Hood River Harvest Ride

Summer is winding down and the Harvest Ride is one of the last rides we do.  Yesterday's weather was gorgeous, a perfect day to ride.  The smoke from the Dollar Fire is gone but the base camp at the fairgrounds is still going and the road up to Lolo Pass is closed due to mop up. The ride started instead up in Parkdale at the Mt. Hood Town Hall.  We did two loops, 62 miles, 5100 feet of gain.

Lost Lake

This picture is from a ride I did from Pacific City to Netarts Bay last week with Art and Craig:

Our last organized ride is the 8th, the Harvest Ride in Hillsboro.

New Shoes

Got the shoes I won today.  Really nice Bontrager XXXL carbon.  Very flashy red!  Plus a cool t-shirt and back pack.  How nice!

Vuelta rides Angliru tomorrow!

Should be fun to watch!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stages

Highrocks 2011

VA and Marc with their Independent Fabrication bikes.

Part of our group before the 'Disneyland' descent

Just finished this invitational ride set up by KRhea, Portland Velo's president.  71 miles, over 5600 ft of gain, starting at the Timberlake Civilian Conservation Center outside Estacada, Oregon, off highway 224.  The route starts with a 14 mile Cat 1 climb on paved forest service roads in Mt. Hood National Forest and circumnavigates Timothy Lake.  I'd definitely recommend this route.  We had volunteer support, even tech support courtesy of master mechanic,Todd, of Southwest Bicycle in Multnomah Village.  I do think prepared riders in a group of at least 4 could go out and do it unsupported.  There is water at some of the campgrounds along the way.  No cell phone coverage.  As KRhea put it,  If you have to tweet, update your facebook status or contact your bookie you're hurtin'. 

KRhea, his wife (who drove a support car) and his little daughter.
In the background you can see our mechanic, Todd (wearing the apron)

Catching Up With Chris Horner: Part 1

Catching Up With Chris Horner: Part 1

Chris talks about his current medical status, plans for training, his recent wedding and also the Gran Fondo.

Cascade Gran Fondo

Saturday our Portland Velo group got together over in Bend, Oregon for Chris Horner's Gran Fondo, a benefit for World Bicycle Relief, Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Fund and Livestrong.  The 85 mile route started in Bend with a neutral role-out, led by a police car for about 3 miles.  Once at the start, the police car sounded the siren and the timed portion began.  We rode up the Cascade Highway and around Bachelor Butte, a total gain of about 5K.

Portland Velo group at the start

We all rode for time and our group did pretty well.  I got 3rd place overall for women and won some Bontrager shoes.  The last I saw of the two women ahead of me was at about mile 30 when they lost me on the second hill.  Chris Horner isn't riding yet due to his injury in the 7th stage of the Tour and he was in a pace car along the way.  It was pretty darn exciting to have him come alongside me on the first hill and yell 'good job'!  My adrenalin was already peaking and to see him along the way gave me extra energy.  Craig and VA came in not too far behind me, in fact, VA was the 4th woman across the finish line.  I've never been in a racing atmosphere before and I am still feeling the affects two days later.  A totally different venue for us but it goes down as one of my favorite rides this season.

VA, Chris Horner, me and Craig

adjusting the number for fellow Velo member, Mike G.

Mike, VA & Craig

Pep talk at the start, Chris Horner (in black)

looking back to Craig on a hill

We had to stop and take a picture of Bachelor Butte

Chris Horner was very gracious at the start and finish.  It'll be fun to watch him in next year's and hopefully he'll be on the podium!

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