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Archive for April, 2009

Oregon Randonneurs Three Capes 300

Monday, April 13th, 2009

This past weekend several RCCers went down to Forest Grove to ride the ORando Three Capes 300, a fine ride with great scenery. A very nice writeup with revealing photos has been put up by Don Boothby at his blog:

http://theboothbychronicles.blogspot.com/2009/04/cheeseburger-hold-cheese.html

Check it out!

Posted in General |

Ride Report- The Laughing Group for Easter Sunday

Monday, April 13th, 2009

I rolled into the parking lot at around 0850, accompanied by a pretty heavy rain. Four Rabbits were there, and no Laughers. “Great!” I exulted; we can pack this one in. The Rabbits were all dressed in festive Easter Bunny Costumes, with a wild assortment of ears on their helmets, and colorful Easter Baskets filled with cycling goodies like Hammergel Packets and Clif Bars, as well as an assortment of gaily decorated eggs. Despite the soaking they were getting they seemed pumped for a super strenuous egg hunt. I prepared to bid them adieu when Agent Louise rolls into the parking lot, springs out of her Subaru and exclaims “Let’s ride!”. Bummer. She proceeded to exchange strange ritual foods with David, who must have been suffering from some kind of cognitive dissonance wearing an Easter Bunny costume, celebrating Passover, and having just practiced for the Beltane Fire Dance. She also had some dark chocolate for the rest of us, so we let her live.

Pretty soon PPG arrived, followed by Will, then the Czech Chick at a sedate pace (mirabile dictu!), and Doug. We had a newbie, a Young Guy, with tennis shoes, no raingear, and shorts. He had no trouble keeping up, so I recommended him to the Rabbits where they truly enjoy suffering when he comes again. On our way out Steve R. hooked up, and we headed south into the headwind. I was working hard pulling into the wind while Doug and Agent Louise were busily chattering away. Although the Trail was deserted, one couple managed to occupy both lanes and stare at us blankly as we nearly rode over them. And we were only doing 14! They didn’t understand “Look out, heads up, get out of the way”.

Once we started to climb the Laughers wanted a clothing stop, so we pulled over, and I quickly headed for the ground before it came up to meet me. Very restful with the rain falling on your face. We worked our way up through the neighborhoods and eventually arrived at Eastgate for a potty stop. I spent my break on my back again, always better than falling on your face. After a period of recovery, I polled the group about continuing on over Lakemont, or running down Newport way and Starbucks. The consensus was that it was miserable and another dozen miles or so was not going to make it better. So I decided to shorten the route. At this point I noticed that Agent Louise was decorating herself with flower petal. Very fetching. And Papa Goose was imitating a Pict warrior, with half his face covered in a grayish black. Must have run out of woad.

So we scampered up the hill to Newport and headed for Issaquah. Steve headed for parts unknown. A great run into Issaquah, and we soon arrived at the Starbucks, where we encountered a couple who watched me wringing out my gloves. They commented that they had planned on going for a ride that morning. The inference from their stares was that we were quite insane. I was thinking to myself that the truly insane riders were still out on the course, dressed like Easter Bunnies. They asked if this a was a Cascade ride, and I replied “Yes, Goose Bumps”. That seemed to be all that they needed to properly categorize us.

We had a pleasant visit and hot drink break, while Louise and Kent repaired their makeup.

It was time to go, and we saddled up for our trip to the barn with a nice tailwind. PPG took off, and I pulled the rest of the group up to him. After a while Will came around, leading up the hill. He was going a little slow to suit me so I pulled out and led over the top, then pulled a train down into the flat. After a while I noted that the Chick was missing, so we slowed up to let her catch up. Knee problems. Together again, for a short while, until Agent Louise decided to pick up the pace. I waved bye bye, and PPG and Will went with her. We regrouped at Marymoor, where I promptly flatted. The rest went on while the Czech Chick stayed to help. I quickly determined that sitting down was the best strategy for a tire change, and later amended that to laying down while I mounted the tire. The cardiovascular system was being difficult. Flat fixed, we ambled off up the trail.

We changed into dry clothing and joined the others for a spirited post ride beer and story session. Things got pretty racy, but what happens at Red Hook stays at Red Hook, so you’ll have to join us to see how this works out.

As I was pulling out David and Michael rolled into the lot. Their Easter costumes were a little soggy. 50% attrition. Papa Goose had predicted that a Perfect Rabbit Ride™ with four riders would be only one returning to Red Hook, with three lost along the way. Two out of four ain’t bad, though.

See you next Sunday.

Bill

Posted in GooseBumps |

RCC April Meeting and Cascade Huts Presentation

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Mt. Hood Bike Loop

Our monthly meeting took place Monday, April 4. Attendance was sparse, what with people recovering from the SIR 300 and a big gaggle off in California riding their bikes. You missed a great time. Shane had arranged for Fatima’s Belly Dancing School to give demonstrations and a small contingent of Chippendales Dancers in an effort to boost attendance.

The usual reports and updates took place, and Ruth reported that Team Green & Gold finished at 3 AM on Sunday. Greg reports that they finished at 1 Am. Who knows where the truth lies? In any event, Ruth was standing in for Greg as he was home in bed with his feet up, recovering.

Once the dancers had left, Shane introduced James Koski from Cascade Huts in Portland. He and his partner have built three portable huts, each capable of sleeping 8 folks. These huts are spaced in a loop around Mt. Hood and are designed for mountain bikes. Much of the route is forest road, with optional single-track. There are three huts, and each is equipped with four bunk beds, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, kitchen facilities, food, water, a chemical toilet, tables, chairs, and great views. Huts are restocked weekly and special requests are accommodated. No showers, sorry, although you can bathe in the creek at one hut.

