A mess of bicycles at first 2008 STP rest stop in Kent
The weather forecast along the 30th anniversary Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic route calls for warm temperatures on Saturday and an increasing chance of rain in southern Washington and northern Oregon on Sunday.
One-day STP bicyclists who plan to ride the entire 200 miles by nightfall Saturday should be safe without raingear or fenders.
Those stopping midway, however, can expect to wake up to a 30% chance of rain in the Centralia area on Sunday and 30% chance thunderstorms in the early afternoon along the Columbia River.
Two-day riders should be OK stowing raingear in their bags for delivery to their overnight spot, then carrying it on Sunday.
The Cascade Bicycle Club is celebrating its 30th annual STP this year with a full complement of 10,000 cyclists. They'll start leaving the University of Washington at dawn on Saturday and snake along backroads in the Seattle-Portland corridor through Sunday.
Bridge closures
Just in time for STP, the state Department of Transportation has announced bridge closures Friday night and Saturday morning that could make it difficult for STP participants from the Eastside to reach the start line.
Bicyclists from the Eastside should plan on avoiding the I-90 bridge early Saturday morning. The bridge, including the temporary bicycle/pedestrian path detours, will be closed between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday as new expansion joints are lifted into place.
Cascade recommends that Eastside cyclists drop off their bags Friday night at the UW start line and head down Saturday morning to pickup the STP route in Renton. (I've done this before and you can't miss the riders.)
Check on the Cascade website on the Friday night baggage drop-off.
Also, the Route 520 bridge is scheduled for a 30-minute closure sometime between 3 and 6 a.m. Saturday.
Here's the official scoop from the Washignton State Department of Transportation. You can return to the WSDOT page for updates:
- The I-90 bike and pedestrian path on the floating bridge will close after 9 p.m. Friday, July 10 to all bicycle and pedestrian traffic and scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m. Saturday, July 11, to allow crews to set the expansion joint. Make backup plans for crossing Lake Washington.
- The SR 520 bridge will be temporarily closed to traffic sometime between 3-6 a.m. Saturday, July 11, to
allow a construction barge to pass. The closure will last at least 30
minutes. Those driving to the Seattle-To-Portland start line Saturday
morning should allow extra time for this closure or take I-90 to UW. - Stay tuned and check back as this schedule might be amended with more detail as construction continues.
Bib No. 10000
Ten thousand riders in this year's STP, that means 10,000 bib numbers. Here's the guy who won the No. 10,000. — “STP 2009: I am rider 10,000!”
Also this weekend
If you're not riding to Portland on STP, keep your eyes peeled Saturday for the World Naked Bike Ride in Seattle. After body painting in the morning, the troupe will head out through Capitol Hill, Downtown and Belltown.
Also, check out the criterium racing beginning at 2 p.m. in Redmond for Derby Days.
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