Rookie Rider: Gearing up to Ride Seattle to Portland July 17 & 18
16. Jul, 2010 
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by Sasha Aslanian
The 202 miles are a raincheck. Two years ago, my little brother missed our ride across Norway so he invited me to ride Seattle to Portland this year. Together with our spouses, we’ll ride 202 miles in 2 days. I should explain: I’m not a stellar cyclist. I’m a 42-year-old public radio producer and a mom. I signed up for STP because I believe setting impossible goals is the only way to get things done.
I’ve been training on the Paul Bunyan Trail in Minnesota where I live. July 3rd I made it 85 miles to Bemidji in 89 degree heat. I’m hoping that means I’ll be ready for 100 miles in lower temps, with a vehicle carrying my camping gear.
I have visions of the other 9,000 riders on STP being hollow-cheeked, balloon-calved Seattle bike messengers. 74% of the riders are men. Some riders do it one day because 100 miles a day is “”too boring.”" The party begins in Portland at 3:00 p.m. on day 1 for the speediest riders. I’m hoping I beat the street sweepers cleaning up Portland on day 2.
I want to keep this blog to spur me on. The shame of failure in public is a powerful motivator. I kept going across Norway because I had given family members commemorative magnets of the trip. Quitting wasn’t an option.
My top fears on this ride:
–Tingling and numbness in my hands becoming unbearable
–Annoying my riding mates by going too slowly
–Getting bored inside my own head
What do you think about on long rides? I met a woman yesterday who’s planning to do STP in 1 day. She’s a scientist and she works out scientific problems in her head, and turns numbers she sees on signs into math problems. She also sings songs to set the tempo for her legs.
How do you get into the zone? What keeps you going?
Seattle to Portland Route
Check out how Sasha did on Day One and Day Two and the lessons she learned as a rookie rider.
“…because I believe setting impossible goals is the only way to get things done.”
Sasha, I once believed this, lived by this, and forgot; do it for (with) all of us who are remembering what it means to keep leaping toward the stars!
There are some killer railroad tracks on the Oregon side before you get to Longview. Be careful. They are at a wierd angle and tripped several of us up. Don’t know the exact location think it was about 40 miles out of Portland.
I should have added we did this route in reverse, starting in Portland in March 2009. I was/am a rookie rider and spent 6 hours in the ER after hitting those tracks!
You guys rock! I am so proud of all of you. Sitting here in NYC, 8 months pregnant in 95 degrees – a nice exciting bike ride on west coast sounds enticing. Let us know how it’s going when you have a chance.
To keep you going….
I wear a pair of headphones loose around my neck (never ON my ears) and blast my ipod for me and my teammates to hear. To keep powering through the last 15 miles of Day 2 the STP I listened to the same Enimem song the entire time….tried to learn the words! I saw a few guys with ipods/speakers mounted on their bikes….that would be AWESOME. I ride to the beat of the music!
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it