2012 - Sep 30 - Kitsap Color Classic

Cascade Bicycle Club officially ends the road cycling season with the Kitsap Color Classic.  Usually a blustery cold and wet ride through the Kitsap Peninsula through rolling hills, this year's ride turned out to be a pleasant excursion on a beautiful sunny day. Team Mang joined with some Trangko members and started from Edmonds.  After a quick ferry ride to the other side, they were off.  Great way to end the road season, guys!  More pictures in this video!

2012 Sept 29 - Iron Horse Trail Redux

At the entrance of the Snoqualmie tunnel after 20 miles of riding

Team Mangers rode the Iron Horse Trail again this Saturday, 09/29, just to get a good workout of a different sort and for some, to try out new equipment (29ers!).  It was pleasantly mild day - no showers or extreme cold or heat.  Clouds took care of shielding the group from the sun as they slowly made their way towards the Snoqualmie tunnel, 20 miles away.  It took a while to get there from the Rattlesnake Park, simply because everyone took it easy.  At the tunnel entrance, the group relaxed, brought out the wine and cheese and crackers and celebrated...anything!  Nope, nobody got drunk (don't drink and bike).  After a wild ride through the 2 mile tunnel (howling, singing, making funny sounds in complete darkness with nothing to light them but their bike lights), the group took pictures at Hyak, did some restroom time and started their way back.

The trip back from Hyak took a little less than 2 hours with at least one rider suffering a mechanical but not enough to keep him from riding back. After the ride, everyone was quick to congratulate each other on a job well done, specially for those who did it for the first time.  As is customary on most TEam MANG rides, their hunger for calories lost led them to search for the nearest restaurant.  They landed at CC Thai in North Bend and after a quick meal, said their good byes.  Another fun day in the lives of Team Mang!
Here's a VIDEO summary.

2012 September 22 - Patayan Hills Redux

Riding along the same route as the original Patayan Hills back in July (see the entry on August 4), some of the Team Mangers who couldn't make it back then decided they also wanted to experience Montreaux and the extreme slopes of Cougar Mountain.  In spite of a rainy start, the Team put in the leg power to conquer over 2,000 feet of climbing around the eastside hills.  Here they are taking a break at the Newcastle Golf Club after a mile climb. Here's the video summary thank to Jay.

2012 September 16 - Cycle the Wave

Team Aling riders showing off their fancy socks

Members of Team Mang's official ladies arm - Team Aling - represented well as they trained for and rode the Cycle the Wave all women's bike ride on Sunday, September 16 - trekking over 42 miles of rolling hills around Issaquah.  The ride is sponsored by Women Against Violence and is held every year to bring awareness to this issue. There was no shortage of support, either from their other halves.
We're so glad to have women in our midst who not only care about issues like this but also are willing to put time and effort into training for a ride - and have fun at the same time!
Check out the video summary of events courtesy of Virna.

2012 September 15 - Ride Around the Sound

Every now and then, Team Mang gets recognized in the group rides while it's doing good serving the community.  On September 15, 2012, one Team Mang'er - Ron Tongol - represented the team in the Ride Around the Sound fund raiser for the American Lung Society.  It was a 100 mile ride from West Seattle down through Des Moines, Normandy Park, Federal Way, North Tacoma and then looping up over the narrows bridge through Gig Harbor and then back to West Seattle via the Southworth ferry. 
Riders were required to raise at least $125 to ride and with support from his friends, family and Team Mang, Ron was given the privilege of riding and contributing to the cause.  Congratulations, Ron, and thanks for representing!

2012 September 9 - High Pass Challenge

The High Pass Challenge is Cascade Bike Club's most challenging ride. It happens in September, after most of the big group events have been done.  It's a climb up Mount St. Helen's and back down - a total ride of 114 miles with an elevation gain of 7,500 feet.  It's a timed ride so that riders who reach the finish by a certain time get a gold medal, then silver and bronze.  Cris, Boni, Rene and Harry rose up to the challenge.  Three of the Team Mangs scored a gold and the one who scored silver was only behind by a few minutes. Once again, Team Mang had a day of fun with the strong Trangko riders.  Congratulations to the HPC finishers!  More pictures in this video.

