Hot Hot Hot

My new perm pop needed someone to ride it :-)  Couldn't rustle up any other of the retired or flexible work schedule folks, so I was on my own.

After last ride's flatfest, I patched several tubes, and swapped on the new Hutchinson tire.  The one that flatted was cut clear through.  Only 918 miles :-(

Located my evaporative neck cooler and got it soaking.  I'd be checking out the Road Holland jersey (thanks MG!) - I was wondering how a wool-synthetic blend would work for me in the heat.  I also mounted a third water bottle cage on the right seatstay, and wanted to see how that would work it.  I bolted it to the braze on, and maybe it would jiggle too much and stress the braze.

Coasted down to Jim and Patty's for some coffee to get me started.  I was starting earlier than is usual for us here for a perm pop, because, even though it was supposed to be a bit cooler, I wanted to finish before the hottest part of the day.

Headed out to Forest Grove by a fairly direct route - straight out Baseline/TV Hwy.  While these are both major roads, they have bike lanes or generous shoulders the entire way.



First control, headed to Maggie's Buns and ate a berry muffin.  SPOT did not appear to be transmitting; I knew the battery might be a bit low.  My new bike computer then chose to inform me that the computer battery was getting low.  It was a sale model, and probably sat on the shelf for a couple of years.  I resigned myself to another electronics meltdown.  Oh, and the cadence pickup had gone stupid, so I couldn't play with the new Power function.

Then south on B St.  Hmm.  Why was the cue sheet telling me to turn left of 18th?  Who created this route anyhow? Phantom zero distance turn?  So I ignored it and continued on south, past the bison ranch and through Dilley, pausing briefly at the Lake Stop Store to refresh the sunscreen.

Then off to circumnavigate Hagg Lake.  Note: when riding this route on a weekday, expect log trucks heading into the lumber mill by the lake.  

Hagg Lake is always a pace-neutral stretch for me - just can't seem to make up time here.  This is the stretch of the route with all the climbing, and the ramp into the park is definitely a soul-sucker.

Lots of sweetpeas in bloom :-)  Nice new pavement segments around the lake.

Then back out, and heading south to Gaston.  One of my favorite little bits of road.  Bought a V8 here, because it was so hot. 25 miles to go.

Got to the intersection with Spring Hill, only to find flaggers, big trucks, stopped traffic...  I knew it was scheduled for new chipseal, but didn't think it was this soon.  Filtered up to the front, where the cheerful flagger told me they weren't paving yet, and I could go in just a few minutes.

The wind was stronger, and not entirely favorable.  Slogged north on Spring Hill and Fern Hill; got a bit of a respite on Geiger.  Wished I had some tunes along for company.  And I stopped again at the golf course, for another V8.

Finally into Hillsboro, turning onto SW Johnson just past the TV Hwy Fred Meyer.  Ah.  Lovely road - low traffic, and goes east all the way to SW 170th.  There are some major road crossings, but they all have traffic lights.  Beware at SW 185th - the traffic light won't see you; there is a beg button right at the curb.

The north on SW 170th, right on Merlo, right on SW Jenkins, a couple more familiar turns and done.  That mocha mint freeze at Jim and Patty's was outstanding.

Ride complete (and heck, I even filled out my card!), I headed over to my favorite battery store for refills.  

Aftermath: new batteries in the bike computer and SPOT.  New cadence pickup as well, so I have a Power readout.*  Fixed the cue sheet, too.

The Road Holland jersey was fine, although not the same as a 100% wool jersey - it dried out quickly, rather than working as an evaporative cooler.  I did like the fit.  The rear zip pocket wasn't quite big enough for my cycling wallet, but there were three traditional pockets, a rarity on a women's jersey.

And maybe I will explore plan B for mounting that water bottle cage.

*I know it isn't REAL power.  However, I can compare it against myself.

Aaaand the Official Oregon Randonneurs Season Opens!

Rickey's Populaire, Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, 9am start.  Be there!

The other person in the house had just had shoulder surgery, and kind of needed someone hanging around (he's doing much better, but still not sleeping in the bed).  I had babysat adorable grandson for a couple of weekdays, and daughter and partner said they owed me.  So I called in the marker.  I didn't figure Fitz would mind their company, Asher is a delightful baby to hang out with, and there was a Timbers soccer game on the tube.

