After a whirlwind past few weeks in which we visited both sets of families and 2 close friends, I now have time to wrap up the STP ride. That makes it sound like I have an incredibly social life, but in reality, I’ve noticed that more people visit us now that we live in San Francisco. In a popularity contest with SF, SF always wins. Plus, the well-stocked liquor cabinet likely helps too…

Anyways, after arriving in Winlock, we mustered enough strength to take a heart-stopping, painfully cold shower at the chateau de elementary school gymnasium. The gym set-up was pretty nice actually, and I highly recommend it to STP riders. It was quiet, sufficiently comfortable, and best of all- cheap.

We ate approximately 10 pounds of pasta at the local senior center, and then headed out for a beer. And although the picture of me riding the Winlock rooster was taken post-beer consumption, I can assure you that this is how I act normally. Nice cycling tan, right?

The next day we woke up bright and early and decided to ride separately for the final 80 miles. I wasn’t interested in maintaing an 18+ mph pace, so splitting up made me feel more comfortable. The next 20 miles or so were filled with rolling hills, peppered with steep, short uphills and long sections downhill. The hills were certainly pretty tame(compared to San Francisco training rides), but I definitely could feel my legs smart with fatigue. I caught up with Jon and Jim at the first major stop at Lexington (mile 144), and they both looked liked they could handle another 200 miles. Show-offs. 

After that stop, I didn’t see the guys until Portland. This was probably a good thing, because I definitely struggled with the final 60 miles. This is the section of the route that other bloggers/STP riders have described as tedious and mind numbingly boring. It’s not that bad, but it certainly would not win a cinematography award. The bridge at mile 150 is a slow, single-file section (no passing allowed) that brought my speed down to a near stall at 6 to 7 mph. The rest of the route was fairly unremarkable, although I definitely appreciated the mini-stop at mile 160 and the plentiful food stop at 173 (St. Helens HS). Let’s be clear- I stopped at every stop. I didn’t feel bad about it. Most people will tell you to push through, but I can tell you that those mini-stops were mental cheerleaders for me. 

And finally, the entrance into Portland was as exciting as anticipated…the final ‘steep hill’ that everyone warned me about was underwhelming, and honestly, at this point the enthusiasm from the other riders could really pull you through anything. Needless to say, I finished STP averaging 15.6 mph over the entire 204 miles, and was ready to PARTY!

Did I mention that Portland has the best microbreweries in the world? Although any beer would have tasted good at that point, Deschutes is in a class all by itself.

Final thoughts about STP?

* It’s not a technically difficult ride. It’s mentally challenging, but the numerous stops make it feel like a series of short rides. 

* The first 140 miles are exponentially more beautiful than the final 64. 

* It’s not a race. Enjoy the riders, cheer each other on, and celebrate the community nature of the event.

* Humility is a good thing. Whenever you feel like you’re rockin’ it, remember there is always someone on a unicycle or a beach cruiser ready to pass you.