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I have been wanting to do this ride all year and finally on a whim decided to do it. I left from my house and rode to Vista House (in the Columbia Gorge) and back. Other than the ugly part through suburban Portland, it was an amazing ride - can’t wait to do it again (maybe next week). Here is a picture of the Gorge, with Vista House perched on the edge…

Rode it last Saturday. It was a lot harder than I remembered it being (4 years ago). But the weather was nice, and I felt really good so I put the hurt on a lot of people on all of the climbs It was 82 miles total, with 3 long climbs (6200′ elevation gain or so). Lot’s of snow on the sides of the road this year, and a huge bank of snow at Johnston Ridge where the observatory (and turn-around) is. Check it out:

I’m beginning to wonder if we are ever going to actually have a summer in the Pacific Northwest. Here it is, well into June, and the weather is still crap. I’m still wearing knee warmers, skipping days out on the bike due to rain, and the heat is still on in the apartment. The Cascades are heaped up in snow, that should make for some awesome rides, but for the love of Pete, just give us some dry and sunny days that we could actually RIDE there.

Planning on doing an epic ride this week, from Portland to the snow line on Larch Mountain and back. Looking forward
to a tough climb followed by some serious eating and napping

Saturday I rode my first 100 miler of the year. It started in Vancouver, WA and made a counter-clockwise loop through Camas, Lacamas Lake, Hockinson, Battle Ground, Moulton Falls, Yacolt, up along the Lewis River for a ways and then down through Felida to Vancouver. I rode it harder than I meant to, but I was feeling good so… Anyhow I finished up in 5 1/2 hours. Not too shabby. My next big one is the Tour de Blast in June, which is around 90 miles but has a ton of climbing in it - all the way to Johnston Ridge Observatory up at Mt. St. Helens. I haven’t done it in a couple of years, so I’m looking forward to it.

If legs were inflated with air, I have two flats. Too many hours/miles on the bike last week and I’m feeling it; Going to take a day or two off and then hit it hard again. If the weather holds out, I’ll most likely be tackling a 100 miler in Clark County on Saturday (RACC)

Spent 3 hours in Forest Park on the cyclocross bike today. Lot’s ‘O hail and mud. I went up Leif Ericson twice. I also found where you can cross Germantown road and take the less traveled paths. Had to submit to the torture of a cold garden hose when I got back, just way too much mud on me and the machine… This week looks okay weather wise, probably will put in a couple of 4 hour days on the road bike. Maybe down to the Canby ferry for the first time this year!