Magical Mystery Tour of the PNW 4th of July week 2019
#101
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Update from @Andy_K, he plans on joining us at The Bridge of the Gods around noon and riding partway back with is.
BTW, if anyone is in the Portland area and wants to join me I plan to park at the Women's Forum and start riding toward Cascade Locks at 9:30.
Actually, I did know that.
Last edited by Andy_K; 07-04-19 at 12:16 AM.
#102
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In Roman times it was traditional for the citizens of Rome to go out and meet the returning victorious army and join them for their triumphant entry to the city. This will be kind of like that except I plan to get in my car at Portland Women's Forum and drive from there.
BTW, if anyone is in the Portland area and wants to join me I plan to park at the Women's Forum and start riding toward Cascade Locks at 9:30.
Actually, I did know that.
BTW, if anyone is in the Portland area and wants to join me I plan to park at the Women's Forum and start riding toward Cascade Locks at 9:30.
Actually, I did know that.
I could Sag if needed.
#104
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Met up with the tour in Cascade locks after riding out from John B Yeon State park/trailhead 7mi. I love this ride, usually do it 4 - 5 x's a year. @AndyK rolled in about 40 minutes after me and we got back to the bridge as the lads were rolling across. Lunch at the Ale house and we were off. 7mi. back to my car at the trailhead for me and we parted ways. I followed them to Multnomah falls and got stuck in traffic as they rode away through the mess. got through there, passed Neil and Jim and went on up to Crown Point, Neil and Jim showed up and I watched their bikes while they went and got Coffee. Then we waited for the rest of the gang to slog up the hill, it's a doozey. They got there and decided the Womens Forum would be where the group shot would be, off we go. Andy's car was there, group shot done, bikes relieved of bags for portage in Andy's car and we parted company for good, them on the last 23mi. leg. Great ride for me, these guys are the real deal, couldn't have even done today's whole leg from where I met up.
Here's some pics, they will have better.
Cascade Locks is home for this Merz, Ron Rembalski was the locks manager when he had it built, I got it from him.
Here's some pics, they will have better.
Cascade Locks is home for this Merz, Ron Rembalski was the locks manager when he had it built, I got it from him.
#105
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#106
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As planned I rode out from Portland Women's Forum to meet @merziac and the six rock stars who did the full tour. I knew I had more time to stop and take pictures than those guys would when they were headed in, so I took a lot on the way out. Here are some highlights for the guys to see what they were riding past. (Full album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/263825...h/48201387106/)
This is not a good sign.
It's not often that you're riding through a trail in the woods and see a stop sign.
This is why the stop sign was there. Man, that was a tough descent.
This is not a good sign.
It's not often that you're riding through a trail in the woods and see a stop sign.
This is why the stop sign was there. Man, that was a tough descent.
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#107
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As @merziac said, he found me as I was rolling through Cascade Locks and the heroic crew crossed the Bridge of the Gods just after we got there to wait for them.
I believe this is (front to back) Jim, @Spaghetti Legs and Bob
And this is @gugie and @nlerner
The Fab Six managing to smile after what had to have been a very tough week. @merziac and I sat at the groupie table behind them.
gugie and Spaghetti Legs with merziac coming up behind them
Dr. Ferrari mixing up the special juice for the final push
Bob was ready to call it a day when he got back to my car at the Women's Forum. They were over 70 miles into the day by that point. I was feeling pretty done myself and I didn't ride nearly that far and was well rested at the start of the day.
I believe this is (front to back) Jim, @Spaghetti Legs and Bob
And this is @gugie and @nlerner
The Fab Six managing to smile after what had to have been a very tough week. @merziac and I sat at the groupie table behind them.
gugie and Spaghetti Legs with merziac coming up behind them
Dr. Ferrari mixing up the special juice for the final push
Bob was ready to call it a day when he got back to my car at the Women's Forum. They were over 70 miles into the day by that point. I was feeling pretty done myself and I didn't ride nearly that far and was well rested at the start of the day.
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#108
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Nice blog, for lack of a better word. Can I assume that peddle pushers are the fashion statement, currently, in the c&v world? They look comfy.
#109
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Congrats, gentlemen, on a tour well-ridden! Looks like everyone came through unscathed.
@nlerner — how are you liking the Black Mountain road bike, now that you have some significant miles under it?
@nlerner — how are you liking the Black Mountain road bike, now that you have some significant miles under it?
#110
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I'm way behind on posting here, but some catchup:
Some of the more mundane activites when on the road including washing and drying clothing. Some strung up a drying line in their room, Beverely Hillbilly style.
