The
humor wasn't lost on me -- last year's Elbe Multi-Strada Loop Ride was
done on the first weekend of May, and we got rained on for almost the
entire ride. So I decided to move the date out two weeks this time
around, figuring it would at least increase the chances of good weather.
Two weeks ago I did a recon ride of the course, to make sure everything
was okay with the route. And the day was beautiful, sunny and warm.
I
kept watching the forecast as ride day approached,the day's rain
chance bouncing between 80% and 20%. By Thursday, though, it was
settling into the lower range, with occasional forays to 10%.
The
whole point of this being a "multi-strada" ride is that it's on mixed
surfaces -- both paved and unpaved roads. For this ride, though the gravel sections represent less than half of the distance (18.9 of the 47 total miles), they truly BECOME the
ride. Pavement is only the means to link up the sections of gravel road.
This
year's edition lengthened the off-pavement by a couple miles, and
extended the overall distance by some seven miles, with a nice run back
into Elbe on the Mountain Highway.
Joe loving the view. |
The
course was marked, as well as having the Garmin and RidewithGPS files
available to everyone, and cue sheets were handed out to the dozen
riders who braved the morning. At 9:00, a few final cautions were
imparted, and we headed out.
Nine
plus miles in, we turned off the highway and into Pack Forest, a large
parcel owned by the University of Washington and used by the Forestry
department. It's laced with trails and gravel roads, making it a great
initial foray off the tarmac. One long climb, followed by another
shorter ascent, and the views are astounding. Assuming you have the
oxygen and mental wherewithal to enjoy them.
Russ attacking in Pack Forest. |
The
descent in Pack Forest is one long downhill, which this year claimed
several inner tubes.The surface starts as dirt/mulch, but later becomes a
nice gravel surface. But there are many exposed larger rocks, so
pinch-flats are possible. And as witnessed this past Sunday, likely.
There were at least five flats in the group on the way out of Pack Forest. More were to follow.
Back out onto the road we made the short hop into Eatonville and our food stop for the day at 21 miles.
Mark's Santa Cruz, before 3 flats. |
The road out of Eatonville begins climbing almost immediately, and for our chosen route, doesn't stop until the 33 mile marker. The Alder Cutoff Road is a fairly high-trafficked byway linking Eatonville to the eastern route through Elbe
and to Mount Rainier. Our route followed this road for a mercifully
short distance before taking a shallow left onto Scott Turner Road, a
quiet "dead end" road that meanders slowly up the foothills. But the
dead end is in pavement only, as the road continues on, and on, and up,
and up, all on a fairly nicely maintained gravel surface.
Some custom stickers to the KOM winner -- bragging rights. Only KOM winners will ever get these. |
The
descent back to the highway was wet and a little sticky at times, but
the washboard sections had mostly been smoothed (though included some
fairly-freshly-laid gravel). The riders had strung out over quite a
distance by then, so I made the descent mostly alone. And it behooved us
to keep our speed in check. Brakes in good working order is a must.
There are some nicely level-ish sections for relief, though. A final
right-hander, and the pavement arrives once more, with the highway just
ahead. It was so fun to just open it up on that last downhill, speeds
back above 30.
Within
a mile of reaching the highway and the final seven mile slightly
downhill stretch back into Elbe, I came across a cadre of our group
gathered around one of the riders. He was just finishing up changing a
flat which had occurred some three miles before. Having run out of spare
tubes, and no one else around him at the time, he decided to run, in his mountain biking shoes,
pushing his bike. After changing that flat and joining the group again,
he helped us along nicely for the 25+ mph paceline back to Elbe. The
Hard Man award definitely goes to Chris Wood for that feat.
After some clean up and clothes changing we headed over to the Elbe Bar and Grill for some fantastic burgers, fries and brews. Just what we needed to refuel from the day's efforts.
After riding the whole course twice in 2 weeks, plus 2 trips around Pack Forest for marking, my own flat on the next morning. |
The final tally -- 12 riders, 12 flats, and 100% good times.
The
day's KOM award went to Russ Clark, for a free burger and some custom
frame/helmet stickers by That Sticker Store in Puyallup.
Every one agreed that it was a great ride, and they're looking forward to doing it again next year.