Another day, another trip to Portland

Some of the Mangs at Centralia (mile 100) after lunch

July 16, 2016 - The weather for this particular Saturday turned out to be one of the best in all of the times the team has done the Seattle to Portland Ride.  While we got rained on last year, and got too much heat the year before, this year's riding climate proved to be the most ideal. Temperatures started out really cool and never really jumped over 75 even when we reached Portland.  Most of the day was cloudy and we even got a hint of drizzle but nothing materialized.  The sun eventually came out later in the afternoon but not to beat us down with grueling heat - it was more to allow us to enjoy the last 30 or so miles of the ride.

Mangs (with 1 Aling) have been starting out from all sorts of locations - mainly to avoid having to get to UW at 4AM and ride through the dark and dangerous streets of Montlake and Madrona. So this year was no different with just a few actually braving the first 25 miles of the actual course.  Many of us rode from our homes, added a few miles and then headed towards the Kent REI stop (mile 25) to meet up with everyone.  We all left Kent around 6 AM.

This year, the Mangs decided to keep the pace easy but minimize...really minimize...the time we spend at the breaks.  Still, speeds reached up to 28 mph cruising down West Valley Highway.  After Puyallup, things slowed down a bit and the more regular pace of around 20-21 was routine. although temperatures were ideal, nobody said anything about the wind!  The ride from Yelm to Tenino proved to be draining for some as we battled with headwinds on the highway.

Met some new friends from Boise, ID
and our lone Team Aling rider, Medlyn,
at the Vader stop (mile 126)

We reached Centralia around 10:45 AM, quickly had lunch (thanks to our awesome support crew) and headed out within 20 minutes.  Most of the crew stayed together up to Napavine but the fun really started as everyone got into racing fun mode on those 15 miles of rollers going to Vader - catching fast trains, attacking small hills, and so on - knowing there was a major stop at Vader.  After Vader, we started taking it a little easier but the trip to Lexington broke the train into more chunks - rolling hills really do zap your energy.

By the time we left Lexington and crossed the Longview bridge into Oregon, we had broken into at least 4 groups as some opted to take more breaks and others started feeling the fatigue of the day start to creep in. Regardless, all but a few of the Mangs regrouped at the St. Helen stop and agreed that we would take it really easy over the last 25 miles.

Most of the Mangs at the finish line

Relaxed is a relative term, of course - and indeed the train still got split up into several groups as we approached the city.  We reached its limits by 6:15 PM.  Thanks to the Glympse app, we were able to inform our "fans" of exactly where we were in the city and what time we would cross the finish line.  The fastest group (the folks we never saw again after Kent REI) crossed at around 6 PM. Most everyone else finished between 6:30 - 6:55 and the last group came in before 8 PM.  The very last Mang who had run into some difficulty with fatigue and bonk, still managed to make it and finish around 9:30 PM.

As usual, having fun at the park the morning after

When you look at the Strava animations, you realize that our breaks averaged about 8 minutes, with the longest being the one in Centralia - which was around 20 minutes, and the one in Lexington just a little less than that.  It goes to show how much time you can save when you do a more disciplined approach to rest stops without having to exhaust yourselves at hammering throughout the course.

All in all, another fun ride for the Mangs and our lone Aling representative.  Some of us have said we're not doing this again next year - riding 200 miles in one day on non-scenic routes is getting old...but that's what most of us said last year, too...and here we are again.

So, we'll see you next year?  I guess it's a "Yaybe".

Mangs are now one of the most recognizable teams
in Cascade Bicycle Club's events - hoping to keep promoting
positivity and fun in Seattle cycling.

Here's the Video summary!

The season's in full swing...

June was in full swing and Mangs and Alings were all over the roads, participating in several events in the month of June.

Mangs at Snoqualmie

Cascade Bicycle Club's Flying Wheels Classic happened on 6/4 and as usual, Mangs flooded the event at all  skill levels spreading their joy all over the eastern side.  Most Mangs did the 104 mile ride, finishing anywhere from 7 to 8 hours, with one, Mang Blake, even finishing within a record 5.5 hours!  We didn't all start at the same time because of traffic problems getting to the start line - but we eventually regrouped around mile 15 to 30 after several flats and long breaks allowed late starters to catch up.  At that point, the fast ones went ahead.  The rest of us practiced pacelining at 20 mph on the way to Snoqualmie Falls and North Bend, creating such a long train that even though everyone got a chance to pull in front, the rest periods between turns was extremely long conserving everyone's strength.  It was one of those unusually hot days, with temperatures easily going over the mid 90's, so the train grew even longer towards the last 20 miles as we made our final approach from May Valley through Factoria.  As usual, the laughter, joking, encouraging and storytelling abounded for another fun day on our bikes in the sun. 

Mangs and friends at Mount Rainier training

On the same day, a few Mangs opted to skip the CBC event and instead cycled up and down the roads around Mount Rainier to get more training on their climbing and descending skills.  Friends from other teams joined in on the fun with Mang Ed providing valuable support for a more challenging ride up and down the mountain roads.

