SIR 200K

March 11, 2006

A brief ride report with pictures from a really cheap camera

by Kent Peterson


Note: A few weeks ago good guy JimG posted a note to the iBOB list telling where to get a really cheap $9 digital camera. I figured I could risk $9 (plus some shipping) and I ordered one. I used it to snap all the pictures on this page. OK, they aren't great pictures but some of these were snapped while I was riding and hey, what do you expect for nine bucks? The camera is tiny, is powered by 2 AAA batteries and I kept it hung from a lanyard around my neck all day.

I left my place in Issaquah at 4:00 AM. My thermometer said it was 33 degrees and I think that was right. I didn't encounter any ice on the 25 mile ride down to Greg Cox's home, but I did have an astoundingly close encounter with a raccoon. The pudgy beast either didn't see me coming or figured my headlight belonged to a distant car and not a close, swift and silent bicycle. The raccoon darted across the Issaquah-Hobart and I believe my front wheel came within a hairs-breadth of rolling over his tail.

I got to the start line a bit before 6:00 AM and as the sun rose and other riders rolled in or drove up, I took a few pictures.


Duane's Marmite Jersey

This is a lousy shot in dim light and I was too cold to keep the camera still. But Duane Wright was looking smashing in his Marmite jersey. On the back of the jersey are the words "Hate Jams."


Two Riders

Rugged randonneurs ride to the rides.


Bike Friday

Rando bikes come in all shapes and sizes.


Mark with Trophy

Mark Vande Kamp didn't get the "brevets are not races" memo and wanted to make sure he got a trophy. He's shown here with his trophy and the money he's using to bribe the judges.


Riders and Ted

Ted Vedera was milling around the starting area with a camera that I suspect cost more than nine dollars.


Warm Ears

Covered ears? Check! Warm Gloves? Check!


Pete's Recumbent

Waiting to fill out the ride release forms. Pete's bike combines the latest in titanium and coroplast technologies.


Mitchell

Mitchell is happy and ready to go.



Roll Out

The gang rolls out at 7:00 AM.

The 2006 200K featured a terrific new route. We rolled west from Kent and out to the Puget Sound at Dash Point and Browns Point. Of course I was too busy looking at my cue sheet and the great views to actually bother taking any pictures, but trust me, it's a beautiful ride. At the control at Browns Point, I did remember that I had the camera and I took a few more shots.


Town Center

The bikes rest while the riders fuel up and get their control cards signed.


Banana

You can recognize a rando bike by all the lights and the integrated banana holder on the handlebars.


Brown's Point

Things were starting to warm up. Almost everyone adjusted their clothing here.


Another Kogswell

A fellow with great taste in bikes. A Kogswell Model G.


Wayne's Whale Jersey

Wayne rolls along the Green Valley Road. Note the stylish Orca wind vest.


Another view of Wayne's Whale Jersey

A closer view of Wayne's vest.


The Black Diamond Bakery

The Black Diamond Bakery. Two donuts and a big glass of milk fueled me from here to Greenwater.


Biker Gang at Black Diamond

The SIR biker gang at Black Diamond.


Jaws Bag

The Black Diamond Bakery is a popular destination for cyclists.


Toward Greenwater 3

The road to Greenwater.


Roadside Snow

Yes, that's snow on the roadside. We all figured we'd stay warm on the climb up to Greenwater but things just got colder as we climbed. We did encounter a light snow flurry but nothing to make the roads really treacherous.


Tom at Greenwater

Tom refuels in Greenwater.


Greenwater Control 2

The Greenwater General Store. The trunk on my Kogswell is a Rubbermaid Roughneck Tote.
 

At Greenwater I realized that I'd filled up my little camera, so I don't have any pictures from the end of the ride. We all piled on clothes for the cold trip from Greenwater back to Kent. One thing that is nice when you have an out-and-back spur on a ride is that you get to at least catch a glimpse of your fellow riders. I was somewhere in the middle so I got to see folks going both ways on Hwy 410 between Enumclaw and Greenwater.

The chili feed at Greg's place was great as always and I had a nice, raccoon-free ride back to Issaquah.