Saying Yes to the STP Classic
From trepidation to training, preparations begin for the two-day Seattle-to-Portland bike ride
What am I thinking?
I’m committed to riding the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic this July. Yes, that’s right. Seattle to Portland. 207 miles across two days.
The ride, known locally as STP, has not been on my bucket list. For years I refused to even consider such an abuse of my body. But then Paul Tolmé at the Cascade Bicycle Club told me how much fun I would have starting a bike ride at the break of dawn, pedaling for 100 miles, staggering to bed, and then repeating the process a second time.
My legs ached at the thought but with time I began to quiet the apprehension. After all, I once met a guy who rode a beat-up 1970s-era cruiser bike the full distance. It was no big deal, he alleged.
I contacted Sarah Mantey, the Cascade bike club’s STP event producer, and asked her what I should expect.
She colored in a few details: Urban riding, rural back roads, and beautiful scenery. The route is generally flat with a few “punchy hills,” she said, “and you’ll notice a fun little bump in elevation that really gets the party started at the 44-mile mark.”
That bump, 400 feet uphill over 2.7 miles, may be the biggest punch. Overall, there’s only 2,500 feet of elevation each day.
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But seriously, what am I getting myself into?
“You are getting yourself into one of the most incredible and humbling experiences of your life,” Sarah said. “STP is a unique, long-distance ride in that the majority of the riders are in the same boat as you and have never done anything like this before. Everyone rides for their own unique reason and will do their best to support you and your journey down south. Don’t rush.”
That’s encouraging. What’s the biggest challenge people face?
Sarah told me to drink plenty of water and electrolytes to avoid dehydration on potentially warm days. Then she said this:
“I think the biggest challenge is what I call the Mind + Behind Connection. In other words, your brain will either stop you or your booty will. Build up the mental stamina to handle long hours on your bike and at the same time, train your booty to be used to sitting in a saddle. That kind of pain can really make or break the ride.”
There’s the truth. If the brain doesn’t get you then the booty will.
I am forewarned.
Breaking Down the STP
The Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic is a cornerstone of the Cascade bike club’s event schedule. This will be the 47th ride. More than 5,000 cyclists participate each year, and organizers are hoping for as many as 6,500 this time.
Some riders will complete the route in a single day, but I’m with the masses. I’ll need two days to do this.
Most riders will arrive in Seattle on Friday, July 10, for packet pickup. The course then opens at 5 a.m. Saturday with one-day riders getting an early start. The rest of us push away beginning at 5:30 a.m.
The route is a collection of city streets, country roads, and car-free paths from the University of Washington campus to the Lloyd Center in east Portland. The halfway point – mile marker 102 – is in Centralia, Wash.
A map posted on RidewithGPS.com illustrates what’s ahead.
- 207 miles
- Total elevation gain: 5,100 feet
- Maximum uphill grade: 7 percent
- Total elevation loss: 4,900 feet
- Maximum downhill grade: 6 percent
“I would rate the route as a 7/10 purely for the distance and time required on the saddle,” Sarah said. “The route is not technical or particularly hilly, but the mental stamina that is required of you to push through during peak summer temperatures is significant.”
Note: “Due to the long route and multiple variables (like construction and permitting requirements) that occur each year, the route is subject to changing up until the day before the event,” Sarah said. “We ask that riders wait until Friday, July 10, to download the file onto their devices.”
Making Arrangements
Questions start flashing by like a painted center stripe on the country road. How do I get to Seattle? Where am I going to sleep? Where’s the food?
Here’s my early plan.
Getting to Seattle: First, I decided to take an Amtrak Cascades train from my hometown in Oregon’s Willamette Valley to Seattle. I’ve booked a seat and bike space in the baggage car. The Amtrak Cascades, after all, is one of my favorite modes of transportation, especially with a bike.
This was my first step because bicycle space in the baggage car is limited on each train and hooks may sell out.
Once I arrive at Seattle’s King Street Station, I’ll roll my bike a short distance and board the Sound Transit light rail line to the university campus. Bikes are welcome on Sound Transit.
Others may choose to take a bus arranged by the Portland Bicycling Club. The club, which coordinates the STP’s final miles and finish line, lines up luxury motor coaches for people and trucks for bikes from Portland’s Doubletree Hotel. Parking at the Doubletree can also be arranged so a car is waiting at the end of the ride.
Where to Sleep: Some people book hotel rooms and many others camp. I’m opting for the convenience of a college dorm room near the start line at the University of Washington. I don’t need luxury, just a shower and a bed. (Towels and bedding are provided.) Dorm reservations are required.
Campus housing is not an option in Centralia, so I have a hotel reservation. Camping appeals to many, but not me. After 100 miles, I’ll want a mattress.
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Baggage Transport: The Cascade Bicycle Club will transport luggage from point to point. I’ll check my bag each morning and pick it up once I complete that day’s ride.
Where to Eat: Private vendors will be selling breakfast and coffee near the Seattle start line. Dinner will be available at the Centralia College food court, and breakfast – hot or to-go choices with vegan and gluten-free options – is served starting at 4 a.m. Sunday.
The Finish Line
Mile 207 ends at Portland’s Holladay Park near the Lloyd Center. “Expect live bands, food, a beer garden, fountains and water stations to cool off in, and both free and purchasable STP swag galore,” Sarah said.
Now I’m thinking it’s time to start training.
Dan Shryock is a travel writer and career journalist who focuses on cycle tourism. Based in Oregon, his work has appeared in magazines and websites in California and the Pacific Northwest. His book, “Cycling Across Oregon: Stories, Surprises & Revelations Along the State’s Scenic Bikeways” is available on Amazon.
I've never done the STP as I'm not a huge fan of riding in a Peloton. I am sure it's a great race. Have fun. Make sure you have your spare tubes (if you use tubes), and I would invest in a proper riding bib. chafing could be a problem if it's hot. Also I would suggest getting some of those energy packets with B12 and caffeine if you can handle it. I notice a big jump in endurance with them.
Did this ride with my wife in 2014. So much fun. A lot of riders, great support and food stops.