ResSpoke Day One

Redmond to Skykomish

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RedSpoke started on July 15th. We stayed the night at Debbie and Scott's home prior to the ride. After a fast two mile drop, we arrived at the start in Redmond Towncenter at 7:30 a.m. and registered, got our packets and filled out bag tags for all the camping gear. Brett and I had ten bags altogether. A tent bag, two chairs, two sleeping bags, two sleeping pads, a knapsack and two duffel bags. I definitely took too many clothes, but it didn't rain and we were able to wash and dry our shorts and bibs and jerseys each day. After a nice breakfast we started out right on time at 8:30 a.m. There were 76 riders but we spread out fairly quickly as everyone found their own pace. The first few miles were easy riding as we headed out of Redmond with a police escort toward Duval. Then we started to climb what turned out to be one of the most difficult climbs of the ride. The grade approached 13% in places and it was tough. For sure I had eaten too much at breakfast since my stomach felt queasy. My heart rate climbed to 164 as we neared the top and I tried to keep up. At one point I looked down and saw my speed was 3.5 mph. I didn't think my bike would go that slow. I wasn't last but had been dropped by Brett and Scott and two of Scott's co-workers Ron and Juan who we had met and had been riding with. I finally reached the top and started down the hill into the valley. We all stopped where maintenance crews had created a big ditch blocking the road to Duvall from all but foot or bike traffic. Everyone walked their bikes a few hundred feet and then resumed the ride into the valley toward Monroe. It was fairly flat, lots of farms with the occasional smell of fresh and aged cow manure. We moved quickly to the first of many SAG (Support and Gear) stops at a park in Monroe. The support for this ride was excellent with all kinds of food, snacks, ice, energy bars, water, soft drinks, etc. at every stop. The SAG stops were placed about 1 hour apart which could be 10 to 20 miles given the speed and terrain of the ride. Brett had his first of six flats on his rear tire just outside of Sultan. It was the original tire and tube and something I had been concerned about prior to the ride. The tire had quite a gash the tube was almost glued to the tire. We put a boot on the inside of the tire, yanked out and replaced and refilled the tube. The tube failed as I must have pinched it with the tire levers. Another tube and we headed out. We rode to the Middle School in Skykomish which was located right next to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks, set up camp, took a cold shower, had a nice dinner and were in bed by 9:00 p.m. Breakfast was set for 5:30 a.m. to allow for an early start for the 80 mile ride over Steven's Pass in the morning.