2012 August 17 - RSVP

Team Mang members at the finish line party in Vancouver, BC

On two of the hottest days of this year's summer, with temperatures at a high of 95, Team Mang suited up and rode the 186 mile trek from Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC.  The first day consisted of 106 miles from the University of Washington parking lot to their hotel in Bellingham, WA. The team rolled out at around 7:15 AM. There were a few occasions during the ride when riders had slowdowns due to the number of hills on the route (it was a lot more than STP, to be sure).  There were only 2 official stops - one in Machias, around mile 36 and another one somewhere in Skagit, around mile 75.  Water stops dotted the course.  The ride was casual, with a few bursts of speed as Team Mang did their best to be efficient, drafting each other.  The team was pretty much on track and together until the sun started beating up on everyone around close to noon.
One of the memorable experiences was a flat tire somewhere before Mount Vernon. The team had to take shade under a tree right beside a cow and her calf. Only a few feet away, separated by nothing but 3 barbed wires, the team was relaxing under the tree, when the cow's bull started coming up alongside with a threatening stare...stomping his feet and breathing heavily out of his nose.  And we just realized...we're all wearing bright orange! Got out of that situation in a hurry! Team time trial skills were tested on the the flat and gusty roads just before hitting the Chuckanut Road hill. That route provided vast opportunities for touristy picture taking and relaxed rolling terrain.  The team arrived safely in Bellingham between 2:00 and 2:30 in the afternoon.  That evening, they celebrated with Team Trangko at Soy House restaurant.

Team Mangs pose at the border crossing

Saturday was another day to ride the remaining 80+ miles to Vancouver, BC.  There were a lot of memorable experiences as the riders crossed the Us-Canada border and pedaled their way from the suburbs into the city.  Pictures galore, of course.  There were still a few challenging hills along the way but all in all, the group took it easy and cruised into the finish line at Coast Plaza hotel around 2:30 PM.  Celebrations were aplenty that evening as the team had dinner at Shabusen restaurant. That lasted well into the next day when a few of the members continued to tour Vancouver and check out Grouse Mountain.  Finale for the trip was dinner at Pinpin Filipino Restaurant in Vancouver. Lots of calories burned on the ride might have actually been gained back!  Check out our video summary.

2012 August 4 - Patayan Hills

On Seafair weekend, one of the guys who did the RAMROD suggested a ride filled with hills.  It started off with a warm-up climb  up Lake Washington Blvd NE.  The second climb goes up 36th St. parallel to I-90 in Factoria all the way to Newport Way.  The finale is the climb up to the Montreaux hilltop neighborhood in Issaquah - a Cat 4 climb that punishes your legs if you're not prepared.

Posing at the spectacular view on 168th Pl SE

Yet that was not the end of it, at the top of the hill was a climb up through 173rd Ave SE all the way to almost the top of Cougar Mountain.  then down a few hundred feet and up again through the 168th PL SE climb.

Finishing off that ride was a quick ride through Lakemont Boulevard and up to the Newcastle Golf Club where the team enjoyed the views of Lake Washington, Bellevue and Seattle in the distance. After the exhausting ride, some of them met up with their wives who had staked out a spot on Lake Washington to watch the Blue Angels. Seafair? We ride it!

2012 July 28 - Seattle Century

Team Mang, LAFBL and Trangko riders at Snoqualmie Falls

Saturday, July 28th, saw 1200 riders do the Seattle Century ride - an annual 100 mile ride across the fringes of Seattle (mostly on the Eastside) starting at Magnuson Park, following the Burke-Gilman trail into Redmond, Duvall, Carnation and a quick in and out into Snoqualmie Falls and back to Seattle via Issaquah-Bellevue-I90.  This particular ride is known for its emphasis on fun and food!

