Nancy's Ride

This is one of my favorite lunch rides I can take from my house.  I named it Nancy's Ride after a friend who turned me onto this route.  One can easily do the 30 miles in about an hour and a half.  Flat with only one hill going out Murray Road and up Scholls.  Once on the top of Scholl's Ferry Road I'm out in the country.

Mile 12

This weekend we head to Bend for the Cascade Gran Fondo.  Chris Horner will be riding!

Weeds that look like tiny bird nests

End it all with a Tazo Passion Fruit Ice Tea

Mt. Shasta Century & The Alpine Century

We happened to be in Klamath Falls August 5th to clean out my Mom's house which had just sold.  To make an unpleasant task more bearable we took our bikes and headed down to Shasta City the evening of the 6th to ride the Mt. Shasta Century.  I've always wanted to do this ride.  It lived up to it's reputation of being a hot, hard ride.  I've never been to Shasta City and we were lucky to snag a room at the charming Strawberry Valley Inn.

The super century is 138 miles with 16,100 feet of gain.  We opted to cut out the 2nd climb up to Mumbo and Craig's Garmin picked up a little over 100 miles with 10.8k gain.

Last Saturday we rode the 93 mile route of the Alpine Century, leaving from Alpine, Oregon (near Corvallis) and up through the coast range by Alsea.  This is a pretty ride with 5k gain.

Pics from the Shasta Century:

Top of first climb, Parks Creek Summit

Looking west from the summit

Swimming after the 2nd climb, Castle Lake.  Yes, I was in bike clothes!

Bunny Flat

Heading up Everitt Memorial Highway to the old ski bowl on Mt. Shasta

Jackson’s Ride the Gorge, July 23, 2011

One of my favorite sponsored events is Jackson’s Ride, a fundraiser bicycle ride for the Jackson Hill Foundation, it honors the legacy of Jackson Hill who passed away in 2005 from osteosarcoma. Last year’s ride, with epic 30-40 mph cross winds on 7 Mile Hill, forced us to ride canted leeward.  This year, we were fortunate to have clear skies and unusually light east winds. 

The 100 mile route starts at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River.  Riders start the first half of the course paralleling the river up to Parkdale, through Dee, and then down to Hood River via country roads surrounded by orchards.  The northern face of Mt. Hood is always looming in the distance. The course splits at the Old Columbia River Highway and continues east through the Mosier Twin Tunnels, up to Rowena Crest and then down to The Dalles. 

One rider in our group described the descent down the switchbacks from Rowena Crest as a mini Alpe d’Huez.  

After a pleasant stop for lunch at the charming house of the Rowena Baptist Church, we approached The Dalles and started another climb up Cherry Heights Road through farmland and wheat fields.  In retrospect, that climb was more difficult than 7 Mile Hill this year.  No wind, but we did have a bit of heat.  I’m sure the four of us that rode it last year lost a bit of credibility in the ‘this hill is SO hard’ category.  

That said, the lack of wind made for a really fun and fast descent into Mosier where we stopped and had ice cream at the Mosier Café (be sure to try their espresso milk shakes and home-made ice cream sandwiches).  From there we made our way back through the Mosier Tunnels (go slow and enjoy the cool air) and into Hood River. Back at the museum we enjoyed cold cider and beer. A good dinner was ready and some riders were enjoying a free massage.  This is a bargain at $60.  Fundraising is not a requirement, but riders can elect to do so via the foundation’s web site.  Approximately 100 miles, over 9000 feet of gain, with a max elevation approaching 1750 feet at Parkdale. 

I highly recommend this ride.  It’s well supported with wonderful volunteers, some who have had family members affected by sarcoma.  The scenery is incredible, the rest stops have lots of good food, and most important, Jackson’s Ride supports a great cause.  Maybe next year they’ll dial up the wind again for an added challenge!

(submitted to Portland Velo eNews)

Silver Anniversary Ride

Tuesday was Craig and my 25th wedding anniversary.  Silver.  He got me an 11/28 Dura-Ace cassette.  Should I tell him it's not compatible with my old Ultegra components?  Or use it as an excuse to upgrade?:

I got him (or us) a small replica of our wedding cake, poppy seed with raspberry filling:

We both celebrated the day by riding up in The Dalles (due to dismal Portland weather):

Followed by a visit to Bonneville Hot Springs:

What could be better?!

Stage 9 Tour de France

This years Tour has seen it's share of riders dropping out not from fatigue, but injuries.  Cycling Tips entry yesterday is titled,  Tour de France Jinxed.  Once again this site has a lot of pictures, comments and some videos, including a short one of the car hitting Johnny Hoogerland & Juan Antonio Flecha (did letting go of the bars help Flecha roll & avoid bad injuries?).  Whatever, it's amazing that these guys were able to ride away.

A photo in Bicycling magazine

This month's Bicycling magazine has an article about Chris King's Gourmet Rides.  Take a look at the upper left hand photo:

It's Allan, Craig and me!  Ha Ha, we got a good laugh out of that!  Where was VA?  She likes to fly under the radar, so was probably avoiding the photographer.  Or way out in front on her new IF!

Rode 100 miles the past three days without too much pain.  It's good to be back on the bike!  KRhea took a big group out yesterday for his 'Firecracker Ride' in the west hills of Portland.  36 miles, 38K gain.

Getting ready to cross Burnside to ride up to the Pittock Mansion

The MAC club time trial is tomorrow night.  That might be pushing it.

Mt. Adams ride, 2011

This past Saturday, our group went up to Trout Lake to do the loop for the Mt. Adam's Country ride.  There was so much snow, they couldn't do the entire loop, doing an out and back instead.

 A note of caution on 'touch and bump' clinics.  VA paired with Craig and fell on the grass, ending up with a bruised acromian.

 Looking at Mt. Hood and Hood River from the Washington side

Starting out at Trout Lake

Mt. Adams

Tom, Bob, Teddy, Nancy, Craig, VA, Allan and Mark

I was still off the bike last weekend.  Another reason not to ride, a good one; our daughter moved to Irvine to start a new job!  We drove down last Thursday.  She is working as an ad coordinator for Source Interlink Media and started the 27th.  A real job!  We found a charming apartment within walking distance to her work and it's stucco, something she's liked since she was little.  Back Wed. and saw my ortho guy today.  I can start riding now and will go out tomorrow; pain will be my guide as to how much.