VA, Bike Chick Volunteer

VA was written about in the last Community Cycling Center newsletter.
Good job VA!

still riding

No time to blog, but yes, we are finding time to ride.  Cookie Ride two weekends ago with a Portland Velo group for a fast average pace of 21.5 for 62+ miles; Ride Around Clark County last Saturday (100 miles) and then today, a quick ride up Larch Mountain with a few Velo folks and friends.  The gate is still closed to traffic and we were only able to ride about 1/2 mile past it due to snow up there.

Mike, Barb, KRhea, VA & Steve

My friends, Judi, her daughter Annie and another friend, Barb leave next week to ride part of the Giro and also watch a day of the tour.  We leave June 2nd to ride in Northern Spain, the Cantabrian Challenge, for 7 days.  Both Thompson Tours.  Shut up and ride.

I think every cyclist has been affected by the death of the young Belgian rider, Wouter Weylandt, in the 3rd stage of the Giro yesterday.  Tyler Farrar of Washington State dropped out of the Giro.  The two were best friends and training partners in Ghent, Belgium, where Farrar had settled to train.

Velonews published an account from RadioShack rider Manuel Cardoso who saw Wouter’s crash:

Cardoso was trailing Weylandt near the bottom of the Passo del Bocco with about 25km to go when he saw the big Belgian crash.
RadioShack press attaché Philippe Maertens released this e-mail to VeloNews on what Cardoso saw: “Wouter was dropped and tried to come back to the group,” Maertens wrote of Cardoso’s reaction. “(Weylandt) then looked behind to see if he would be better to wait for other dropped riders (some 20). While looking behind, he hit with his left pedal or the left side of his handlebars on a small wall and was catapulted to the other side of the road when he hit again something. It must have been terrible.”

Cardoso later finished in a group of riders at 3:20 back that also included Leopard-Trek rider Tom Stamsnijder, who also saw his teammate fall. “I saw him crash,” Stamsnijder said at the line. “It was a very hard fall.”

A good weekend for riding

Women's Forum, on the way to Crown Point

After all the rain we've had, KRhea, Portland Velo's leader, suggested we go out Old Columbia River Highway to see Multnomah Falls at it's best.  Starting at  Glen Otto park we rode up to Crown Point then down the old road, numerous waterfalls spotted along the way.  We had just the right amount of rain according to one rider, promptng another to ask, 'what is the right amount of rain'? 42 miles.

Yet one more waterfall along the way

Craig, VA & KRhea

Yesterday was Portland's version of a Flanders Classic ride, the Ronde PDX.  The route, marked by the Lion of Flander,  takes you through the hills Portland.  You don't ever leave the city limits.  This is an unorganized ride without scheduled water or food stops. Luckily I hooked up with two guys I rode with last Sunday.   Quite a few riders gathered in NW Portland at 10 am, then headed out Highway 30 and up the first hill of Saltzman Road. This 4 mile dirt road is blocked to cars by concrete barriers at the entry way to Forest Park.  I knew this was going to be an interesting ride when a guy in front of me bunny-hopped over a 3 x 4 foot concrete mass  - on a road bike no less!  A father even rode a Surly long bike, carrying his 3-ish year old kid in the seat on the back and I witnessed him riding Brywood (a ridiculously steep road off Miller) without stopping! Myself, I had to stop in two driveways to get some momentum, only to be caught in the mass of riders also trying to do the same thing.  I've done most of this route alone, but it's far more fun with a group of like minded riders!   I only fell once, going up Cascade towards the Arboretum when my tire got bogged down by mud; a soft landing, no harm.  Along the way, kids and neighbors cheered us on, making us feel as if we were truly in the Tour de Flanders.  Several people even set up road side stands with cookies, water, lemonade, Gatorade, scones (yes scones!) and I spotted a carton of Morton's salt to add to drinks.

I think I have done most every hill in Portland now.  Sometimes we'd go down the same road twice just to climb a slightly different route, then you think you have no legs left, bam....there's another one to do.  The Ronde PDX site states the route is 47 miles with 4800 feet of gain.  I had 55 miles on my Cateye, no Garmin data for gain*. In a  2009 video from Oregon Field Guide, you can hear one guy stating he climbed 7400 feet.  Whatever the gain, this ride is very hard.

Me, Fixie Joe & Mark

*garmin data from Skyline Velo rider.  Note he rode from SW Portland, but still - 9000 feet of gain!?

Cherry Blossom Ride

Our first big ride of the year was yesterday, the Cherry Blossom Ride that starts in The Dalles.  Our group rode a 77 mile/4400 feet of gain loop that ended at 7 Mile Hill for a fast finish.  We had a really good ride, all except for the little dog that came after us as we descended, going about 36-40 mph.  The best part was the weather!  We left the pouring rain in Portland and by the time we reached Hood River, the rain stopped and we even had a bit of blue sky throughout the day.  We agreed that the 1 and 1/2 hour drive to The Dalles is worth doing this ride another day when we have dismal weather in Portland.

Mark's Holland

Our group at Rowena Crest

Looking down at what we came up

7 Mile Hill, ready to go down

I got home early enough to watch Fabian Cancellara sprint the last 6 km of the Paris Roubaix for an amazing 2nd place finish.  What could be better?!  Next Sunday, Portland has an informal unorganized version of the Tour de Flanders ride, the Ronde PDX.  The last couple of weeks the 'organizers' have been  busy placing the turn markers all over the west hills.  46 miles, 4700 feet of gain.

April 1st and 68 degrees

Friday, April 1st, we finally had sunny weather.

Council Crest park

I rode by our neighbor's house and had to do a double take.  They put some very realistic decoys on their front lawn for April Fool's day.


Yesterday was a different story.  58 degrees, sun and mixed rain.  I rode with a young guy who is is training for a tri.  He wore shorts, a short sleeved jersey and NO gloves.

Flanders Classics

The 2011 Gent-Wevelgem leg was today.  Tyler Farrar of Washington State came in 3rd.
2011 Gent-Wevelgem Live Video, Route, Preview, Teams, Results, Photos

The Tour de Flanders is next Sunday followed by the Paris-Roubaix on April 10th.

Dutch 'wind' riding

Found this video on Cycling Tips blog from Big Ring Riding.  Check out the guy trying to get back on his bike!