Stp

[climbingbiker]

Susan - thanks for the words of wisdom and pointing out that I may have picked a misleading name! Though I don't mind hills, I wouldn't call myself a 'climber' in that sense. Mountaineering, not cycling.

Joan - I'm staying in Vader as well. Everyone I've talked to told me to go as far as possible the first day to make the second day more pleasant.

[TsPoet]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's a little nervous about this ride. I am way behind where I thought I'd be training-wise. My one hope is that slowing down will help me get there - I usually ride about 16-18 mph for about 20 miles. I'm going to ride with a number of people who are planning on 10-12 mph and "no one gets left behind" - if I can go their speed, I'm hoping I can go farther.
Then there are the crowds of cyclists to be nervous about.

Oh bother.

[Bike Goddess]

5 of us from the Bay Area are staying in Vader as well! We are staying at the chruch there (bag drop off point). Heard the food was great as were the accommodations.

I've stayed in Castle Rock the past two years and didn't like the food. So this time a little further from Portland in the hopes that the food will be better!

Am looking forward to a great time! I'll wear my Amici Veloci jersey on Day One so you can spot me on the route. Please say something!!!!!

If it is windy or cold, I'll be wearing a bright yellow windbreaker or my Benicia Bicycle Club jacketalso bright yellow). I have a Scott bike. Not too many of those around (yet).

[climbingbiker]

Today was supposed to be a nice casual 80 mile day - around Lake WA with an additional South Lake loop. Started off great... my bike computer decided to quit out of the parking lot and I was truly free! I was really enjoying the ride because I wasn't so focused on the numbers. I never realized until today how much attention that little thing received.

It was such a gorgeous day! I love riding Lake WA Blvd and the Arboretum was a nice shady treat. We picked up the Burke at UW with no issues until Kenmore. A little boy jumped out in front of DH and I didn't stop in time. Clipped his back tire and it sent me sailing into the right fence. I am now the proud owner of 10 lovely stitches right below the knee cap and a sore neck.

I still have hope that I'll be out with y'all. Send the good healing vibes my way

[TsPoet]

I still have hope that I'll be out with y'all. Send the good healing vibes my way

I'm riding with a group "the Bent Brigade". My understanding is our plan is for a very leasurely pace. There are enough of us, that I suspect we will break up into smaller groups depending on pace. A DF-riding friend of mine is also part of this "brigade".
Which is all my long way of saying - I bet you could join us if you need moral support. My longest ride ever is still only 82 miles! I'm getting up early tomorrow and going to try and ride a metric.

[climbingbiker]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

You are 110% correct Knotted. That's why I'm kicking myself right now. I knew it was going to be a zoo and I should have been paying better attention. Ugh.

[Eden]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

You are 110% correct Knotted. That's why I'm kicking myself right now. I knew it was going to be a zoo and I should have been paying better attention. Ugh.

Don't beat yourself up too much - you aren't the first and won't be the last to be felled by a kid (or another adult for that matter) on the BG. Sometimes its just unavoidable. I asked several groups of people who were just stopped on the trail (and around a corner to boot) to please move off the trail if they were intending to stay stopped yesterday. Some people just have no sense!
Take care of that knee - hope to see you out there at the STP

[salsabike]

Am busy sending the good vibes, climbingbiker. No kidding.

Today was supposed to be a nice casual 80 mile day - around Lake WA with an additional South Lake loop. Started off great... my bike computer decided to quit out of the parking lot and I was truly free! I was really enjoying the ride because I wasn't so focused on the numbers. I never realized until today how much attention that little thing received.

It was such a gorgeous day! I love riding Lake WA Blvd and the Arboretum was a nice shady treat. We picked up the Burke at UW with no issues until Kenmore. A little boy jumped out in front of DH and I didn't stop in time. Clipped his back tire and it sent me sailing into the right fence. I am now the proud owner of 10 lovely stitches right below the knee cap and a sore neck.

I still have hope that I'll be out with y'all. Send the good healing vibes my way

[KnottedYet]

Good vibes coming your way, CB. Kudos to both of you for not hitting the kid. (Kids on the BG scare me)

[Shiraz]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this forum. I am riding the STP with another friend and realy excited that it finally here. I really appreciated being able to read the posting from last year to have something to base it on. Living and riding in Idaho is a lot different than the city. I am a little nrevous about riding with so many other riders and riding on the busy roads. I would love to chat with others after the ride.

Anita

[Bike Goddess]

Shiraz- This will be my 3rd time riding the STP. It's mostly a very fun ride!!!!! Bring some cash with you as there will be community rest stops with all kinds of homemade goodies that you'll want to try along the way. The STP is the biggest event in Western Washington to go by all of these small towns and they raise money for school programs from this ride.

Don't worry too much about the others. You'll find your own pace. Just be sure that you let people know you are passing them. Most of the riders will be single file, occasionally a few who aren't. The big thing to be careful of is the pacelines. They are generally pretty good about telling you when they are coming by but you don't always know how long they are.

I'll be wearing the Amici Veloci jersey on Saturday (if it's cold in the AM I'll have a yellow Benicia bicycle Club windjacket on- can't miss the color). On Sunday I'll wear the Bike Journal jersey- blue and orange.

What do you plan to wear and where are you staying?