Time Will Tell

Time Will Tell

Define Epic

Define Epic

LQ Diggs

As I am a member in good standing of our wonderful National Parks program, I received an on-line notice an hour ago about lodging specials for the spring and summer - yes we are almost there! I took full advantage and booked a cabin (two Queen beds, showers, privacy). We will be at Lake Quinault Lodge on Wednesday, June 5 on the third day of this year's Fun 101 Olympic Peninsula Cycling Tour. Here is the link to the Lodge. Picture of the room is to your right.

After a full riding day, 68 miles from Forks, on what many feel is the most scenic and serene leg, it is always a pleasure to pull up to the manicured grounds of the Lodge and take full advantage of the plethora of their amenities. If I can pull some strings we just might end the day with a salmon BBQ!

Just the Facts (F101)

Just the Facts (F101)

First Five Amendments

First Five Amendments

There is a Difference

There is a Difference 

2019 Fun 101 Primer

2019 Fun 101 Primer

2019 Epic Ride

2019 Epic Ride, Aug 3-24. Seattle to LA. 1,600 miles, 21 days. How good can you ride it?

More transcription

This morning I was asked, innocently enough, to provide a capsulized verbal sample of the typical day that one might experience aboard the 2019 Epic Ride cycling adventure ship. 

Right. 

First off I say, with painstaking precaution not to start my prebuttal with a 'well', no two of the projected twenty-one riding days are the same. They are all uniquely spectacular unto themselves, all taking considerable pride in their global positioning along the course. Every day is an adventure, be that a (relatively) short fifty miler or one of the more elongated centuries. We begin each segment (forthwith called legs) at a pre-designated location, either the campground, motel or suitable historic site, with an intel meeting and distribution of the latest updates on road conditions, weather, construction and rendezvous sites. We have coffee and check gear. Maps and coordinates are synced. Water bottles filled, fuel gauged. Each team member should consider, silently or aloud, what the meaning of the day could be, a mantra to carry along the route, mixing the extrinsic accompaniment of sea, wind and sun with intrinsic endorphin flow and elevated heart rate. Adventure is our goal, joy our reward with the experiment being one of a synergistic merging of the two. Can we ride and grin? Pedal and comprehend, see everything without a stare? How good can we stand it? 

This is not a race, I continue, everyone must ride at their own pace. There are no rewards for time saved or speed achieved. If anything success must come from the deep satisfaction of accomplishment and a thorough commitment to optimal experience, what many are now calling peak experience or dynamic flow. It is a time to reflect, relax and enjoy the simple fact that we are doing something absolutely incredible, one mile at a time, one pedal rotation after its prior, at somewhere in the neighborhood of one hundred heartbeats per minute. I find this energizing, engaging and empowering. It is, once again, the real-time demonstration of our understanding of magic and freedom. 

We average seventy-five miles a day. It is the sixteen-hundred mile coastal route separating the Emerald City of Seattle with the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Which of course sounds more romantic than the actual start on Bainbridge Island, WA and finish at the pier in Santa Monica, CA. It is the coastal route. Beach access for 80% of the ride. It is stunning, soul-enriching and utterly magnificent. In adventure riding legend, it is a 'must-do'. Ride it once and you may brag for eternity. 

The ride is supported IF WE REACH OUR TEN RIDER GOAL. If not, I will tote an in-line trailer and you will pannier-up. The route is designed to have a state park as daily start/stop point with a motel in close proximity. Should you desire a nightly room and a soaking tub, that is up to you, as is the expense. Should you desire to take advantage of the hiker/biker campsites along the way, you may opt for that should you enjoy camping, most H/B sites are still less than ten dollars a night. Food is up to you as well. If you are conditioned to surf and turf as the nightly supper fare, don't let us crimp your style. I like a campfire and fresh veggies, a burrito and cold local brew. The 2019 Epic Ride disclaimer specifically states that if we reach full support status (ten riders) SAG expenses, gas, oil, ride food, spare parts, water, etc, will be shared in equal parts by the number of participants. A quick example: Total gross gas receipts one way come to $250 (1,600 X 20mpg = 80 gals @ $3 = 240). That is split among the ten riders, or $25 each. Less expensive SAG would be hard to source, eh? 

Lastly, and here is the fun part, I set all this up for personal reasons. I am a videographer, having shot professionally around the world since 1989. I plan to use the media gathered along this spectacular route for a humble documentary. One in which you are the star. I figured that a great way to get actors for my doc is to take them along for the ride (almost) free. There I am: Now 100% transparent. 

That is the verbal sampling, transcribed. If all of this sounds like as much fun to you as it does to me, please let me know the nanosecond you are committed. 

2019 Epic Ride dates are August 3-24. I will arrange transportation to and from Sea-Tac for your arrival. Should you choose to ride a portion of the route, we will get you to a suitable drop-off location wherever logistically possible.

The only requirement, the one thing that every rider must bring to this once-in-a-lifetime event, is an attitude. And not just a good one, we need great ones!

Hope that answered your question. 

Cheers,

Kevin M. Lynch

2019 Epic Ride 

General Manager and Scout Master

206.379.3608

2019epicride@gmail.com

Poster and Jersey

Sample.