New Rides Scheduled at TRC Board Meeting

The minutes of the July 17th board meeting are posted on the balancesheet. We discussed Bike Month plans and the organization of a club hosted ride up the Spiral highway next Fall, but of most interest are the new rides on the calendar.

Ride Scheduling: These rides are on the calendar, most with more information and links.

July 19, Saturday.Palouse Ride

Dissemore’s in Pullman at 7:30 am.

Doug, Chris, and Corrie will ride to Palouse and determine the route which will likely reach Oaksdale and maybe Tekoe. This will essentially duplicate Jim’s Palouse Ride later, but since I’ll be out of town then and This Saturday is free (well, except for the Breakheart Trail hike), I’ll get my Palouse ride in now.

Doug and I will meet at Southway to carpool to Pullman just before 6:30 am on Saturday.

July 26-27 Trail of the Couer d’Alenes
The ride is Sunday. Campers see more information below.

Meet at Avery trail head (lower) at 10 am on Sunday morning. Allow 3.5 hours driving from Lewiston.

You need a strong headlight, lunch, water, and fat tire bike, and trail fee $9. Up to 13 $5.00. Bring a swim suit for a possible dunk in a creek. Bring a jacket for the Taft Tunnel. It will feel colder on a hot day.

Those who would like to camp. RSVP to car pool to campground on the 26^th.

Sunday, Aug. 3 Deary to Deary Back half of White Pine. 8 am at Deary Park. SAG invitation 80-85 miles

Sunday, Aug. 10 Jim’s Ride: 8:00 at Dissemore’s in Pullman-Albion-Moscow-Troy with lunch in Moscow at the Breakfast Club before riding Latah trail to Troy. Possible winery visit on the way back to Pullman

Sunday, Aug. 17^th Palouse-Garfield starting Palouse Park 8am. Option to ride Steptoe Butte. Lunch in Teko. Or bring your lunch or grab a snack at the grocery. SAG by Wanda $5.00. Capacity for 3 bikes

Aug 23 Tour de Lentil

Sunday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 1 Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

Plummer trail head at 10 am.

Reservations at Bayment Inn 208-783-1234

This week for TRC

We have a board meeting on Thursday. I hope we come up with some rides. The calendar’s looking a bit thin for this week.

Because I’m working at B&L, I’ve been getting extra miles during the week and haven’t needed to add much but the club ride on weekends. Still I’m likely to want to do something longer next weekend either Saturday or Sunday.

Dave tells me he’ll be missing in action so I’m hoping I can persuade someone else into picking up the slack. Let me know if you are interested for either day and what you’d like to do.

Special Note: Jim’s Ride which was until recently still on the calendar for Sunday has been postponed to an unspecified date. I hope Jim gives us a date on Thursday.

And don’t forget to check what’s on PalouseCycling’s calendar. You can visit their site or just check our calendar. If the calendar is too busy, just deselect some of the calendars from the drop down list on the upper right of the page.

Ice Cream Ride Tuesday’s at 6:30 from Clarkston’s Basking Robins

An easy evening ride along the Green Belt Trail and out to the end of the pavement on Asotin Creek. We’ve been really slow going out recently and a bit faster coming back. Turn around when you want and meet us for ice cream after the ride.

Crazy Ladies are starting from the Southway Boat Launch at 8:30 every Wednesday morning all summer.

Nevermind what the calendar says.

Time Trials Thursday, 6 pm

Challenge yourself over a 10 mile course. We start the ride at 6 but you need to come earlier so that we can handicap the riders who will start every 30secs faster riders last. 6pm Thursdays at the 2 mile marker on Down River Road west of Red Wolf.

Easy Does it

On Saturday’s Linda’s leading an easy hour ride that finishes with a breakfast these days. The ride starts at 8 at Clarkston’s Corps of Engineers parking lot and lasts for about an hour. The group stops for breakfast somewhere at 9 for breakfast. Check with Linda or come back to the calendar for updates.

Mostly we start at the Southway Boat Launch in Lewiston, but special rides start at different places. Be sure to check start times and places carefully. Poor weather may scare us off. Bad weather cancels without notice.

STP

Lot’s of folks doing STP this year.

9,500 riders take off on annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic

Some 9,500 bike riders took off Saturday in the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. Some make the ride in one day; others will take two.

By Sean Rose

Seattle Times staff reporter

PREV of  NEXT

DANIEL MENDIES

David Mendies is riding for his second time.

Some would say David Mendies made a rash choice.

He had never been a cyclist, but two years ago he decided to change that. Along with some friends, he registered for the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic and bought his first bike — one month before the 200-mile, two-day tour de Northwest.

Updates for this Week’s rides

Linda’s Easy Does It ride will definitely start at 8 am from Clarkston’s Corp of Engineers Parking Lot. She’ll ride south on the Green Belt to Asotin for breakfast at Daily Bakery. Thanks to Darliss who is helping with these rides.

