evidence at a rest stop.
(Photos © Bob Crispin)
Thousands of riders poured into Portland today — and so did the rain — for the 30th running of the Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride.
They left before dawn on Saturday and the final rider just rolled through the balloon-studded finishing chute in Holladay Park at about 9:00pm Sunday night. There were 10,000 riders in all. Were you one of them?
64-year old St. Johns resident Bob Crispin was out to complete his 14th STP. He made a “great attempt,” but in the end, he says, his body just didn’t want to deal with weather and the final 40 miles (he ended up doing 100 miles, plus his age for 164 total).
Thankfully, Bob felt good enough to snap some photos (and then send them to us). Here are a few of his shots from the road…
Congrats to everyone who made it!
1st time I’ve done the STP; it was great! Sunday morning though, about 45 minutes into it there was some ominous thunder followed by lightning, and sure enough, a downpour.
The trail from Yelm to Tenino — in the “backroads” shot above — was 13 miles of car-less bliss, and one of the highlights of a great ride, especially on Saturday.
As for the early-morning thunderstorm, pelting hail, steady rain, and cold temps on Sunday: It just builds character, right?
All in all, a load of fun!
love that pic.. LOL! i was at the great wolf lodge family time, but great to see everyone roll threw.. great job all!
I will do this one year!
Joe
Great ride – a group of us spent the midpoint night at Chehalis camped in the city park, and two of us got a pretty late start Sunday morning (we got moving about 7am) and watched the lightning while drinking coffee – so we missed the morning downpour. Wet pavement for 30 miles, then overcast for 30, then soaking rain for the last 30. It wasn’t a bad day, but not the best either. Still, it was better than last year, when the traditional 90+ temperatures sapped all our strength.
This was probably my last StP. I don’t think I can beat the experiences on this one, especially coming into Chehalis pulling a paceline of 4 at 26mph (on a 40-lb. bike no less) and passing a couple of cars on the left.
I wish I’d had a heart monitor for that one.
I did STP in one day for the first time this year. It was an awesome ride.
I split the ride in two days and had an amazing time. Sure….stuff was hurting, but that is part of being a great cyclist.
The lightening scared the poop out of me!
and I questioned myself for the first ten miles or so of the second day. But, I stuck with it and felt better by the time I got into Winlock.
What an amazing change in weather the two days! I saw Bob Crispin and talked to him along the way. Then, there were riders that totally looked “SE Pdx” and I would ride up to them and say, “you live in SE Pdx!” and they would say, “How did you know?”
An awesome time.
Did it in one day for the first time. Its a long haul but boy is it nice to get in your own bed at the end of the day.
John did not mention that when I quit at mile 164, I was at the Goble Tavern, so while awaiting my ride, I had a wonderful Irish Coffee.
Day one is always the most fun, most scenic, and of course, the day we are all the strongest. I say, go slow, enjoy the party, and do haul ass centuries on other smaller events.
Lets get Portland’s CRAZY culture out there in the future. There are a few unicycles, fixies, and costumed folks, but PORTLAND, we can do better at taking a bit of this from the carbon set.
I have completed 13, entered maybe 17, and always make it a goal to do it a bit slower each year. This year the weather got me, as I am a fair weather Spartan by nature, so even slow wasn’t good enough for me !!!
Thank You Jonathan for publishing my images!! Bob Out
Did the round-trip STP for the second time, riding three days up and two back. It feels great to have a fossil fuel-free STP. We used to do a gasoline-free STP by taking Amtrak to Seattle, but the round trip by bike is much better!
On the return trip we made Longview the first day. It is a long ride, but we missed the thunderstorms that hit the Centralia area. Got to the finish line dry and happy, then got totally soaked riding over the mountain to get home.
This was STP number 8 for me. Don’t know how much longer I will keep it up, but this one was thankfully free of any bicycle or auto accidents where I was riding. I worry about the congestion during the first 50 miles or so.