Less than 3 weeks to go…
…until the 2007 version of the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. Am I ready to ride 200 miles in a day? Probably not as ready as I should be. Will I make it? You bet your ass I will.
While I was out thrashing myself on the route last Saturday, the postal service delivered my STP packet (I paid the extra $’s to have it mailed to save a trip to “the core”). Along with route map and numbers to hang on bike and self is this stylish little jacket which is made from Tyvek, the same stuff they use as a vapor barrier in new home construction. Improved over last year’s model is that it has 75% less petroleum stench. When I opened the 2006 edition, I had to hang the thing outside for a week to dissipate the fumes. Really.
I retrieved my bike from the shop today. They replaced my broken spoke, but had a little trouble with the engineering on the FiberFix spoke I had left on the wheel. They ended up cutting it off and tossing the remains in the trash. At least it’s only an $8 hit to replace it. They have also hit up the manufacturer or distributor for a replacement wheel. I have of course already ordered a set of uber-wheels, which will ship on Tuesday. The replacement wheel will be my hot-spare, should I lose a zillion pounds and want to try to be lighter-than-air. In the meantime, more spokes are more-better. I have also ordered two more FiberFix spokes from YellowJersey.org. I’m determined to get my ass to Portland!
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:48 am
John, Good luck on your 1 day STP. I did the one day in 2005. It was a long day for a Clydesdale like me. But it was well worth it. The memory is now mounted on my wall, and next to it is the Tour de Blast.
Phil
June 26th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Love to see the work for the 1 day. Keep at it. I’ll get it done eventually. I had to abandon last year’s ride just past Roy due to a knee injury and I have a family reunion (my Mom picked the date, not me) this year so I won’t be out on the road with you.
I’m pretty curious about the FiberFix spoke. Something that would have helped out Matt from Cycling In Seattle on his Flying Wheels ride. You really can never be too prepared when riding for 6+ hours…
June 26th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Good luck on the one-day! When I did a one-day, I felt I could say well, I’ve done that, but it wasn’t enough fun for me to say I’d want to do it again.
We’ll be doing STP too; this is the first time I’ll be staying in Centralia. In some ways, it feels more gnarly to do two even days of about 100 than a longer first day and a shorter second, which is what I’ve always aimed for. I’m feeling pretty relaxed about riding it with David on the tandem, and confident that we’ll have fun.
June 27th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Indeed. . . get your ass here!