tri bike whizzed past us on the road leading out of Hanscom AFB, was in the right lane at the stop/T intersection, and then made a left from the right turn lane, because he didn't want to stop and wait in the line of cars turning left. And, this is turning onto a busy, main road, which goes through Minuteman National Park. Sigh.

[Raindrop]

I've ridden more this summer than I have in years, probably because my bike really fits this year, I'm finally retired (pretty much) and, due to a divorce between my son and DIL I've had a lot more depression than usual and have needed the time on the road to clear my head. I'm pretty much a loner, not much of a joiner so when I ride I just get out my front door and go wherever the mood strikes. I know most of you do more mileage, but my treks usually only vary from 24 - 30 miles a day because that fits into the time frame I have for my singular pursuits.

In a time crunch I tend to hit the MUT that's about four miles away for an out and back, but I really like to just head out and see different areas of my city/county. The only consistent ***** I have about the roads around here are the number of bolts/nails/ screws I run across and the glass pieces. Next set of tires will be better than the ones that came on this bike.