Members of the team had a blast riding with some LAFBL regulars and Trangko riders.  They departed Magnuson Park around 7 and came back a little past 4 to a delicious dinner and beerfest.  As a bonus, this particular photo was featured on Seattle Century's official website, along with a solo picture of Ferdie appearing to pump gas into his bicycle.  Last year, some of the same guys took a memorable picture on the same ride in Woodinville.  The picture made it to the website and into the official brochuer for 2012.  Looks like they're destined to be on 2013's brochure again!  Here's a video summary.

2012 July 25 - RAMROD

The Redmond Cycling Club sponsors a popular ride every year called the RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day).  Only a few fortunate souls are selected via lottery.  152 miles of riding with an elevation gain of over 10,000 feet.  A few Team Mangs were able to get in.  Together with some Trangkos, they attacked the mountain and came away victorious. All of them first timers, Eric, Boni and Rene felt they had accomplished a feat that made their team proud.  And indeed, we are.

2012 July 14 - Seattle to Portland Classic

At University Village at 4:30 AM

On Saturday, July 14, 2012, Team Mang set out to do what they have been preparing all year for - ride the Seattle to Portland Classic in 1 day. That's 204 miles of road riding, sitting on their butts and pedaling for at least 14 hours. They targeted a departure time of 4:30 AM and an arrival time of 7:30 PM. A slow start due to congestion had them leave the University of Washington start area with the rest of the thousands who were also attempting a 1-day ride.

They reached Spanaway - the 60 mile mark - a little past 8:00 AM which was their first major break. By 11:00 AM, most of the team had reached Centralia - the 100 mile mark. That's where they had an opportunity to relax a bit and catch their breath - indeed the first half of the ride, a full century, took a lot less time than they'd ever done before (Flying Wheels took 8 hours).
Lunch took a while as the team departed past noon. As expected, the leg from the 100 to the 140 mile mark was the hardest.  With their bodies still digesting the sumptuous meal they just had, the terrain endlessly rolling into hills, the heat bearing down and most of the riders entering into uncharted territory (i.e. the team had not ridden anything past 100 miles in their training), the Team Mang train stretched long. The mini stop at Vader, mile 126, was well worth it and getting to Lexington at mile 140 was a struggle for some. Due to fatigue and heat, most of the team relaxed a bit more than they should have at that stop. but they finally got to task and started riding again.

Some of the guys pose along the route

Crossing the Lewis & Clark bridge at Longview gave everyone a second wind. The psychological boost of getting to mile 150 by 4PM was real and in spite of the coming terrain and temperatures along highway 30, most of the guys were able to regroup and ride in batches. At mile 175, the St. Helen stop, most everyone had regrouped. It was now 6PM and everyone was ready to get this ride over with. It took the lead group just 2 hours (8:00 PM) to get to the finish line from there, this in spite of being hindered by all the city traffic lights. The second group followed a few minutes later with the third group crossing the line around 8:20 PM. There were a couple more riders who struggled in after that but still with daylight to spare. It was a challenging ride, to be sure, but Team Mang proves that with teamwork, determination, camaraderie and good training, you can accomplish great things. The team would especially like to thank the support crew made up of the wives of some of the team - they put in just as much effort driving, parking, serving and just keeping up with the cyclists as they made their journey from Seattle to Portland.  They are as much a part of the team as the riders.

Hanging at the finish line in Portland

Here's a video summary of the ride: STP 1 day Ride and the stats compiled by Eric's GPS unit (which died 5 miles short of the finish): Stats.

Go Team Mang!

2012 June 30 - Kent to Yelm Training Ride

At Kent Station just before departing

On Saturday, the 30th, the team, had planned to do a 150 mile ride from Kent to Centralia and back (75 miles each way) as part of their training to do the 1 day STP.  They took the regular STP route to familiarize themselves with the course.  Instead, they ended up making it only to Yelm - which was about 30 miles from Centralia. Because it was already past 11 AM, they made a decision to turn back.  A combination of unpleasant weather in the morning (wet and windy) which slowed them down significantly, a grand total of 7 flats and 1 mechanical, and an unfortunate spill causing one of the riders, Raf, to abandon due to injuries turned the ride into a century adventure that took over 10 hours to complete. 

