STP 2009

Badger · STP 2009

Happy New Year!

I am new to the forum, so greetings follow LD Skaters.

Is anyone planning on skating the STP this year?

I will be in the area (coming from Colorado), and my company (New Belgium) is a sponsor of the event, so I though it might be a fun event to skate.

Slightly concerned over distance, very comfortable skating new terrain, and in low/no light conditions. My main concern is topography, not worried about uphill but I am not the greatest technical downhiller. My only reference is the Colorado bike tours/rides I have done, which would challenge the best of downhillers.

Any comments on terrain, topography, level of required insanity, etc. would be much appreciated

pavedwave

Hey Badger, Happy New Year to you as well, and welcome to the forum!

I'd like to hear more about what you've skated in the past, we can yak offline as well. The first things that I always ask people interested are

1. what is the longest day you've covered already in miles / hours
2. how often do you skate 10+ mile distances
3. how is your footbraking skill
4. what speeds are you comfortable with
5. how much experience riding with packs of bicycles

So far Barefoot Ted was the only other guy to join me on the 3rd year of STP. With him, I obviously had no concern about aerobic capacity (the first two items above) although he did need to do a lot of work on the 2nd point, to get his skateboarding muscles up to par with his running muscles.

The last three are crucial to not having any mishaps with the bikers. Ted told me about his hill riding in the past and the recent rides he was doing here locally, so I got a good handle on his bombing capability. I rode with him enough to see his footbraking skills were solid, and rode with him on the trails to see his general awareness factor. As far as awareness goes, some of my buds here who I love like brothers and skate with on occasion, I would never want to ride alongside on something like STP.

Ted had an awesome time and really knocked it out. But trust me at the end of the first day, when I asked his impression, he had a pretty wizened look, saying "THAT was intense..."

Most of that intensity comes from the unique situation we're in. We're shooting down hills hitting 35mph at times, just like any other cross-country longboarder who's skated distances across the country or continent. The huge difference (and you're reminded of this every 15 seconds) is that our ride is a bike ride, and we have a steady stream of bikes passing on our left much of the time -- including big hills. No carving to shave speed here. This is where the insanely good footbraking and awareness skills are key.

The other thing is, as much as I have met mostly positive vibes and support, it's not cuddly grins and teddy bears with everyone in the biking community. A recent post on the bicycle forum specifically about "the skateboarders" firmed that one up for me. And this is why skaters have to treat this thing right.

It's quite a different experience to ride 100 miles a day, days in a row, along with a crowd. More people need to ride "multiple centuries" unassisted, to get this. I believe it's quite a different mindset even than those who've skated across countries with vehicle support. I would love having the time to skate weeks or months like a Skate Across America (but without the car) -- the challenges would be mostly situational, not physical, and I see that as something to do in my 50's with time and more freedom on my hands. Until then, these organized "sprint" sessions are the niche that fits my life.

Anyway, just another earful of thoughts. Might sound a bit overly conservative, but I'll elaborate with a few more details offline if you're seriously down like a clown for this!

Cheers
james

Parson Adams

James,

I am planning on attending, too. I started my conditioning today. I am comfortable at pumping and gliding on an average speed of about 17-21 mph. I know that many bikers do not care for skaters--I encounter this daily in San Antonio so much so that I have been run off of my trails, roads, and parking lots by them.

My wife, Brandi, and I plan on flying to Lompoc, CA to drop off our daughter, Sasha, with her grandparents and then renting a car and making the trip to WA. We will probably spend a week's time in Seattle before the race just so I can adjust to the time, temperature--it's a lot cooler than Texas, even in the summer--,and just beat around a few miles--hopefully with you and your crew.

I need dates, though. I also need information on how to sign up for the STP since I would be skating it.

During a normal session, I pump on a very hilly and primarily uphill course in San Antonio. I also put about 20 miles in per session after warming up. I carry a 3L camelbak with me and a GPS unit.

My concern is about how to do this thing. Am I to keep pace with you? May I keep my own pace? What are the UNWRITTEN rules of the road?

Thanks for any tips,
Jim

pavedwave

Jim, awesome to hear this! PM'd you earlier today. Your pace is all that's important, do what works for you. Though I will say in the past we average somewhere around 9 mph. Sure, when we're moving its faster but we do take some short breaks here and there (nothing like the luxurious 1-2 hour lunches the bikers take however) No pressures or need to ride in lockstep, just as long as we make the overnight rest stop the first day, that part is pretty key!

As far as temps, last year's STP and RSVP hit 95--100 degrees mid-day, so you may not need to do too much adjusting after all.

Registration for non-Cascade members will start Feb 1st, but tickets will probably not sell out until early June at earliest, if history holds true.

