Hello Erik and everyone:

I rode much of the route Erik describes last Saturday, and I'd like to
offer a warning based on my experience: if there's any moisture in the
air, the top part of the descent on D-Line can be VERY slick.

On Saturday I participated in the Seattle International Randonneur's
200k populaire, which started at the Fish Tale Brewery and proceeded
up Courthouse Hill, Waddell, and then Bordeaux. It was raining lightly
as the lead group climbed Waddell (this was at about 6:30 am, if you
are wondering when it rained that hot day). I was dropped by the four
riders I was with as we cleared the top of the hill at Bordeaux, on
D-Line, but believed that as I'm a pretty brave--if not
skillful--descender and have a local's knowledge of the road I could
catch them on the long descent to Oakville.

As the road levelled and then pointed downward, I flicked into top
gear and began to build speed, and entered the first fast sweeper at
30+ miles per hour. I was alone and had good visibility so could pick
out the perfect line, and expected to exit at close to 38 mph. That's
not what happened. The surface, wetted by the light rain we had
experienced a half-hour before, was slick as ice, and both ends of my
bike lost traction at the same moment. I kept calm, maintained a
two-wheel drift for what felt like a long time, and thought I could
save it if I didn't run out of road. Instead, I hit the tarmac and
slid for about 20 feet.

As a result I lost a fair bit of skin, shredded some expensive new
shorts, and destroyed my best gloves. My bike was mostly undamaged,
however, and I wasn't really hurt. I ended up riding to Oakville and
withdrawing there from the ride, then riding to Rochester and home to
Olympia.

Discussing the incident later with Rick Greewalt, he told me that it's
pretty widely known that the top part of that ascent remains so wet
that there's moss growing on it much of the year. So take it easy on
the first few turns! The road surface soon changes and the fauna
becomes less obviously rainforest-like, and you can let loose (minding
the occasional random pothole).

All my best!

Kris Green

On 7/24/06, Erik <Lrng2sail@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Just a reminder that the heat is supposed to dissapate (some) by this
> comming Saturday!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!! 70-80's again will feel like a
> cold front from the heavens!
>
> Saturday- 7-29-06 Littlerock-Oakville and return, via (D-line) Capitol
> Forest route and then a relatively flat return to Littlerock.
>
> This is my backyard, so I'm happy to recomend this ride. If you
> haven't seen the capitol forest by bike, this is an oportunity you just
> can't miss. Shaded road, babbling brook, ok yes that does mean that
> there will be hills, but hey you get to descend on the other side!!!
>
> Hope to see you there!
> Cheers
> Erik
>
>