The loop around Mt. Hood is designed to be done in four days of riding and three nights sleeping. RCC rando types may want to skip the sleeping part and ride through the night. Total mileage is about 138 miles, with days of 26, 36, 41, and 24 miles. Total elevation gain is reported to be 17,000′ but that is a Topo figure which is always suspect. Various single-track options are available to bump the mileage.

Mt. Hood bike loop profile

What’s it look like? See for yourself:

hutinside

What does it cost? $300 bucks a head for three nights, including food, sleeping bag (in each hut), a cool chem toilet, and great views. You supply the bike and the first days lunch. Questions? Contact them yourself:

Cascade Huts LLC
PO Box 5126

Beaverton, OR 97006

hoodhut

phone: 971.322.3638

fax: 866.430.4559 (toll-free)

http://www.cascadehuts.com/

Don’t forget next month’s meeting. Shane has arranged for George Thornton to dance the pas de deux from Swan Lake with Kristie for the social portion of the evening. Save the date!

–Bill Pence

Posted in General |

Ride Report- The Laughing Group, Sunday April 5

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Awesome!

The weather was simply superb on Sunday, even better than predicted. The Weather Princess would be due some great chocolate if she weren’t on hiatus. I had been wanting to do the trip out to Sultan on the first nice Spring day, because the views are exceptional with the mountains covered in snow. They didn’t disappoint. We had a big turnout of 20, with many of the usual suspects, PPG, Agent Louise, Lynn, Dan & Pam, Chris & Kim, Mark P, the Princess™, the Czech Chick, Dan T, Scott, Lisa, Grant, and others. Many of the RCC High Command were recovering from the SIR 300 and were still in bed. The Rabbits also had a big turnout. The plan was to head for Sultan via Old Owen, Florence Acres, Old Pipeline, then return by way of Ben Howard.

The forecast had been for southerly winds, so I initially planned to head East over the hills and up the Snoq. valley with a tailwind. The morning of the ride the forecast changed to northwesterly winds, so I went north first, then East, trying to get a tailwind. Well, NOAA was wrong, what can I say? We had strong easterlies all the way to Sultan and back, and then a headwind down the valley. Oh well.

We went up Dottie’s Hill, then over to Lake Leota, with a pause for a clothing adjustment. It was warming up fast. I had gone with a short sleeve wool jersey and was soon stripping down. Even our wool addict, Agent Louise, had foregone her usual attire, merely pinning a scrap of wool next to her bosom on her synthetic jersey. As the day warmed up we began to see even more exposed flesh, and industrial strength eyewear was necessary to prevent snow blindness from the pale flesh. Even the Princess™ was pasty white.

A great roll down Fales, and then up and down on Elliott and the High Bridge road. Regrouping at Crescent Lake, we motored on in to the Lewis Street Park where we had a pit stop and I laid down until the dizziness went away. No collapse this week, but the motor is not what it used to be. I have a feeling that it is going to be a long summer getting used this medication.

We headed out through town and sprinted up Calhoun road to the cemetery, then split into two groups. Grant took part of the group and did the Florence Acres/ Old Pipeline variation, and I took the rest and went straight east on Old Owen, which had less traffic than I feared. I had really wanted to do Florence Acres but my body said no. Silly body. The headwind on Old Owen was nasty, and Agent Louise came to the front periodically to help. Views of Rainier were great. Soon enough we were flying down the descent into Sultan, and were at the Bakery in no time.

The Rabbits were there, all five of them, so we chatted for a while, then ordered our food. Evidently they had started out with fifteen guys or so, and managed to lose 2/3 of them. No more showed up while we were there, and we didn’t see any lying by the side of the road. Oh well. They were too heavy to carry on our bikes anyway.

After about 30 minutes Grant arrived with the rest of the Laughers, and we had just about finished up our lunches, so PPG led a contingent back early while I waited for the others to finish lunch. Evidently they had run into the same head wind. Dining was great at the bakery, sitting out in the sun.

We headed back via Ben Howard, and I stopped everyone on the bridge on Mann road to check out the truly gorgeous views of Mt. Index covered in snow. The hills around Sultan were also covered in snow. Just awesome. Ben Howard lived up to its reputation as we saw lovely farmlands and pastures, newborn foals, and critters galore. We finally had a tailwind and so enjoyed a brisk pace back. One of the guys came to the front to help pull for the last mile or two before the hill and picked up the pace to 22. To prove that no good deed goes unpunished, Dan, Pam and I then dropped him on the hill. The Chick threw a chain when it got steep, and, this being Goose Bumps, we dropped her too. Since it is also the Laughing Group, we waited for everyone at the bridge into Monroe.

The road home was south on the High Bridge, then up and over Woodinville Duvall. I didn’t have it in me to do Old Wood Duvall, and so led them straight to Mink road, then up 146th and the footpath. Amazingly, even though they had been warned, all of the faster folks missed the footpath, and so I was able to get back in front of them for the last little bit. An exhilarating roll down to the Hook and it was time for beer.

So, about 60 miles, or 65 if you did Old Pipeline, plenty of climbing, and boatloads of sunshine and awesome views. Too bad David couldn’t be there. A Perfect Ride™.

And the Forest Service reported that there was a small grass fire near David’s cabin this weekend. Apparently some of the practice rituals in the Ancient Grove for the Beltane Fire Dance got out of hand. Or maybe the Skyfather failed to recognize David without his beard.

See you next Sunday!

Bill

For the Laughers