Given the possible time constraints, I drove to the start.  The start is a half mile BEFORE my last job location, but still, it would be 50 minutes vs 15 minutes.

The weather was perfect.  Chatted up friends in the parking lot, and was relieved to see there were other women other there.  Not that I saw any of them on the ride.  Met some new riders, coincidentally all named some variation of "Michael".  Also experienced riders named "Michael".

Chatted with Chris W.  He wanted to know how I ended up on the RUSA Board.  Well, there was an election...  He was a member at the time.  Hmm.

Eventually it was 9am, and the seething mass of riders headed out.  I watched them all pass me.  Fine.  Actually I don't think they all did pass me, but I didn't see anyone behind me on Evergreen, and that's a long stretch.  Brief pause in North Plains, peeled off a layer while I was at it.  Sunny.  Warming up!

I was on my own for the first 11 or so miles, until the intersection with Harrington Road east of Roy, where I spied Kevin L lurking at the stop sign.  He took it out fast, but that was done, and wanted to ride with me. :-)  I am recruiting on him for my Flèche team, dangling my minimum distance, minimum climbing route as bait.  (Anyone else want to play?)

We rode on through Banks and out to the end of Cedar Canyon, watching the Portland Velo ride groups head east.  I stopped at the end, because that is where the info control is.  Not this year.  So, continuing on up Hwy 6 and down to Gales Creek Road, we found the first info control.  Whole bunch of cyclists in the dirt triangle in the middle of the intersection filling out cards and chatting.  We filled out our cards and left.

And joy of joys, there was a tailwind!  We zipped SE on Gales Creek, and I started eating a big candy bar I had picked up at a control some number of rides ago.  A goal for this ride was to consume all that front bag food I had been toting around.  Reese's Fastbreak Bar, 460 calories in 20 minutes.  Kevin worried that we had missed the turn onto Stringtown, but it was still a few miles ahead of us.

We were both happy to turn off onto the quietness and non-existent traffic on Stringtown Rd, and even happier to turn onto Carpenter Creek.





Paused at the info control to peel off the base layer - it was continuing to warm up.  Three riders came up.  One said he was a reader of my blog.  I thanked him.  And I thank all of you for reading!

Worked our way up Plumlee, the only real climb of the ride.  It didn't hurt.  Maybe all that suffering I have been going through is helping.


photo by Kevin Lais



Once over the summit, we could see Mt St Helens and Mt Hood.



Careful descent - that last hard left has put at least one person in the ditch with a broken neck (not a rando, and he's fully recovered).

Then off to the the Gaston Pretty Good Grocery, by way of old Hwy 47, the Lake Stop store (not stopping), the lovely new bridge/pavement (same old horrible railroad crossing), and quiet back roads parallelling Hwy 47.  Many bikes lined up, and riders sitting in the sunshine enjoying some food and drink.





Kevin and I kept it relatively brief - things to drink, a banana, a pit stop, and we were out of there.  I guilted the heavy traffic on Hwy 47 into stopping so we could cross.

Pause on the other side to zip up my vest - the stop cooled me down.  Then the almost semi-automatic return to the Roadhouse.  Passing through Cornelius, we were almost lured over to a Latin grocery, which has some overwhelmingly yummy beef somethings grilling on their front stoop.



Cornelius Schefflin north out of Cornelius has been wonderfully repaved.

Eventually we turned onto SW Evergreen, and I was wanting to be done.  4+ flattish miles, and I turned it up.  Overtook a couple of riders, even.  Rode right up to the Roadhouse, left my bike outside by the picnic tables filled with riders, went inside and did the paperwork.

5:05 elapsed time.  Not bad at all.  Clearly my suffering of the past 3 or so outings did some good.

Enjoyed a lovely sunny after-ride lunch with the other riders.  I was just going to split a plate of tots with Kevin, but somehow, the allure of a Reuben sandwich interfered.



Ellen M, spouse of Tom D, was one of the Portland Velo riders seen earlier, thought my bike was awfully heavy.  Tom empathized with me, and told me the bivy sack story.  And that he carries just as much stuff.  Now, I could have gotten out the Lemond, and ridden carrying practically nothing, but I figure riding on the usual bike, with the usual stuff, is better in the long run.