If you brought more clothing, a laundromat every 3 days works, but you still may need to dry things especially after riding through a rain shower for 10 miles. A bike makes a reasonable hanger.
Certain spots of the body need special care.
After a few days, "rack 'em and stack 'em" was the call at restaurants and grocery stores.
One of the great things about bicycle touring is the total and utter disregard for diet. When you're engine is running that hard and hot, most any fuel gets burned quickly.
Some of the more mundane activites when on the road including washing and drying clothing. Some strung up a drying line in their room, Beverely Hillbilly style.
If you brought more clothing, a laundromat every 3 days works, but you still may need to dry things especially after riding through a rain shower for 10 miles. A bike makes a reasonable hanger.
Certain spots of the body need special care.
After a few days, "rack 'em and stack 'em" was the call at restaurants and grocery stores.
One of the great things about bicycle touring is the total and utter disregard for diet. When you're engine is running that hard and hot, most any fuel gets burned quickly.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Last edited by gugie; 08-21-19 at 03:44 PM.
#111
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A few more random pix.
The ride up Baby Shoe Pass was probably the toughest climb we had, but we knew going in that this would be true, so we stopped often to rest, eat, and take in the scenery.
In the flats, we regrouped and rode together, often in an efficient pace line. Downhills and uphills were taken at everyone's own pace, but typically would pair off for comraderie. Here's a bunch of dirty bicycles at the top of the gravel climb to Baby Shoe Pass. I've seen pictures posted from others at this spot, for some reason I didn't get what it was that were stapled or nailed to the post until I saw it in person - a Homer Simpson forehead smack, "Doh!"
The ride up Baby Shoe Pass was probably the toughest climb we had, but we knew going in that this would be true, so we stopped often to rest, eat, and take in the scenery.
In the flats, we regrouped and rode together, often in an efficient pace line. Downhills and uphills were taken at everyone's own pace, but typically would pair off for comraderie. Here's a bunch of dirty bicycles at the top of the gravel climb to Baby Shoe Pass. I've seen pictures posted from others at this spot, for some reason I didn't get what it was that were stapled or nailed to the post until I saw it in person - a Homer Simpson forehead smack, "Doh!"
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#112
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The final day was ambitious - 90ish miles and around 5000' of climbing. We left Trout Lake earlier than any other hotel. The route that day had us going west on Washington route 141, which turns into NF60 (Carson Guler Road), a gravel uphill which tops out at about 3500'. We all agreed that it deserves a proper peak name. We picked up a real strong local climber out in the middle of nowhere. She easily moved back and forth in our peloton at will.
The gravel descent was hair raising. Sometimes it was fine and hard packed, other times it became soft, and you could feel the bike start to slide on the corners. Washboard was abundant, picking a good line was critical. When the bouncy stuff couldn't be avoided, a light connection between saddle and bottom, using arms and legs as shock absorbers kept one upright. A tee intersection defined the gravel/paved road intersection. The greatest downhill ride every awaited us. Single lane, downward tilt at up to 10 degrees, averaging over 6, slalom corners, and good pavement made for a E-ticket ride. We regroupled to share the experience at a flat section, but wait, another long, similar section was just ahead! I doubt anyone dared taking pictures down this section, you had to be on your toes the entire descent.
The hill petered out into Carson, we decided to roll on to Cascade Locks for lunch. This required us crossing the fantastically named Bridge of the Gods.
The bridge deck is steel grate. No way I'd want to ride over it on skinny tires!
From there we picked up @merziac and @Andy_K, our harbor pilots through the Columbia River Gorge. We stopped to eat, rode through a skinny road with a long line of parked cars around Multnomah Falls where some stopped for some huge, iced, caffeinated and heavily sugared water before completing our ride down the Gorge. At Women's Forum Andy offered to take our heavy bags so the rest of our trip would be unlaiden. It felt like taking the donut weight off a bat, these bikes can really move when not weighted down! Andy stopped to get a couple of gallon jugs of cold water then raced ahead to a place he knew we'd ride through to refill us. The rest of the ride was a city street slog back to @SquireBlack's house where we all showered before going out to our victory dinner at Lardo's in Portland.
The gravel descent was hair raising. Sometimes it was fine and hard packed, other times it became soft, and you could feel the bike start to slide on the corners. Washboard was abundant, picking a good line was critical. When the bouncy stuff couldn't be avoided, a light connection between saddle and bottom, using arms and legs as shock absorbers kept one upright. A tee intersection defined the gravel/paved road intersection. The greatest downhill ride every awaited us. Single lane, downward tilt at up to 10 degrees, averaging over 6, slalom corners, and good pavement made for a E-ticket ride. We regroupled to share the experience at a flat section, but wait, another long, similar section was just ahead! I doubt anyone dared taking pictures down this section, you had to be on your toes the entire descent.
