In case you hadn’t noticed, there was a gigantic cycling event this weekend: For many recreational riders this weekend is the culmination of a lot of hard work–the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (aka the “STP”).
As a bit of counterpoint to the hundreds or thousands of tweets and instagrams that are undoubtedly going off about the STP experience at this very moment, here’s a report on a ride that was none of the above. First off, I naively expected the roads to be deserted of cyclists. En route to the starting point of today’s (small) group ride I saw late-starting STP riders off course. Later, we saw numerous groups in unfamiliar team kits who looked as though they were training for charity rides? Where are these folks on non-STP weekends?
The others in my group were two strong riders from the High Performance Cycling Team–Mark Vohr and Scott “Stoli” Stolnack. Fortunately, I brought the accessory bungee cords along for today’s ride; I needed them to latch on to Stoli for an assist up the hills, and to Mark for an assist on the flats. Our “Not STP” ride circumnavigated the north end of Lake Washington, with frisky bits thrown in southbound on West Lake Sammamish Parkway (where we started to pick up some folks in the draft of our paceline) and around Mercer Island. On any other day the numbers of riders out would have not been a surprise, but today I just couldn’t believe it.
Nice to see so many folks out spinning their wheels!
HIgh Performance Cycling members Mark Vohr and Scott Stolnack at the west end of the I-90 bike trail.
As discussed in other posts, evidence shows that fitness programs that rely heavily on non-impact sports like cycling can adversely affect bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Cross training that incorporates weight lifting, resistance training, and activities like jogging that jar the skeletal system are an essential component of a long-term health program, especially for athletes in their…
This isn't a regional ride, but the cycling enthusiast seizes the opportunity to spin whenever it arises, even when the location happens to be the trailing edge of a frontal system strong enough to blow several states on a visit with the Wizard of Oz.
The cycling addict cultivates a database of compatible cycling partners that spans its entire migratory range. Although solitary riding is a natural part of the cycylist's repertoire, riding with others of its kind, especially when away from home turf, provides a veneer to mask the underlying compulsion.
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