Riding for Time

Coach said: "ride 100km for time.  And keep your stops under 8 min".  Now, I am a champion time waster at stops.

I figured the West County 100km would be a good route.

Sunny day.  Variable, flag-sticking-out-straight wind.  Mostly WSW, so I was looking forward to some tailwind for the last 20 miles. (note: not so much)

Results:
all 3 stops under 8 min. (2 controls, 1 peel off extra clothes and flush stop)

food: Allen Lim's rice cakes - two of the egg-bacon-brown sugar-soy sauce variety and two of the coconut milk-sugar-chocolate chips-blueberry variety.

About 40-50 oz of liquids, including a bottle of V-8 at Gaston.

Chocolate milk at the end.

Bike computer claims 2421'


Results:
Officially 4:47 elapsed.  Avg riding pace 15.18mph (wow.  On Sweetpea.) avg cadence 84.  Avg HR 157.

Best ever on that route by almost 20 min.

Skyline Climbs Populaire Checkride

Up the west hills 6 times, 7200 vf by Bill's GPS.

Some time ago I mapped out a permanent populaire which climbed hills.  It would need a lot of info controls, because all it does IS climb hills, and doesn't go anywhere with services.

Route link

I put it out as my birthday ride; I'd be riding more than my age and climbing considerably more than my age in hundreds of vertical feet :-)

Bill thought he'd join me; he said he needed to work on his climbing.  That's two of us.

He came by the house and we started out.

First climb: NW Cedar Hills-NW 119th-McDaniel-Thompson.

Wandered west on Skyline, and dropped down Springville.  Bottom of Springville is flat, but turning onto NW Kaiser starts back up.

Second climb: Old Germantown.  Winding, switchbacks, good views.

Then up Germantown to Skyline, and west again, crossing Cornelius Pass, and dropping down Old Cornelius Pass for a short bit.

Third Climb: Rock Creek (more potholes than road until you get to the county line)-Elliot.

Turn left on Skyline, and drop down Beck.

Fourth Climb: coming up Beck on the other half.  Ouch.

Topping out at Johnson Rd (the headwaters of Logie Trail Rd), we took a bit of a break, before FLYING down Logie Trail, except for the hard left after the drop and subsequent 11% short, but painful climb, then down again.

West again on Helvetia Rd.

Fifth Climb: Jackson Quarry-Mason Hill-Solberger-Moreland (hi Ray!)  Longest climb.  Be sure to check out the abandoned log cabin (covered with moss) and abandoned car (even MORE covered with moss).





We paused at Ray O's house near the top of Moreland, topped off water bottles, and got a tour of Ray's bicycle corner in their capacious shed.





Then it was time to head west again on Skyline, and drop down Rocky Point to Hwy 30.



After a wrong choice at Old Rocky Point road looking for the marina/little store (wow, what's a real 60's encampment there :-) ), we found the correct Old Rocky Point Rd just before the weigh station on the left.



Carefully crossing Hwy 30, we dropped down, and were pointed at the store.  Crossed the gangplank to the float where the store was situated.  It had actually closed at 3pm, but the nice folks reopened it.  Ice cream, drinks, snacks.  And very new, clean public restrooms.  And a deck overlooking the river.  But don't linger too long if you are on the clock because...

Now heading east on Hwy 30 (cross carefully), the first right after Cornelius Pass is...

Sixth Climb: McNamee.  Cross under the rail trestle, and enjoy the 17% grade.  It slacks off pretty quickly, and eventually gets quite manageable.  Pretty climb.  You actually go a bit higher than Skyline and drop down to it.



Then back on Skyline to Cornell Rd.  Up and down, but not oppressively so.  Bill came up with a flat, so we paused at a nice grassy subdivision entrance spot to fix it.





The drop down Cornell is very fast.  No bike lanes, and really awful to do when the sun is in your eyes.  If you are riding this as a permanent populaire, not likely to be a problem.

Down and up on Cedar Hills, west on Barnes Rd, ride up through the Sunset Transit Center parking garage (lights on for safety and visibility, also if you are taller than some height I do not remember on your bike, use the elevator instead), across the pedestrian bridge, and done.