Team Mang riders in the rain

The team learned valuable lessons about what to do for STP in case of flats and mechanicals and subsequently planned for it. But they also realized that there were many sections of the route where they actually did pretty well and when everything came together, they were booking it.  And most of all...they had fun! Hopefully, everything does come together on STP day.



Here's the video summary: http://youtu.be/-cCQ1Pg8fT0

2012 June 23 - Lake Sawyer MTB Fun!

One of the many bridges along the trails

The ride scheduled for this day was a 152 mile ride from Kent to Centralia and back along the STP route.  Due to safety concerns brought upon by the wet and unpredictable weather, the team decided to cancel at the last minute.  However, they couldn't just sit around - they still had to ride their bikes and get those juices flowing.  Ergo - mountain biking at Lake Sawyer near Black Diamond.

Faced with technical terrain inside a wet and slippery forest, the team found most of the trails extremely challenging, yet also super fun.  They even met a guide, Rick, and his dog, Howie, who took them around the best trails inside the area.  After about 3 hours of frolicking in the mud, roots and rocks, the team called it a day.  They were met with a heavy downpour as they made their way back to their cars.

Hanging out after the ride

The ride was capped with a spaghetti meal - courtesy of Harry - and about 2.5 hours of "timangan" - i.e. storytelling, joking, encouraging, shop talk and just having fun hanging out with each other.  

Here's a video recap: http://youtu.be/ElbZqLSwoMA 

2012 June 16 - Iron Horse Trail and Picnic

The 4 guys who completed the whole ride

The team decided to do a break after the Flying Wheels Classic and take some time to relax.  They scheduled a supposedly "easy" 22 mile ride from RattleSnake Lake in North Bend to the Snoqualmie Tunnel along the famous John Wayne Trail, AKA - the Iron Horse Trail.  The journey up to the tunnel was an uphill slog - hardly noticeable because the pitch is ever so slight - until you're tired from spinning your wheels.  Not all of the team made it to the tunnel but since it's an in-and-out ride, there was no chance of being left behind or getting lost.

Picnicking with the families after the ride

Some of the women did a hike up Mount Si - yes, that mountain: 4 miles of hiking each way.  Both  the lead bike team and the women made it back to Rattlesnake Lake around 1:30 PM (they started out around 8 AM).  The ride was tiring but it was a good way to unwind.  Some of the team members who didn't ride secured a table and got the food ready for the whole team to hang out, eat and just have great conversation - all this in spite of the weather - a few showers here and there.

Here's a video recap: http://youtu.be/30r1W7-u9wI

2012 June 9 - Flying Wheels Century - 96 miles

Team Mang at the first rest stop at mile 28

Team Mang joined the rest of LAFBLs, Trangko, Tamaraw and thousands of other riders in the annual Flying Wheels Century Ride put on by Cascade Bicycle Club.  Weather was cloudy and cold with some sprinkles.  The ride had several crashes with at least one being serious enough to require medivac but all of the Team Mangs completed their goal of either 65 or 100 miles  Here's the ride info:  http://soc.li/UQ3HDCU.

And here are the Garmin stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187732725

With more LAFBLs at mile 75

And here's a video summary: http://youtu.be/WvELVGNixRg

2012 June 3 - Peninsula Metric Century - 64 Miles

Posing with Team Tamaraw in gig Harbor after the ride

Team Mang decided to do the Peninsula Century - an attempt at 100 miles with over 3300 feet of hills (7000 feet of actual climbs).  But some delays early during the ride and a crash that took down 3 riders (1 bad enough to be taken back to base with an unrideable bike) slowed them down.  They opted to do the 66 mile route instead and shoot for the actual century at the Flying Wheels Ride the coming Saturday.  It was still the most hilly ride aside from the 7HOK they've done so far.  Here's a video summary: http://youtu.be/1Or7V_8sd-4.

And here's the official route map: http://soc.li/ssN6Obi

Stats from Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185427830

2012 May 24 - Hills of South King County - 42 miles

We did 6 out of the 7 hills originally intended - it was enough of a workout since we were planing to head into a a recovery weekend to prepare for the Peninsula ride the coming week.  The day after, some of us rode an easy ride with the LAFBLs.  The short ride filled with hills was taxing to all of our legs but we had fun.

