Gold Wing Touring Association
 Chapter "V"
 frequently asked STP questions

1.       What is STP?

      a.       STP stands for the Seattle to Portland bicycle ride.

 

2.      Who participates in this event? 

a.      Approximately 8000 bicyclists ride from the Seattle to Portland.

b.      There are two groups of bicycle riders – the people who take two days to ride the course and the “hotshots”
     who do the course in one day (Saturday).  The two day riders have an overnight stay in Centralia area. 
     The Cascade Bicycle Club sets up an area to allow the riders to get food and water along the route. 

 

3.       When does this event occur?

a.      It takes place on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday July 13, 2008.

 

4.       What does the motorcycle group do?

a.      The sponsors of the ride – the Cascade Bicycle Club, hire the GWTA state organization to assist with
     escorting the bicycle riders.

b.      Our Chapter is assigned one or more zones along the ride course to escort the bicycle riders.
    Escort means:  calling for help in emergencies (911), taking tires to the tire repair location on the course and
    return them to the rider, helping with minor traffic control in dangerous areas (i.e. over railroad tracks), or calling
    for the Subaru’s (to transport bicycle riders and bikes).

c.     Our chapter is usually assigned the following areas:
 

                            i.     Saturday – we “stage” (or set up a tent and sign in area) at Castle Rock High School.  We ride the course
       between Vader and Rainier Oregon.

                           ii.     Sunday we are usually assigned another area of the course – between Rainier Oregon and Scappoose.

                          iii.     We also provide a special escort of large groups across the Lewis and Clark Bridge at Longview.

 

5.       What is a zone?

a.      A section of the course assigned by GWTA to each chapter for course coverage

b.      Zones are usually about 20 miles long

 

6.      What is the route the bicycles take for this long ride?

a.      Winding through back roads --Start in Seattle, ride along frontage road parallel to HWY 167 into Sumner/Puyallup;
    on to Pioneer Road up the hill to Canyon, out to Military Road to Pacific Hwy through Roy, Yelm , to Centralia, Vader,
    Longview, Rainier, Scappoose, and ending in Portland.

7.      Where do I stay when I participate in this event?
     a. Chapter V makes this a fun event.  Many of the chapter members work both days and spend Saturday night
         in or around hotels in Longview.

 

8.       What is the best part of the STP?

a.      The camaraderie

b.      The spandex

c.      You get a free STP shirt

d.      You get to spend your whole day on the motorcycle

e.      The Thank You’s!!~!

 

9.       What is the worst part of the STP?

a.      The spandex

b.      You get a free shirt that looks like everyone else’s shirt

c.      You get to spend the whole day on the motorcycle – going slow in large circles!

d.      Emergencies

e.      Tired butts!  Sometimes your own...

10.  What is a gopher?
      a.  A person who is constantly asked to "go for" stuff
      b.  An animal that digs holes -----