Feel like climbing 16,000 feet this weekend? Just follow the lions
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on April 15th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
your dreams — or nightmares depending on your fitness.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
This weekend will be an excellent chance to test your early season fitness. Or your sanity.
Organizers behind Saturday’s unsanctioned De Ronde PDX ride have just told us that they’ve also marked a companion ride for Sunday dubbed La Doyenne (after the famous European classic Liège–Bastogne–Liège). We hinted at the ride in our story about this year’s De Ronde back in January and today we learned the La Doyenne will take riders on a 50 mile jaunt through Happy Valley (south of Powell Butte Nature Park) on a course with 8,000 feet of climbing. The De Ronde route is about 47 miles with 7,800 feet of climbing.
The La Doyenne course is marked with the same Flemish Lions (look for them as yellow stencils on the pavement) that mark the De Ronde route through Portland’s West Hills. Both rides begin at 10:00 am. People will meet for the De Ronde in front of Pyramid Brewing at 2730 NW 31st Ave in the Northwest Industrial District. The La Doyenne will start in front of Happy Valley City Hall (16000 SE Misty Drive).
Check out the La Doyenne course and elevation profile via RideWithGPS.
The De Ronde debuted in 2007 and has seen exponential growth each year. Media coverage and word-of-mouth have turned it into the largest unsanctioned bike ride in Portland with an estimated turnout of 1,000 people in 2012. Read recaps and see photos of past rides in the BikePortland archives.
I applaud the Doyenne route for being less repetitive than those three passes of Montgomery.
Is the new ride a confirmed skinny slicks pavement ride, or will there be some off-camber sections like the Ronde? I’m especially thinking of the footpath between the dead ends of SW 18th Dr.
RecommendedConfirmed by the International Association of Skinny Slickers.
Or your money back.
RecommendedJust a little bit of background would be nice.
I know better than to ride my fixie at Sandy Ridge or on De Ronde. It’s really no fun to shred expensive tires or give up because you can’t get over the climbs.
RecommendedWow, I’m excited about The La Doyenne course ! It looks like on the RideWithGPS that its all on pavement. Think I will film some of DeRonde Van West Portlandia on Saturday & Ride The La Doyenne on Sunday with my Trek 2.1 Alpha, aka F-16…
RecommendedThat’s what all those little yellow lion stencils are that I see painted on the road on my way to work and back…
RecommendedIs there a good place to refill water bottles along the Ronde route Saturday? Weather forecast looks nice.
RecommendedStarbucks on Sylvan is almost exactly half way through. Also, the Pixie Project will be sponsoring their traditional party about 3/4 of the way through. Beer sandwiches, energy drinks. Bring a couple bucks for the donation box.
RecommendedThe shell station on Council Crest works pretty well.
RecommendedLast year some wonderful people in the neighborhoods set up water stands in a couple of places.
RecommendedYup, people will have stands set up with water. You also pass a Plaid Pantry up near the Skyline 26 overpass which you can stop at, as well as the cemetery up where skyline meets Burnside (they have a drinking fountain out front).
RecommendedWhat time is the Saturday Ronde starting? 9am as per usual?
RecommendedIts not happening at 10 am.
RecommendedMy 10yr old daughter, at this very moment is making signs on our dining room table for her yearly “Rhonde Reststop”! She’ll have a giant insulated container with FREE ice cold water, she’ll have homemade chocolate chip cookies ($1 for 4 huge cookies) as well as Mtn Dew/Pepsi/Diet pop($1) and free snacks for everyone. She’ll be set up at the top of the Montgomery climb on the right turn headed down Sw Upper (right past our house) headed to the wicked climb up English. You’ll come by her twice so toss her a buck or two, it’s her summer camp spending money project! At the very least just yell her name, Ella, and she’ll blush and be surprised as she has no idea I’m posting this. Imagine, all her hard work for an event that’s “not happening”…
RecommendedIf I were the promoter of this event, I’d say that this is exactly the kind of thing that makes this ride so friggin’ cool. But I’m not so I can’t. Go Ella.
RecommendedThanks Champs. A lot of work went into choosing a route that never doubled back on itself in the same direction on the same road. Follow the Orange Lions!
There are about 6 feet of gravel/non pavement in the route.
RecommendedHappy valley local gov. And residents are going to freak out! with so many swinging through town to say hello.
RecommendedWhat’s the best option for parking somewhat near the start of de Ronde (I’m coming from out of town, so riding 65 miles to the start is not gonna happen)? I don’t mind riding a mile or so…
RecommendedThere is ample street parking in the NW Industrial District. Especially on weekends.
Recommendedtherealorang (the guy riding the trike) finished the ride. Amazing! Also, who was / where will I find photos from the ride?
Recommended