STP '23 and Last Minute Friends

STP ‘23

I missed the Seattle to Portland (STP) ride last year because of, well, pet-sitting logistics. This year, I rode it for the first time, and it left me quite happy. Squad-wise LT was act of god’d by appendicitis, but OY and RL and GA and I all finished (OY and GA in a day [which gets you a flex of a shirt]).

The first day from Seattle to Longview / Kelso was a 150mi and set a new PR for distance cycled in a day, on top of the 200mi in two days.

STP ‘24

We’ve all been talking big game about riding STP again next year, and while it’s on my mind I want to scribble some notes on what can be improved.

CEO should come (obviously) but we’ll need to build up her confidence on pace and distance. So, went for a ride this morning.

I need a new bike – I love my dad’s olde Cannondale, but the racy aluminum frame / Ti wheel left me shook (my ass was literally black and blue) and the bike failing (popped spokes and screws untapped) over the distance.

Wear more sunscreen.

Have a plan for food. We played it “eat when hungry”, but I ate too little, partially because I wasn’t sure when I’d eat. Next time I’ll bring enough prepared food along with a rough fueling schedule. Any stops with the team’ll just mean I get something tasty and can skip some bars, and we can aim to plan on certain stops.

Better bag check logistics. Not relevant if I shoot for one day, but on the two day I’d actually create a route to make it to the bag check to the hotel. At the end of the day you’re tired / sloppy and ready to eat / sleep, so having routing ready would keep the plan on the rails.

Use a backpack for the luggage bag. Unsurprisingly in retrospect, the roller bag was a pain to transport.