City of Enumclaw Public Works Director Chris Searcy is taking July 29 off.
While taking a day away from the office isn’t unusual for employees, most aren’t spending their time away riding a bicycle around Mount Rainier.
Searcy will be joining nearly 800 other bicyclists in the Redmond Cycling Club’s 27th annual RAMROD – Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day. The ultra-cycling marathon is the Pacific Northwest’s equivalent of a Tour de France stage. The challenging course features 10,000 feet of climbing over 154 miles, starting and ending in Enumclaw.
“It such beautiful route, right in our back yard,” Searcy said. “I thought it’s a great opportunity, and I’m not getting any younger. Why wait?”
Searcy rode recreationally in high school and college. Two years ago, he upgraded his equipment. After putting 3,000 miles on his new Italian ride he decided he liked it. In September, he ventured out a bit more, pedaling in a century ride, 100 miles. He decided to toss his hat into the RAMROD lottery and was pleasantly surprised when his number came up.
He’s ready for the physical challenge of the mountain run and hopes to finish in 10 hours or less of riding time.
The ride starts in Enumclaw at elevation 720 feet and winds downhill to Orting at 300 feet. For the next 40 miles the course wanders through Eatonville, Elbe and Ashford and into the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.
The only section he isn’t familiar with is the section between Eatonville and Paradise that includes a 12-mile ascent from Longmire to Paradise at 5,420 feet.
Searcy said the next 12-mile stretch through Stevens Canyon and Backbone Ridge can have some rough road, and even though Cayuse Pass comes up 100 miles into the day, he’s comfortable with that part of the ride. During practice runs, he can reach climbing speeds up Cayuse of about 9.5 mph, coming down, about 40 mph.
From there it’s a rapid descent past Mud Mountain Dam and into Enumclaw.
“The big challenge will be pacing myself,” Searcy said. “I’m used to going out 40 minutes at lunch and going hard and fast.”
Searcy said the Plateau is a great place to ride.
“It’s so close,” he said of the RAMROD. “And it’s something you enjoy doing. It’s hard to just watch.
“I’m hoping for good weather and I’m hoping to feel good at the end.”
