STP & RAMROD in July!

I keep coming up with different ways to hurt myself in my birthday month. Last year it was climbing Mt. Rainier. This year it will be bicycling - first, Seattle to Portland (STP) in one day (200 miles) on July 11th, then Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day (RAMROD) on July 30th (154 miles). Between the two of them, it's the Tour de Washington!

Not me in the photo - just an example

Actually, RAMROD isn't a sure thing. Only 800 riders are allowed and I didn't get picked in the RAMROD lottery. However, I'm #201 on the wait list. Those who won the initial lottery have to register by April 30th; if they don't, they give their slot to someone on the wait list. In addition, if someone decides to cancel later, they can give up their position - and only to someone on the wait list. Last year, over 250 on the wait list were offered a chance to ride RAMROD. It means I have to prepare for it because I might not get invited until July. This is one of those good news - bad news things where the news is the same.

Here's what their website says: RAMROD is the Pacific Northwest's premiere one-day ultra-marathon cycling event. It combines the incomparable scenery of Mount Rainier National Park with a challenging course featuring 10,000 feet of climbing over 154 miles. The course starts in Enumclaw, WA (elevation 720 feet) with a gradual downhill to its lowest elevation (300 feet) near Orting. This is followed by 40 miles of rolling hills through the towns of Eatonville, Elbe, and Ashford, with a gradual climb to the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The climb stiffens at Longmire where riders begin the 12 mile ascent to Paradise (elevation 5,420 feet). A 12-mile descent through Stevens Canyon follows and then a quick 3-mile climb to Backbone Ridge. This leads to one of the most fun descents of the course: a swooping 5-mile run to the Grove of the Patriarchs and the intersection with Hwy 410. What follows is generally considered the most difficult section of the course: the 9-mile climb up Cayuse Pass (elevation 4,694) which starts at 100 miles into the ride. The rapid descent from the pass ends with about 30 miles to go. These last miles are gradually descending or rolling except for one final, fast descent down Mud Mountain Dam just 5 miles from the finish in Enumclaw. Join us for the 26th anniversary of RAMROD - it will be the best RAMROD ever.

I have to find another bike for this ride - my tri bike is great for duathlons, triathlons & time trials, but it's not geared for climbing - I need more gears! I'm looking for a used bike on eBay or Craigslist. We didn't have enough bikes already - this will make five!