We crossed the Multnomah County-Washington County line too many times to count.

And yeah, it was getting dark-ish, glad I had my rando bike and helmet with all the lighting!

Not yet submitted for approval.  I am not entirely sure I could finish it in time.  We certainly took OUR time riding it.  I sucked down a gel before each hill (as well as eating), and none of them gave me any particular difficulty.  4mph is a speed.

Totals for the day: 68.25 miles,  riding average 9.85.

North Plains Banks Vernonia 100km Again

I could ride this route forever and not get tired of it.  Ray was going to ride with an Unnamed Person, and Jeff and I thought we'd join them.  Good thing we did, or Ray would have been lonesome.



Decent weather, and a great ride.  Yummy sandwich at Black Bear Cafe.







This was the inaugural ride with the Soma Xpress 650bx38 tires.  Like riding on pillows!  Worth all the aggravation of refitting the fenders with longer fender stays.

Lunch in Vernonia and a Really Big Milestone

I couldn't ride the 200k last Saturday, as I had other plans, but managed to convince Susan that she could not work on Sunday, and ride the North Plains - Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail 100k.



We started at the somewhat civilized hour of 9am, rode the uneventful 8 or so miles to Banks, bought snacks in the grocery, and headed north on the trail.  It was foggy, but was supposed to clear off and warm up.  It did neither.

But we had great fun riding through the misty forest.  As Susan had just ridden a 200k the day before, we were mostly at social pace, but I did, perhaps, just a tiny bit, enjoy dropping her on the few hills on the route.



Susan had tried an energy bar creation of her own devising, so she gave me a piece.  Tasty.  I gave her some fruitcake.



We looped around Vernonia Lake - Susan didn't know it was there (I didn't either, until Ray showed me), and answered the info control question.  Then back to Black Bear Cafe for lunch, before returning.  They've got a new bike rack.



A couple of cyclists came in after us, and one looked really familiar... it was the father of one of my Girl Scouts, who was also involved with the Cub Scout pack, so we got to catch up on everyone's doings in the past, mmm, 18 years.   Plus, of course, talk about cycling.  I apparently inspired him those many years ago.  Cool.

Lunch arrived, and I snarfed my way through the Reuben sandwich and fries and coffee.

Time to head back.  The mist was still with us.  I stopped to get a picture in a stretch of very tall trees.  Susan and I stood there for awhile, listening to a pack of coyotes singing off in the woods.





We stopped in Banks for hot chai.  As it was a control, there was some dithering in the booth, but we got hand-written receipts.



Finished up at 6:05 elapsed time.  Not the fastest, but the point of this particular populaire is not speed.

Good day!

Oh, and that milestone...
Sweetpea joined Bleriot (being repaired, it will return) and Lemond in the 10,000+ mile club. Big smile!

All the pics here

Coffeeneuring #7, Chatterbox Coffee

Our last (for the series, probably not our last ever!) was to Chatterbox Coffee, in far west Beaverton.  About 6.5 miles due west on SW Baseline.  37 degrees when Fitz and I set out, but not raining.  Brought my jacket along just in case.

Jeff A was there when we arrived; Susan O showed up shortly thereafter.



I had a Mexi-mocha in a real mug, and a marionberry scone.  That was it for pastries.  They had breakfast things, but I'd had my bowl of Cheerios before departure.



Discussions included special purpose tools, both bicycle (Park Master Link Plier, yeah!) and kitchen (that Williams-Sonoma pie drip catcher was perhaps a bit over the top), cycling clothing (vests are so amazingly versatile), and riding up Bald Peak.  Apparently there are 5 ways up it.  I have ridden two of them, and not on the same ride.



Noticed that all the rando bikes had S&S couplers.  Fitz's tank didn't count - utility and commute only.

Seemed to be raining on the ride home, so everyone but Susan pulled out jackets.  We directed Jeff A to the Willow Creek MAX stop (he comes in all the way from SE Portland, and multimodes), and stopped by Bike Gallery in the hope that they would be open; Sweetpea's rear derailleur is doing that skip thing again.  Still too early, so I'll try later.