The hill petered out into Carson, we decided to roll on to Cascade Locks for lunch. This required us crossing the fantastically named Bridge of the Gods.
The bridge deck is steel grate. No way I'd want to ride over it on skinny tires!
From there we picked up @merziac and @Andy_K, our harbor pilots through the Columbia River Gorge. We stopped to eat, rode through a skinny road with a long line of parked cars around Multnomah Falls where some stopped for some huge, iced, caffeinated and heavily sugared water before completing our ride down the Gorge. At Women's Forum Andy offered to take our heavy bags so the rest of our trip would be unlaiden. It felt like taking the donut weight off a bat, these bikes can really move when not weighted down! Andy stopped to get a couple of gallon jugs of cold water then raced ahead to a place he knew we'd ride through to refill us. The rest of the ride was a city street slog back to @SquireBlack's house where we all showered before going out to our victory dinner at Lardo's in Portland.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#113
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Thanks for taking us along for the ride! Gorgeous photos - well done all!
Brings back a lot of memories of a "rain shadow" and gorge hiking trip I did with my PDX sis about a decade ago.
We drove, but pretty much followed the same route. I loved the treeless beauty of Yakima Canyon.
Brings back a lot of memories of a "rain shadow" and gorge hiking trip I did with my PDX sis about a decade ago.
We drove, but pretty much followed the same route. I loved the treeless beauty of Yakima Canyon.
#114
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These last sets of photos made me wish I'd driven down and met Andy at Women's Forum for that last bit at the very least! Beautiful scenery and that historic Columbia River Highway looks like a fantastic place to ride. Maybe next year...
Glad everyone made it through safe and sound, and I really enjoyed meeting some of you for the first time in person. I definitely enjoyed riding with y'all, even if it was only for the one day
DD
Glad everyone made it through safe and sound, and I really enjoyed meeting some of you for the first time in person. I definitely enjoyed riding with y'all, even if it was only for the one day
DD
#115
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Glad you all made it safe and sound looks like it was awesome weather and scenery the whole way. Chapeau!
#116
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This looks like it was a lot of fun! Thanks for the pictures and getting it in my head that I too could do something like this someday!
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Now that I'm home and in front of my laptop, I can post a few random pics:
Bob W.
@spaghetti_Legs looking very serious before heading over White Pass:
Triumph!
Another day in the mountains:
Yours truly at Vista Point overlooking the Gorge:
Bob W.
@spaghetti_Legs looking very serious before heading over White Pass:
Triumph!
Another day in the mountains:
Yours truly at Vista Point overlooking the Gorge:
Likes For nlerner:
#118
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@nlerner — how are you liking the Black Mountain road bike, now that you have some significant miles under it?
Great riding with you, Jeff. Yes, let's do it again next year. Seattle to Vancouver is being bandied about.
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As usual I am remiss, had a great time riding with this gang, very glad I managed to almost keep up on my short ride along.
#120
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I've been home for a couple of hours after a red eye flight from the Left Coast. Couple of my favorites from the trip.
Sometimes you grind the gravel; sometimes the gravel grinds you.
Cue spaghetti western music
I'm sure Gugie is explaining how he used his torch to make something
Yakima River
We even pacelined the gravel
Bucolic moment before the grind up to Babyshoe Pass
Mountain Men
Grand finale Meal!
Sometimes you grind the gravel; sometimes the gravel grinds you.
Cue spaghetti western music
I'm sure Gugie is explaining how he used his torch to make something
Yakima River
We even pacelined the gravel
Bucolic moment before the grind up to Babyshoe Pass
Mountain Men
Grand finale Meal!
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
#122
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^ I had to wear my reading glasses to make sure I didn’t miss any chunks of pork fat mixed in with those fries.
Glad you made it home safe and sound, Hugh!
Glad you made it home safe and sound, Hugh!
#123
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Glad everyone made it back. I had a great time riding the short distance with you that I could.
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Hello fellow travelers. This is Bob W sending out a great big thank you to all of you for creating a fabulous community of riders and letting me tag along. Gugie you are a master organizer (with edits from Andrew). You harbor pilots are masters of your craft, guiding us through the sprawl with consummate ease. What a fabulous ride! I'll post pictures when I figure out how.