Yes, we will have SAG for the Huckleberry Ride on Sunday. We have two offers so all that remains is settling on who gets to do it. Imagine! The forecast is for what Tibbals is calling “Mamma Bear” conditions–just right. If you want to bring along a snack, you can put it in the SAG. This can be a tough ride should the weather move up to Papa Bear or for those who aren’t quite ready for 50 hilly miles.

So bring those $5.00 bills for the SAG. Riding with SAG is a little different. That car back will often be you support. Wave, it’s great to have support but if you need help, just put your hand on top of  your helmet. That’s unusual enough that SAG will recoginze it as something other than a friendly wave.

This week’s ride features Huckleberries.

We are in the high season of cycling. Did anyone notice it’s hot? Well Sunday wasn’t bad at all on the Palouse. Between Moscow and Pullman I felt a bit of a chill in the air. That headwind was the culprit ’cause turning south warmed me right up.

Ice Cream Ride Tuesday’s at 6:30 from Clarkston’s Basking Robins

An easy evening ride along the Green Belt Trail and out to the end of the pavement on Asotin Creek. We’ve been really slow going out recently and a bit faster coming back. Turn around when you want and meet us for ice cream after the ride.

Crazy Ladies are starting from the Southway Boat Launch at 8:30 every Wednesday morning all summer.

Nevermind what the calendar says.

Time Trials

Challenge yourself over a 10 mile course. We start the ride at 6 but you need to come earlier so that we can handicap the riders who will start every 30secs faster riders last. 6pm Thursdays at the 2 mile marker on Down River Road west of Red Wolf.

Easy Does it

On Saturday’s Linda’s leading an easy hour ride that finishes with a breakfast these days. The calendar says 9 to 10, but I’ll bet its 8 at the Corps parking lot in Clarkston and 9 for breakfast at Main Street Grill. Check with Linda or come back to the calendar for updates.

Huckleberry Ride Sunday, July 13th 10 am Deary city park, Deary, Idaho

We start at 10 so plan to arrive about 9:30. You’ll need the time to put your bike together, use the restroom, grab water and gatorade at the market or convenience store and use the restroom.

This is not an easy ride though the mileage is comfortable at 50+. Every year we have folks join us who are not quite fit enough. They always make it, but it isn’t easy. We usually have several groups. If you are slow, you might want to start early. Some people drive on to Boville and get a head start from there.

We have Huckleberry concoctions in Elk River and/or lunch before starting back and generally spend some time in the Deary Park following the ride.

We don’t have designated SAG yet. If someone wants to volunteer for this job, contact me. In compliance with our new policy, please bring $5.00 for the SAG vehicle should one be available.

The drive to Deary from Lewiston is about 90 minutes. We recommend car pooling to save gas, but you’ll have to make your own arrangements.

Only the Crazy Ladies ride starts at the Southway boat launch this week. Be sure to check for start times and locations carefully. The weather doesn’t look wet, but just so you know, foul weather cancels without notice.

Updates and a new Ride

The Fourth of July Ride is on and so is the barbecue. We’ll meet at the Pomeroy Park, ride the route which takes you over 60 miles of rolling Palouse hills. Bring a sandwich or snacks and lots of water. We won’t find any support along the way and we don’t have a designated SAG. The Barbecue will be at Lance’s house on Linda Lane in Clarkston Heights. We expect to be at lance’s about 3:30 or 4.

Hamburgers and hot dogs on the club. Bring a potluck salad or desert and your own drinks.

Kendrick Century

Dave Tibbals and Doug Goodenough have agreed to a century starting at the Southway Boat launch at 7 on Sunday. We’ll ride out to Kendrick, climb the Troy Grade, and return over Latah and Chipman Trails and 195 through Colton and Uniontown. This is a beautiful ride especailly between Kendrick and Moscow. The forecast is looking for 80s. Should be a p;erfect day for a ride. And that Troy grade is a hill Scott can love.

For the Ride of it.–Corrie

This Week in Cycling

Nothing is more annoying to those of us who love to ride than the narrow window of acceptable conditions some of our companions impose. Too cold, too windy, too wet, too dark, too bright. Too hot was the favorite yesterday and I’ll give you that above 100 degrees may be a wee bit toasty.

So this week we get a bit of everything except perhaps too cold. I see temps in the high 90s and a chance of thunder showers all week long. Will this keep me off my bike? No.

Tuesday Ice Cream Ride from Clarkston’s Baskin Robins at 6:30. We do about 25 miles but usually it is an out and back on the bike path and up Asotin Creek. Go as far as you like and join us afterword for $1.00 scoop Tuesday at Baskin Robins.

Wednesday Crazy Ladies

8:30 am roll time from Southway Boat Launch. The ladies may be increasing their mileage by now. I don’t know. Still they don’t go very hard and usually adjust the course for those who show up. Note that this is a new start time and may not be on the calednar.

Thursday Time Trials

Chris is going to love this one with temperatures forecast near 100. 10 mile timed event against yourself. Riders are started in a stagger based on expected finish. Come test yourself and build that climbing muscle. 6pm is roll time on Downriver Road 2 miles west of Red Wolf Crossing. Be 10 or 15 minutes early to get your start position.