All coffeeneur expeditions were in Washington County.  No trips into Portland for coffee.  Only one trip to Starbucks, all the others were independents.

13.42 miles round trip.

All the coffeeneuring pictures here.

Riding around Clark County

No plans for this weekend, really.  Susan O mentioned that RACC was on Saturday - a century ride (there's shorter options, but we don't go there) around Clark County.  I had given the century a try a few years back (2007?, 2008?), but the weather, which was supposed to be quite decent, took a decidedly bad turn.  Like many riders, I ended up shortcutting the route for an 80 mile day.  So I'd never ridden the stretch from Moulton Falls to Daybreak Park...



Weather was supposed to be decent, but, no fool me, I tossed in a rain jacket and booties.  Just in case.  The ride started at 6:30, but, lazy slug that I am, I got up at 6, endeavored to park my car as far away from sign-in as possible, and was on the road by 8:02, after saying hi to KRhea, LJ, and Dean.  A funny at check-in... "now these are Dan Henry arrows, do you know about them?"  Yes ma'am, thank you.

Sweetpea had just had a right shifter replacement, so this was going to be the checkout ride (Susan: "wouldn't you want to do that on something shorter?").

Heading out, after a few miles, it started drizzling.  Shades of the last time...  But it didn't get any worse.  There seemed to be an on-course detour before Lacamas Lake, but this course is SO well marked, and volunteers are parked at all the tricky intersections.

Found Diane at Lacamas Lake, and also the fabled Trail Putty.  The volunteer wanted to know how many I'd had (oh NO, I hope they aren't rationing it!).  None yet.  He made me take two, plus "if you put some in the little cup and take it with you, it won't make a mess."  Ok then.





Then the next 29 miles to Moulton Falls.  Jeff A came up behind me, and we rode together for awhile, then I stopped to get a picture of Lucia Falls and he went on.  He won't be able to do the 400k in a couple weeks :-(  Business trip.   At Moulton Falls I met his riding buddies, who it turned out I already knew one, and had briefly met the other (!)  Also chatted with Nat K and his son-in-law.





The nice people there (including the man who had saved my very frozen feet the last time) were pushing all kinds of food - did I want a half or whole burrito?  Whole :-)  Plus a rando mocha (not what they call it), fruit, and many more chunks of Trail Putty for the road.  Plus applying toe warmers.  My feet, while not wet, were pretty chilly.  Daybreak Park was 33 miles down the road.

This was a stretch I had not ridden before.  Pretty.  It was pretty.  It was also quite hilly.  Not long climbs, but there were a lot of them, and they were all of the steeper variety.  Somewhere after Amboy, the intermittent drizzle decided it really wanted to be serious rain, at which point I pulled over and donned the rain jacket.



A tandem went zipping by at one point, the stoker wanted to know if I was Lynne (!)  Well, yes, but who was she?  "Diane's friend" and away they went.  I think we did the Unreach the Beach together a few years back.  Maybe?



On the climb on Lockwood Creek Rd in La Center, I did have to pause briefly.  And eat more Trail Putty, which I'd been doing every so often.

And then, finally, Daybreak Park!  More food and a rando mocha, restocking my Trail Putty supplies :-), chatting with the volunteers, and off again.



I found myself riding in the company of a couple of men, who spoke English to me and Spanish to each other.  I'd drop one of them on every climb, but they'd catch up on the flats.  We admired each other's bikes (hammered fenders, custom bikes :-) ) and eventually got around to introducing ourselves.  These were my new best friends Rafael and Alejandro.  We had a great time on that last 23 miles, except they forgot there were a couple more pretty special hills in the last 10 miles :-)  Turns out Rafael and I have some cycling friends in common from Olympia.

I made it up Felida (11%) and Bernie (12%) without stops, yay me!  And then, finished!

Loaded up the bike, changed shoes, said farewell to the guys, and drove over to Rebecca and Jessica's for shower and dinner (bison burgers, salad, and enormous baked potatoes).  The dogs were very happy to see me, because I was a giant salt lick, until I got in the shower :-)  We sat around, ate, and watched the Timbers on tv.  And then I went home before I fell asleep.

100.96 miles, 7:20 ride time, for a 13.75 avg mph.  Total ride time 8:45.  The new shifter behaved perfectly.