And here's the map details: http://soc.li/m5NnJ6U

2 Category 4 and 3 Category 5 hills!

2012 May 12 - 3 Points and a Levee and Hills - 72 miles

Team Mang waiting to cross the Puyallup River from Fife.

The team opted to do the typical Cascade long route from Renton to Federal Way to Puyallup witha  couple of changes - instead of doing the Peasley Canyon Road climb, they hit 15th Ave/Terrace Drive for a steeper climb.  Then, instead of simply traversing the Interurban trail northbound on the way back, they turned right towards Main street in Auburn to climb up Leah Hill and come back from the Kent Highlands.

Here's the map of their route: http://soc.li/u7uZbGN

And here are more stats from Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177527123#.T68X1SkiCI4.facebook

2012 May 5 - 7 Hills of Kirkland - 55 Miles

We rode the 7 Hills of Kirkland route starting off from Peterson's Bike Shop in Renton, effectively adding about 18 miles to the route. And here's the map: http://soc.li/W3gvQwY

Posing in downtown Kirkland just before hitting the 2nd of the 7 hills

2012 April 29 - RAMROD Training Series - 66 miles

Team Mang thought they'd join the RAMROD Training series because a couple of their members are actually doing the RAMROD. we rode with the group until Black Diamond, then branched out towards Enumclaw and then back through Auburn.

Here's the ride map with more details: http://soc.li/KFkmxkP

Video summary with highlights: http://youtu.be/MFoiUJQvpU8

and here are Garmin stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172669521#.T5yQXEvS6cI.facebook

The orange pumpkin look...uniforms are highly visible on the road

2012 April 21 - Renton to Enumclaw Loop - 67 miles

Members of the team pose in front of the Black Diamond Bakery

We did a training ride from Renton to Enumclaw.  Took a break for some famous apple cinammon rolls at Black diamond Bakery. Took a wrong turn on the way back from Enumclaw and ended up going through downtown Auburn (Auburn Way) instead of the Green Valley road.  Ended up okay, though.
Here's the route: http://soc.li/Qwi9dZI.
Video summary: http://youtu.be/qhmFF036iU8

2012 April 15 - Daffodil Classic - 63 miles

Team Mangs at the ride's first rest stop

On a sunny but cold Sunday, Team Mang rode with a few other riders including Team Trangko in the Daffodil Classic around the Orting area. The ride was a mix of rough asphalt and  rolling hills doing a loop all the way to Eatonville and back.

Here's the route: http://soc.li/6hul1lE.

Here's the video summary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn-qDE0pXYE

Stats from Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168601814#.T4t8A-XVpuo

2012 April 07 - Lynnwood to Machias - 58 miles

Some of the riders posing just before crossing the bridge into Snohomish

Easy all day ride originating from Lynnwood through the Interurban Trail connecting to the Centennial trail in Snohomish - mostly flat, no major hills.


Here's the route: http://soc.li/86G6IVF

2012 February 26 - Chilly Hilly

The road riding season "officially" starts with Cascade Bicycle Club's Chilly Hilly ride - a 33 mile route around Bainbridge Island testing riders with rolling hills and cold temperatures.  Team Mang joined this adventure fully prepared for sub zero temperatures and ended up doing a nice leisurely ride in excellent sunny weather.  They joined several riders from the Trangko and Tamaraw teams in the spirit of fun and camaraderie.  Good memories for a first official road ride. Here's the video link.

2012 - January 14 - Stinky Spoke - 18 miles

Team Mang started the year off with the Stinky Spoke ride - an 18 mile mountain bike ride through the steepest hills of Redmond and Woodinville - why? Who knows. They just want to have fund and keep training in the middle of winter.

They had fun in the mud and froze their butts off as the snow fell towards the latter part of the ride.  It was all in good fun!

A view of heart attack hill - 2 miles at 20%

Some of the Mangs who did the Stinky Spoke Ride for the first time - after getting some heat to cool off their frozen digits.