I Signed up for STP. Anyone else?

[rebeccaC]

I enjoyed the challenge last time and spending riding time with a great friend, her wife and one of their friends so when she called to see if i was interested again I had to say yes I'll just send a $200 donation to the Cascade Education Foundation which is more than a membership and registration. I think my portland friends do a family membership to register early.

[salsabike]

Tons of food at the food stops along the way, rebecca! In case you want to take less of your own and have room for that camera of yours. The standard joke is that STP is the only 206-mile ride where people can GAIN weight along the way because they're so well fed. My favorite was when the REI stop had boiled potatoes and salt.

[rebeccaC]

i have a thing about what i put in my body on a ride like that. I like the process of thinking it through, testing in training and then carrying things i know will work well on the time table i've set for the ride......and on a fast double i'd rather carry a tub of icyhot than my camera

i did ragbrai a few years ago and gained weight over the week of that riding!!!!.....but then that was more of a moving party across Iowa!!!!

[AppleTree]

Tons of food at the food stops along the way, rebecca! In case you want to take less of your own and have room for that camera of yours. The standard joke is that STP is the only 206-mile ride where people can GAIN weight along the way because they're so well fed. My favorite was when the REI stop had boiled potatoes and salt.

There were potatoes at one of the WAVE rides, I thought it was a brilliant idea! I get tired of sweet stuff pretty fast... also enjoyed the bagels and cream cheese...

RebeccaC, chocolate is a great way to celebrate anything, ha!

[esoterrica]

I'm signed up for STP, and Cascade's training series as well. I was not very enthusiastic about cycling over the fall/winter (just commuting), but the Chilly Hilly was lovely enough to re-spark my excitement. I'll be doing the one day ride with my boyfriend*, his second STP and my third.

*By the time STP rolls around he will be my h...h...h...husband. That is a hard word to type, never mind say, but I'll get used to it I guess?!

[lauraelmore1033]

Congrats!

[rebeccaC]

khg....Thanks for the report I was hoping you and the others here that did it had a good ride….sounds like you did.

Two stretches on the bike that really help me on a long ride are a core and back stretch where I sit upright with my back straight. I take my left hand off bar and reach around behind me (to the left) in a twisting motion. I rest my left hand on my right hip and hold. Then I repeat with the right arm and twisting to the right. Obviously since I’m facing backward for a bit I have to be careful when/where I do it. For my wrist/forearm I bend my hand back as far as possible rotating my wrist back and forth.

[lauraelmore1033]

I'm glad you had such a great ride this year khg! This is the first time I've had a chance to see the one day riders roll in--since I'm usually still on the road for myself--but I was kind of in awe of the obvious difference in fitness levels between one and two day riders. It seemed to me that most of you guys looked really fresh, and were riding effortlessly. Breezy smiles all around. Myself, I look like a reanimated corpse that's been forced to ride at the finish (I've seen the pictures, yes I do!).

[VeganBikeChick]

I saw lots of cyclists heading out from Husky Stadium when I was driving home from work on Sat AM. Looked amazing!

[khg]

I'm glad you had such a great ride this year khg! This is the first time I've had a chance to see the one day riders roll in--since I'm usually still on the road for myself--but I was kind of in awe of the obvious difference in fitness levels between one and two day riders. It seemed to me that most of you guys looked really fresh, and were riding effortlessly. Breezy smiles all around. Myself, I look like a reanimated corpse that's been forced to ride at the finish (I've seen the pictures, yes I do!).

Ha ha! you should have seen the one-day finishers last year. We looked like death warmed over--or death thoroughly cooked, considering the temperatures...

I really enjoy watching the second day finishers come in, before we head back home. I find a lot of them way more impressive than the one day finishers, in that for a lot of them, it was clearly more of an achievement than it was for the one day riders. I love seeing that sense of accomplishment, of having taken on a huge challenge, and finished it.

[AppleTree]

. Myself, I look like a reanimated corpse that's been forced to ride at the finish (I've seen the pictures, yes I do!).

LOL! I resemble that remark... hahaha. They have pictures of me coming over the tops of hills... mouth hanging open panting for breath...not a pretty sight.

[ACG]

I am very honored to have completed my very first double century at the STP. We finished in the dark. Two of my friends who are double century veterans helped me though it.
I loved every minute of it, all 15 hours of riding. Even in the dark! I'll try to do this ride again next year. The logistics of flying up and hotels, is a hassle but it is so worth it.
I'm just back now, arriving home here in California, just a few hours now. I'm still dreaming good dreams about STP.

I hope everyone else had a good time.

[smittykitty]

Our group of four also had a great two day ride. We rode 140 miles to Castle Rock the 1st day, which made Sunday pretty easy. This was our 2nd ride. I felt much stronger and way more confident this time. We did see three different accidents along the way, two on the Yelm - Tenino trail. I sure hope they are ok.

And yes khb, for me, the two day is a huge accomplishment! Thank you! I could have gone further on Sat., but a one day is a little out of reach!

STP is a crazy thing to do. So many riders, lots of traffic, and the logistics are complicated. Yet we are already talking about a possible next time! Who knows! It seems to call you back! I've found without the commitment, we just don't ride as much.

Cascade is doing a great job. The food was improved from a few years ago, support was good, and JBLM was a highlight. The food voucher and souvenir item (love my new t- shirt) were also a great improvements.

I had a massage and took it easy today. Back to work tomorrow!

[lauraelmore1033]

I am very honored to have completed my very first double century at the STP. We finished in the dark. Two of my friends who are double century veterans helped me though it.
I loved every minute of it, all 15 hours of riding. Even in the dark! I'll try to do this ride again next year. The logistics of flying up and hotels, is a hassle but it is so worth it.
I'm just back now, arriving home here in California, just a few hours now. I'm still dreaming good dreams about STP.

I hope everyone else had a good time.

Congratulations! It can be oddly addictive...