Bicycles

Paula’s Hampsten Strada Bianca debuts on Vashon Island

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For Timothy, bike rides serve as bike expos as much as rides. Until February, Paula regarded this ongoing Study Of The Bicycle in a tolerant sort of way, nodding bemusedly and feigning some degree of interest. Her view changed dramatically when, at the end of the Chilly Hilly ride, she came upon Tim examining a piece of bike art stunning in both its simplicity and its detail. Paula started obsessively examining every detail of what she learned was a Hampsten Strada Bianca. It was LOVE. “I want one!!” she exclaimed. Tim did his own version of bemused tolerance.

Tim being Tim he immediately laid out a Quick History of Andy Hampsten, winner of  the 1988 Giro d’Italia and the Alpe d’Huez stage of the 1992 Tour de France.

“Now I REALLY want one!!” Paula said. And then around the corner came the bike’s owner, who described the joy of working with Andy’s brother, Steve, on the design and execution of the bike. Everything top-notch. Everything personal and done to exacting detail and standards. And—a bonus—all based right here in Seattle, at Hampco Towers, AKA Steve’s garage. Which pretty much sealed the deal, not for the convenience (though the convenience was very nice) but for the whole Seattle Thing (complete with fenders of the highest quality.)

Back home, Paula beelined to Hampsten Cycles’ website. More perfection. She researched Andy. Ditto. She read up on Steve. Same. She checked out the reviews. Could it be any better?? (NO.)

Tim, continuing to be a bit entertained by this sudden fascination but certainly up for a trip to Hampco Towers, set up an appointment with Steve. He figured we were just going to get the lay of the land. He’s also much more deliberative than Paula, who knows what she wants when she sees it. That afternoon, much to Tim’s surprise, she put down a deposit.

Strada Bianca in lugged steel (Columbus Spirit). Outfitted with Shimano Dura-ace 11-speed mechanical components, with the exception of the Ultegra long cage rear derailleur which allows for a wider range of gears. Pistachio with red accents.

And this weekend, she rode it on its glorious debut on Vashon Island.

P1030860Paula’s first impression? In two words: Utter Joy. It fits perfectly and rides exquisitely. That incomparable experience of the bike and the rider joined together as one, total control, power, fluidity and grace, handling with ease the climbs and glorious descents and zipping along most merrily on the flats.

Stupendous.

And, of course, it got rave reviews from the other riders. They were lusting. The very first comment: “Beautiful bike! What year is it?”—a perfect compliment for the intentionally old-school design.

Timothy tries to steal the bike on Maury lookout point
Luscious
Beautiful bike, beautiful scenery
Bike in motion
Others on the ride
And still others
Bike takes a break after the ride
Paula gloats over her bike; Tim plots ways to steal it
Bob (left) ooo’d and aww’d over the bike
James (right) also admired the bike greatly.
Bob and water.
Bike rides the ferry.
Happy.
More lovely bike and lovely scenery.
Head tube lug details.
Underside of the seat cluster.
Rear brake bridge details
The rear of the bottom braket.
The seat cluster. Timothy specified the details on this one—classic scalloped Italian seat stay attachments.
We love the Hampsten boar’s head head tube badge!
1988 Giro d’Italia Champion, Andy Hamsten on the seat tube panel.

Tour de Whatcom

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On Saturday we headed to far northwestern Washington for the fabulous Tour de Whatcom, which we’d heard about when we met the Mount Baker Bike Club folks after the Ann Ride in Walla Walla.

This was yet another spectacular ride on yet another picture-perfect day, with views of Mount Baker, Birch Bay, Bellingham Bay and … Canada, during the stop in Blaine, which is one of the border crossings. Here’s the route. We rode for awhile with several very nice Canadian groups, including the Vancouver Velo Vets and Ride 2 Survive. (Now we want to check out some rides up there).  We also did some stellar pacelining with two guys who came from Kentucky and who very much appreciated the low humidity and soaring scenery.

Besides the scenery, we love the name of the place, and its overall vibe. What’s a Whatcom?