At the starting line

The other major event that Mangs participated in was the Chelan Century Challenge in beautiful Chelan county in Eastern Washington.  This event just keeps getting more exciting every year as  more and more Mangs and Alings take up the challenge.  This year's challenge had several first timers enjoy the splendor of the Manson area's orchards and vineyards in Loop 1.  Together with its spectacular views, the first loop offered an optional 3 mile climb (of which several did by mistake - they didn't notice the sign that said 'Optional'...good for them, though, more elevation gains), scenic climbs, technical descents and an exciting 8 mile lakeside straightaway back to the starting line. Weather was perfect!

Some of the Mangs just had to take a selfie at the
Summit mileage/elevation marker

The penultimate loop, Loop 2, challenged the team once again.  After about 45 miles on desert roads climbing, descending and pacelining along Highway 97, everyone had to go on their own pace answering the call of the revered McNeil Canyon - a 5 mile climb averaging 8 - 10% and concluding with 10 - 12% grades on the last 2 miles, just as your legs are crying for relief and the sun is beating down on you.  Fortunately, this year's temperatures weren't as high as last year's, reaching only the low 90's on the concrete.  Still, most have to stop along the way to bring their heart rate down and get some relief during the climb.  Only 1 failed to make it to the top (he completed it the next day, becoming the first ever Mang to do the McNeil Canyon climb in 2 days).  The lead riders completed the last loop, for an additional 2,500 ft of climbing over 20 miles,  ending at the campsite on the Western side of the lake while a few opted to take the short trip back to the campsite, skipping the climbs.  A small number skipped Loop 3 altogether choosing instead to relax for the rest of the afternoon.

More training is happening as the team gears up for another STP ride in the middle of July - their goals this year all revolve around breaking their own records.  I guess we'll see...stay tuned for next month's installment to find out.

Here are video summaries of the Flying wheels classic and Chelan Century's first two loops:

And so it begins...the summer cycling season is here

One of our training rides visiting the Newcastle Golf Course
after climbing up 164th Ave and Lakemont Drive in
Newcastle

Time passes by so fast when you're having fun. In the past couple of months, Mangs and Alings have been focused on building up their legs and lungs - going on regular Saturday rides to increase their mileage capacity.  Rain or shine, they've been circling the area, climbing those hills and building themselves up.   In the midst of all that, they've never lost their love of laughter, their passion for cycling and of course, their desire to just hang out.  It's also the time for new beginnings and quite a few Mangs find themselves with new equipment. Just in the past couple of months, we've seen a couple of new Carbon rides and Titanium seems to be making a comeback.  As they say, the most number of bikes one should have is n + 1.  

Mangs in the middle of the Highway
520 bridge

There have been a few cycling-specific events such as the historic Highway 520 Ride when it opened on April 1.  Mang Robert and Mang Ron participated on behalf of the team.  That's a ride that will probably never happen again as the 520 bridge is now opened to all traffic. Check out the pic of our twin Mangs Ron and Robert on the right as they enjoyed ride with the rest of Cascade Bicycle Club.

April also marks the opening of the Budu Racing Season at the Pacific Raceways in Auburn - a season long series of crits where points are awarded to racers depending on their finishing positions (sometimes per lap).  Mang Alex, Mang Boni, Mang Lino and Mang Roland are participating year round, honing their racing chops and developing their speed and endurance each week. Let's give them our support every Tuesday Night as they chase those medals.

Mang Boni and Alex challenging the rest of the race crowd

Running for
cross training

Mangs also got busy with other activities like hiking and running, on and off the road.  Some of them even participated in organized events for a good cause - such as the Seahawks Run in Renton and the Break The Chains of Human Trafficking Walk/Run in Federal Way. Apparently, running is good cross training for cycling - proof of which is the improved strength and endurance experienced by the runners.  We can't just keep training our legs and ignoring the rest of our bodies right?  Some of us

Mang Raf at the Seahawks Run finish line

have even put our bikes away for the whole season focusing just on running towards a full marathon - we'll update you on that eventually.

Aling Medlyn is the
latest winner as of
this week

Something new that we've come up this year is a trophy titled "Mang of the Week" awarded to the Mang or Aling who exemplified awesomeness during the ride.  The winner is chosen by vote at the end of the ride and it's usually unanimous. There's no prize money - just some good feelings knowing whatever good deed you did on that ride is being acknowledged by the group. Pictured on the left is Aling Medlyn who proved to be a trooper on our last 70 mile rain and wind ride on the east side.

May has come and gone with each weekend bringing about more adventures around the area. The first weekend in June is the first major ride of the summer - Cascade's Flying Wheels - where the team will attempt to ride over 100 miles for the first time this year. At the same time, a few are daring to do a RAMROD like ride around Mt Rainier for climbing training.   After those, there will be a series of training rides every Saturday in June leading up to the Lake Chelan Century challenge, arguably one of the hardest rides of our season.  Stay tuned and we'll update you with more stories after that ride.