Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Cascade Crit

After STP weekend, I went the following weekend to see the Cascade Crit (almost by accident) in Bend, OR.

The start of the (masters? 35+ and 45+ race?)


More pics and video (I hope) forthcoming.

more STP pics

Taking a break at about mile 30 on day #1 about 1'30" into it.

Here's the REI food stop in Kent.


Nate looking pretty energetic and happy (multiple caffeinated gel packs, no doubt).




What a ham!


Away we go!

Pics from 2010 STP



I'll post more text later, but here's the pics from this year's STP and my "team" of Dan, Bill, Rob, and myself. We averaged 16 mph in the two day, 204 mile trek from Seattle to Portland.

These were from the end of the ride in the park in Portland at the finish line festival.

Me (Nate)


Rob


Dan


Bill


[Thanks to my Dad, and his wife, Sally, for taking these pics and giving us the ride back north!]

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Portland Church Dedicates Bicycle Shrine

Might be worth a stop when we reach Portland end of the STP...

Portland Church Dedicates Bicycle Shrine

Pedals

My buddy and I were out trying to get some more pre-STP miles in last Saturday. We rode into Maple Valley, into Ravensdale, around Covington, and quite frankly, places I have no clue where we were.

When we were in the middle of nowhere, on a two lane poorly-maintained rural roadway without any houses nearby, a kitten, black and white with blue eyes, maybe no more than 6 weeks old, comes darting out at my friend as we pedaled along. He shouts, I didn't know what happened, as I hadn't seen the kitten, I just turn to see my friend's bike on the highway and him sitting in a slump on the shoulder.

Turns out, he hadn't hit the cat or anything, he just plopped down to cradle the scared kitten. I played traffic control waving off the two or three subsequent cars or heavy trucks blasting on by. That kitten surely wouldn't last long there if it was left where it ran out onto the road. We speculated it might have been dumped there by someone.

Still, we were into the ride about halfway of about 75 miles total. And we didn't have a practical way of carrying a live animal with us. So after five attempts, we successfully placed the cat far away from the roadway and were able to pedal away down the road.

The subsequent remainder of the ride was somewhat somber, my friend kept lamenting his GFs house wasn't far away and that coyotes would make a meal out of that little guy if an eagle didn't first. I tried to say that it might have a chance, but not really believing that to be true either.

We finished our ride and went back to our houses.

I get a text message (with photo attached) about 40 minutes later that read:
MEOW! I WENT BACK FOR THE CAT.
I HAVE IT NOW.

And a follow-up text:
NAME IS PEDALS.

Here's Pedals...

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

another STP preparation update

Two of us (I was one of them) put in 75-ish miles on Saturday.
A different two of us (I was one of them) put in about mid-30s Sunday.
In addition, I did a major couple hills yesterday in a short-ish ride of maybe 10-12 miles.

It feels good.

I think the worst part so far was dumping $250 + about $100 store credit at REI for two new pairs of fingerless Pearl Izumi gloves, two PI elite series bib shorts, a new short sleeve jersey, and two headsweats type beanies.

Though I think I'd rather be comfortable at 120 miles into the ride than miserable and still facing 80+ miles on day #2.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

STP is coming up FAST!!! AAAAAGGGHH!

Less than 2 weeks until the big ride!

We'll do it. It should be fine.

Just so many details to arrange still.

[Breathe, Nate. Breathe.]

So happy to have some experienced blokes on the journey with me.