Rainier

Next stop on the traveling CycloSportif circus route is the Cross Crusade race up in Rainier tomorrow. Funny thing about Rainier - it's actually faster from Portland to drive through Washington up to Kelso, then take the Lewis and Clark bridge back into Oregon. It's a nice bridge and once you cross over, you take a right directly into a beautiful climb. It's probably a mile or so, straight up. No switchbacks. Precipice on your right completely dropping off below you. I always want to stop the car, grab the bike, and ride it. Even better if I just rode out there from Portland (you can take Highway 30 all the way out there), did the climb and rode back! Maybe next year.

The Rainier course last year got great reviews. If you like climbing and descending, that is. My spot was at the start/finish line, which was halfway or so up the climb. It was a perfect location to let the smell of fresh waffles waft over the racers as they sat and waited for the start, and as they came through on the climb each lap. And they had plenty of time to take in the smell as they came through, because that climb looked long and steep and they came crawling through!