Well, its that time of year once again. The Season Kick-off for Stoked Spoke is finally here. Wondering what Stoked Spoke is? Check out our previous post.
For the Season Kick-off we have some PNW Stoked Spoke veterans from the before time, when we could get together in real life. We have fours tale of adventure for you:
Potholes and Plantains, bikepacking in Cuba
Cursing the Corvallis to Coast Trail
Howl at the Moon, type 2 fun in the Gifford Pinchot
Pedal the Puget: See the Salish Sea by Saddle
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Jessica C. Levine
350 miles.
Pedaling the Puget is a loop right from downtown Seattle. By Washington State Ferry, I made it over to the Kitsap Peninsula, riding to Manchester State Park. My route would include a number of bridges and ferries linking peninsulas and islands across the sound, including the Hood Canal Bridge to the Olympic Peninsula and the Deception Pass Bridge from Whidbey Island to Fildago Island. Inter-island ferries support travel among the San Juan Islands. Returning along the 1-5 corridor through Skagit and Snohomish Counties, the route includes dedicated bike trails like the Tommy Thompson trail, The Centennial Trail, and the Interurban Trail.
Becca Book
450 mile
Potholes and Plantains
We set out to explore Cuban backroads and avoid the busy towns and cities. But the warm hospitality of our hosts (and difficulty explaining to anyone why dirt road cycling is even a thing) kept drawing us out of the mountains and marshes and back to village guest houses and family dinner tables. The scenery was breathtaking, but the fascinating history and chance to explore a world not ruled by ads and consumption was what made this trip an adventure.
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Marley Blonsky
60-ish miles
Cursing the Corvallis to Coast Trail
The Corvallis to Coast Trail is a remote 60ish mile mixed-surface ride that goes from Oregon’s Willamette Valley to the Pacific Ocean. This trail has it all – starting in downtown Corvallis, Oregon and winding over two small mountain ranges we experienced gorgeous gravel roads, sweeping vistas over recent clear cuts, meadows of wildflowers, and picturesque farms. This adventure is not for the faint of heart – over two days we climbed nearly 6,000 feet and rode a mixture of single track, well maintained gravel, chunky gravel, and a couple miles of scary highway with zero resupply points. It was all worth it in the end, as your reward is a refreshing swim in the Pacific Ocean. Join Marley Blonsky as she tells the story of bikepacking this route with a film crew in tow, and catch the whole story this summer in the Shimano Original film, All Bodies on Bikes.
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Miles Boucher & Ben Rainbow
165 miles
Howl at the Moon
Inspired by the power of the most destructive volcanic event in U.S. history, this ride is equal parts tough physical challenge through rugged terrain and reverence for the beauty of the mountain Loowit/St. Helens. The forest nexus between Portland, Seattle, and Olympia is a gathering place for steep grades, loose roads, and new friends. This route picks a line north across one of the most dynamic areas in the PNW Cascades, climbing to the blast zone of the volcano and back along thickly forested ridgelines and deep cuts of moss-surfing goodness. Some technical and STEEP hiking at points ups the difficulty score, but the rolling time between snack stops and geological wonders tips the balance heavily in favor of Good Times Rolling.
Happy Trail Tales!