Early morning rays as we head out of Bellingham
Some of the strong groups we tagged along with
Morning in northwestern Washington
Merlin, one of many highlights of the first rest stop
Boy Scout troop members dispensing treats
Young man giving free tattoos
Tatttoo application
And the result
Tattoo Master
“Welcome to the Kingdom!”
Leaving the Kingdom, back on the winding road
Pretty good shot, for being on the bike
Sunbathing cows
Lots of farmland
Another rest stop
Blaine, on the Canadian border
Also Blaine
Birch Bay
Child playing in mud as gulls observe
More mud play and gulls
We liked this scene, obviously
Walking the dog, Birch Bay
Music at one of the rest stops!
And free Cokes! That perfect late-ride refreshment
Yum
Mount Baker in the distance
Taking a pause to enjoy the scenery
One of the Ride 2 Survive leaders
Random person on the road
Potato fields
Adorable!
Still adorable.
And also adorable.
No, we didn’t do this. Though we WOULD have …
Bellingham Bay, after dinner
Bellingham Bay

What We Loved About STP: Everything

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Over the weekend we experienced our first STP – Seattle to Portland – a 204-mile, 10,000-plus-rider trek run by Cascade Bicycle Club. What a ride! At the risk of sounding hokey … it was as much about all the people as it was about the pedaling (and the pedaling was pretty spectacular). But the people made it truly stellar. And indeed, very heartwarming.

As much a party as a rest stop early on.
Not a bad place to have a farm.
Great News: He has an extra friction shifter on hand. Life is great!
We didn’t need lemonade, but how could we not stop!
More long-time providers – serving banana bread at the top of a hill.
The Hipsta version, Take 3
Approaching the bridge between Longview, Wash., and Rainier, Ore.
Just a few miles to go, heading over the Willamette River in Portland.
The folks lining the streets and the entry into the park were just amazing. It was WONDERFUL to be welcomed that way. Thank you!

Some of what has left such a glow:

  • Our fellow riders. Such a diversity of cyclists, all committed to covering 204 miles (some of them in one day). There were plenty of super-strong riders. There also were plenty of less strong, less experienced riders and, given the way our butts are feeling right now, we can’t imagine what going this distance was like for them. There was the guy covering 200 miles on a unicycle, and the one hauling a dog. Kids on tandems with a parent, and a number of kids who looked no older than 12 riding regular bikes with a parent or two trailing behind. There was the bike with two parents and one kid (what is that called? A trip-dem?) There were the costumed riders, and the ones who have been doing it for two decades (or more), and the 78-year-old guy, and the riders from all over the world …
  • The rest stops. There were the major stops, with sponsors such as Clif and REI, and the mini-stops, run by community organizations as fundraisers. Not only were there LOTS of them, but they were packed with volunteers who were downright friendly and caring, even after hours upon hours of pouring water and spreading peanut butter.
  • The unofficial stops.  Some residents just set up their own little stops, like the kid with the lemonade stand or the guy on the side of the road spraying us with water as we neared the finish.
  • The top-notch mechanics. We had first-hand experience, and what a great experience it was.
  • The diversity of overnight lodging possibilities. Many people camped out at Centralia College, either inside or outside. Others stayed in motels there or further down the road. Still others, including us, paid to stay with area families, who host STP riders to raise money for a variety of organizations. We had such a great time with our hosts, a newly retired teacher and firefighter, who made us right at home, fed us, chatted with us, and overall were a key to our great experience.
  • The festivals at the halfway point and the finish. Two big parties, a chance to kick back and relax and celebrate and just have a great time. With both chocolate milk and beer as recovery drinks.
  • The support crews and decorum enforcers who traveled the route by bike, motorcycle and car.
  • The Cascade folks who made it all work flawlessly. OK, they’ve been doing this for so many years that they should have it down to a science. And they do. Like clockwork, perfectly organized, perfectly executed, a massive event with intricate logistics that flowed seamlessly.
  • The scenery. Coupled with the weather.
  • The diversity of riding experiences. On the first day, with a greater density of people starting at the same place and more or less the same time, we got the pleasure of a number of impromptu pacelines as riders of similar speed and abilities joined up.  That was simply a blast and we rolled at a nice zippy clip. On the second day, when we started a bit late and also behind a lot of fast riders who closer to Portland, we took our time and stopped to take a lot of pictures. In between we motored speedily on our own — but were happy to stop and savor the full experience, not just the “we’re tough and we can ride far and fast” experience.
  • The folks scattered here and there along the route, ringing cowbells and cheering. These people were terrific and such a great boost.
  • The finish festival — and especially, the crowds that lined the blocks heading into the festival and those at the finish itself. It actually made us sort of misty-eyed. Riding those last several blocks was just one big happy grin. Not because we’d finished the ride, which for us wasn’t a huge deal. But because these people made it so spectacular for us.

See below for lots more photos!