Friday the 4th Pump Up the Pulse route in Pomeroy. Details to come.

Details for this event are fuzzy. At this point we are still starting at the Pomeroy city Park witha a Potluck to follow. However, rumor has it that Mark Schmidt has offered his place as a start/finish because the park is likely to be packed. I’m waiting to hear back from Mark. Stay tuned.

Saturday Easy Does it Ride and Breakfast

If you like to socialize, stop at the Saturday market, eat breakfast and even ride a little, this one is for you. Linda will start at 8 from the Clarkston Corps parking lot. Trying not to run over Seaport Striders on their regular Saturday morning run, she’ll take her troop for a short easy ride and meet with the Striders for breakfast at McDonalds in Clarkston for breakfast about 9.

Sunday 1 pm start

It’s getting too hot (did I say that?) to wait until 1 to start a Sunday ride. I’m thinking about a nice century on Sunday if anyone is interested. Perhaps I’ll climb the Troy Grade. Maybe Tom could meet us in Julietta or Kendrick.

Palouse Cycling

Quite a lot on this calendar this week as well including two early morning commute rides on Mondayj, Wednesday and  Friday and two mountain bike rides. One is on Tuesday and the other for ladies only is on Thursday. And there is Mat Morra’s Thursday evening ride. Check out their calendar or see their events on ours.

Make sure you check to the time and start locations carefully. Most rides start at Southway Boat Launch but not Friday’s nor any of Palouse cycling’s events.

Crazy Ladies start at 8:30

It must be getting hot. The Crazy Ladies have adjusted their start time from 9 to 8:30 on Wednesday mornings from the boat launch. I’m not sure Pam is updating the calendar so it still shows 9 am. Don’t miss out.

–Corrie

Tour de France

The Tour and the Olympics. Both are under a shadow. I guess I’ve lost my innocence.

Bicycling Magazine’s Coverage

Tour de France in English

Daily Video from Versus

Guarded Tour Well Armed Against Doping

By JEROME PUGMIRE, AP Sports Writer 9 hours, 19 minutes ago

PARIS (AP)—For a second year running, the Tour de France has no defending champion and no star. More than ever, the showcase event desperately needs a clean race following the recent doping scandals that have brought the 105-year institution to its knees.

Whether the battered Tour can get up off the canvas is as uncertain as picking the favorite, given that 2007 champ Alberto Contador, mountain expert Michael Rasmussen and former favorite Ivan Basso are not taking part.

Tour organizers hope an intense cleanup operation will help avoid a major doping scandal during the July 5-27 race.

“There is a real change in mentality within the teams, the riders, to ensure that cycling recovers its credibility,” Tour race director Christian Prudhomme told The Associated Press in an interview. “Cycling is judged over three weeks in July. I hope everyone has this in mind. Without doubt, it’s an important year for the image of cycling.”

This week’s TRC Events

We got to ride for onlly the third Tuesdady of the ice cream series last night. We’ve had wind and rain for most May. But last evening was beautiful with only a light wind I found to have a bit of a chill especially when we hit the shadows and along the river. But when the temperatures are in the 80s, a little chill is welcome. It was 73 when we finished. Perfect weather. Sorry you missed our weekly ride up Asotin Creek.

For the rest of the week? Check the calendar for more information and maps.

Wednesday, June 25 9 am Southway boat launch

Crazy Ladies ride at nine from Southway this morning.

Thursday, June 26th

Time Trials at 6 from the 2 mile point west of Red Wolf on Down River Road. Arrive early

Palousecycling has a Thursday ride on Linville Road lead by Mat Morra. He says all abilities are welcome. Check the our calendar for more information. 6 pm from the old Tidyman’s parking lot.

5:30 Ladies Mountain bike series on Moscow Mt. starting from Rosauers in Moscow.

Saturday, June 28th 9 am for breakfast. ride before and after as you wish

8 am: Easy Does It Ride. Linda continues her series of 10 to 12 mph rides for newbies and mellow fellows. This week she adds the twist of meeting for breakfast at Main Street Grill at 9.

Breakfast Ride: Ride to Main Street Grill at 9 for breakfast. You are welcome to group up to ride to breakfast and regroup for extended riding following breakfast.

Sunday, June 29th 9am

Bite the Bullet Day Tour 9 am from Lapwai Grocery parking lot. 68 miles and over 4000 feet of climbing. Lunch in Winchester. Leanne Tibbals is driving SAG so we’ll have access to water and snacks. Note that the temperature in the valley on Sunday should reach 100 degrees. The good news: It’s going to be cooler on the prairie. The bad news: It won’t be cooler when we climb the back side of CuldeSac on Cottonwood Creek Road. You’re going to want that SAG. You may want to bring along some snacks to put in the SAG

NB: the board asks each rider to contribute $5.00 toward gas for the SAG vehicle.

NB: Chris and I may start at Southway at 7:15 to ride out to Lapwai. Check with me if you are interested.

NB: If you’d like to carpool to Lapwai, meet at Southway at 8. If you want to carpool, email me and I’ll put you in touch with any others also interested.