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PDX Dream Team - Kind Women, Trans & Nonbinary Cyclists
Meet the PDX Dream Team, a Pacific Northwest based cycling team! The Dream Team is a woman-owned team of eight strong, kind women, trans and nonbinary cyclists. The Dream Team riders strive to be friendly, welcoming ambassadors of the sport of bike racing and to create a more inclusive environment for people of varying identities. The riders, management, and sponsors hope to reduce barriers to racing for marginalized individuals and to make cycling a more accessible, approachable sport. We here at the Earthbox Inn & Spa and the Bird Rock Hotel are proud sponsors of the Dream Team and are delighted to serve as home-base for riders during the March training camp.
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On March 10th, all eight riders and their bicycles made the trip from Portland, Oregon to Anacortes, Washington loaded into three cars. The riders left two vehicles at the ferry terminal in Anacortes, and walked on with their bicycles (and drove one car full of jerseys, vests, and lots and lots of ride snacks!). Parking at the ferry landing and taking bikes across is super easy and a great way to save some money for wine tasting!
The team stayed at Earthbox Inn, in three Earth Places and one Sea Place because cyclists are HUNGRY, and the Sea Place has a kitchen where the riders cooked most of their meals.
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The team's first ride was on a Saturday, and most of the riders left their thermal layers and rain gear in their rooms for a three hour ride around the island, starting with a lap around Pear Point Road followed by a lap of the entire island including a photoshoot. Sunny days are rare in other places in the PNW in early March, but as the team meteorologist explained on the ferry, the San Juans are in a rain shadow, protected by the Cascade Mountain Range, meaning it is waaaaaay more likely to be sunny in Friday Harbor than Portland.
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After the first ride, riders put on their street clothes and hopped on their bikes to head to San Juan Vineyards for an afternoon of wine tasting. The Vineyard is only about a 10-20 minute ride from downtown Friday Harbor and has a beautiful tasting room nestled into rows and rows of grapes with some unique artwork and tasty wines (we liked the Siegerrebe the best).
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Back in Friday Harbor the riders went to Downriggers on then waterfront for dinner. The chicken gorgonzola may be the local favorite on the menu, but with all the hungry cyclists, almost the whole menu ended up on the table, including cheesecake for dessert!
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Day two was rainy and cold but that did not stop the Dream Team from enjoying another day in the saddle. Even in the rain, the west side of the island is spectacularly beautiful, and tree cover provides some shelter on other parts of the island.
After a cold wet ride, the hot tub and sauna at Earthbox made getting toasty nice and easy after the ride.
The following morning everyone was equal parts groggy and sad, waking up for an early ferry and long drive home.
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