Also, got your PM Badger, will get in touch again soon!

blake

man i would love to do this but. it seems a little out of league right now. so i think i will try for next years. maybe if i feel like i am ready i will but i doubt.

pavedwave

Time to start planning! I'm going to get my STP ticket soon. Last year they sold out June 11th, this year might be earlier.

http://cascade.org/EandR/stp/index.cfm

The cost of return bus trip to Seattle on the 12th is now $60 -- and that includes bike. But since I never need that, the cost is a little high. So this year I'm looking into Amtrak tickets July 12th leaving Portland at 6:15 p.m.

The other thing I'm doing differently this year is making Saturday night reservation in either Winlock or Vader, instead of Castle Rock -- more options for evening dining, and makes the first day a little less hairy, shaving off 10-15 miles or so.

I'm not actively encouraging anyone to skate this. If you're up for it, feel free to touch base and we'll yak offline -- and if you're not, no sweat. Cheers.

pavedwave

Jason, I wish you could make this ride, but I thank you for your generosity in helping me get set up for STP 2009 -- and seriously hope you can plan on next years.

Tickets sold out at the very end of May, all 10,000 of them!

I'm set up to camp at Vader this year, the first year I'll cut the first day a little shorter and spread the miles out to the 2nd day a little more. Planning on starting the next day just as the sun rises to still guarantee a good long rest in the beer garden at the end Very Happy

A few people have mentioned it must be a bummer that I'm flying solo on the STP once again. To be brutally honest, unless I know the skater's experience and capacity on hills, it's more of a relief than anything. Last year when Ted joined, we'd already skated trails and hills together several times, so there was no issue assuring the director of the ride that everything was copacetic. And, I honestly enjoy riding solo for hours / days on end. I'd worry about my sorry ass mental state more if I couldn't skate unless other people did! Now, just praying for sun...

Badger

james, no problem, wish I was in on the gig, my only request is that you let your freak flag fly and that you show the world that no matter if you push, pump, or pedal, we are all brothers and sisters in the world of human powered transportation, good luck and represent the few, the proud, the long distance skaters well. jt

pavedwave

LDPanda

Im sure youre already in bed by this hour but GOOD LUCK JAMES!!! The stp is so hardcore, its a real inspiration to see you do this again this year. I aim to be able to join you one of these years Razz

Stay safe out there bud, dont let those bikers push you around Wink

LDPanda

Has anyone heard anything from james recently? Im probably worrying about nothing but I havent seen any sign from him since the twitter post the night before the STP. Ive tried calling and emailing him but no response. Anyone heard if he got home safely?

Edit: I heard from James today. It totally slipped my mind that he was going on vacation right after STP. Sounds like he had a good time, im sure he'll update everyone once hes back home. Congrats on another successful STP!

pavedwave

Thanks Dave. Getting unplugged has been the best. Swam with a sea turtle yesterday and spending half my time in the ocean here.

This STP was the easiest physically even though it rained half the time Sunday, lot of mud and goop as well, making the already tough Lewis and Clark bridge one of the most harrowing trials I've skated in a long while. Mad speed, footbrake in wet, dodge chunks of bark, bounce board over expansion joint, pick up speed and repeat again, something like 20 expansion joints in a row, some of them total wheel eaters. More than a few bikers have ended their ride on that bridge. Because of the rain I pushed most of the way Sunday.

Total time for the 204 miles was 23 hours. (4:30am--7pm sat, 5am--1:30pm sun) The first day included a 15-minute break to quickly strip down and jump in a glacier-cold lake just off the Yelm-Tenino trail.

Met tons of really cool people, felt great at the Finish line and got up the next morning to fly to Oahu, been snorkelling and swimming in the surf for hours every day since then.

My main personal goal is to just skate this ride more efficiently each time and to finish healthy, strong, and injury free. This was the 'fastest' STP so far even though I'm not really going for speed, just taking shorter and fewer breaks, instead looking forward to a better rest at the end of each day and the big beer garden on day 2. Smile

Bikers on the course are always generous with encouraging comments but honestly, seeing people out there biking strong well into their 80's, or the amputee that biked one-legged...that stuff is jaw-dropping.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emptybits/3719284558/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emptybits/3718470519/

pavedwave

pics from Heather Jordan

Around 90 miles, the nice long smooth trip on SR-507, the only trick being to stay as far right as possible. Freeway traffic is 60-65mph and the white line is corrugated and tough to cross over.

Heather caught me later, I think this was the Scappoose mini-stop, the last one on the course (187 miles)

pics from Tony at roguecyclist.com

From one of the mini-stops on the 2nd day, after getting blasted with rain and skating through mud.

Finish line pic from MJ Kelly of Cascade.org

Thanks all for the shots!!