Chilly Hilly rider recap: who’s that frog?!

Spring is officially here, and you know what that means: those chilly breezes and Bainbridge hills are once again behind us. As we build momentum toward the 2016 event season with Chilly Hilly under our belts, we wondered: who were the brave, chilled-to-the-bone riders behind those bib numbers? So we talked to a few people that we knew we could count on to ride this year: the graduate students and faculty from IslandWood. 

IslandWood is a nonprofit outdoor learning center on Bainbridge Island. Through a partnership with the University of Washington, graduate students complete outdoor teaching residencies there while earning master of education degrees. Pretty cool, right? Small world—it also happens to be where Cascade School-based Program Manager Clarissa Allen and I both did our graduate work in education (so we're quite partial to the good folks there).

So without further ado, here are a few gems we learned about this year’s IslandWood riders:

The Chilly Hilly is a serious workout. What made you decide to tackle such a chilly challenge? 

I do not have a car so I bike everywhere. When I first arrived from Davis, Calif., riding was tough and running was even harder. Just about every ride around Bainbridge could be considered a hilly workout. But after about a month or two of exploring the island and allowing my body and mind time to adjust, now I think that riding anyplace else is super flat! –Travis Schultz, IslandWood graduate student

Was this your first Chilly Hilly? Or are you a seasoned pro?

Seasoned. I think this must have been my eighth or ninth. –Clancy Wolf, IslandWood faculty 

(Way to go, Clancy!)

Well hey, congrats on a great accomplishment. What's the first thing you did after the ride? Did you reward yourself?

Thanks for the kind words. First I got some super yummy hot cocoa! I saw a few other members of the group finish and then I rode back to IslandWood, but not before re-riding part of the course. More miles more fun! –Travis Schultz, IslandWood graduate student

After the ride, the first thing I did was put on the giant overstuffed down jacket that I left in my car—luxurious after being buffeted by wind and rain. –Ray Cramer, IslandWood faculty

What will you write home about? Any shining star moments? Things you'd like to forget?

My father also bikes a couple thousand miles a year, and he was keen to hear about my first big organized bike ride in the PNW. I enjoyed riding with old friends and making new friends along the way. It’s always better to suffer together. Now that I’ve completed the Chilly Hilly, I’m looking forward to more fun ride this coming summer—perhaps even an attempt at the famed STP! –Travis Schultz, IslandWood graduate student 

This year had its share of rain and wind, but that also made it fun. I could have done without the headwind around Point White, but it sure was beautiful. –Clancy Wolf, IslandWood faculty

Interesting things I saw included a woman towing her small dog, a kid fast asleep on a seat behind dad, and a Puyallup bike police officer in full gear! –Ray Cramer, IslandWood faculty

Islandwood-ers love to debrief and reflect. Did you learn anything about yourself? Your colleagues? Your bike?

Before coming to the PNW, I thought fenders were useless and made your bike look horrendously ugly. This mindset stayed for about a month, and then I was defeated in November and broke down…I still think they are ugly…But they sure do make riding in the rain heaps better! –Travis Schultz, IslandWood graduate student

I got to know several of the students on a more personal basis—just riding and talking, encouraging each other through the steepest points. –Clancy Wolf, IslandWood faculty

Anything else you want to share?

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Thanks to all the volunteers and people who made the event possible. I would also like to give a shoutout to everyone at the Battle Point Park aid station. Those brownies and PB&Js, along with as much Nuun as I could drink, really made the last 20 miles a breeze! –Travis Schultz, IslandWood graduate student

It’s a fun way to get to know each other at another level. Sharing an experience like that (one that I hesitate to say is challenging) provides opportunities to bond. That shared experience that others might consider daunting, or stupid, or whatever—it doesn’t matter what they call it—we did it together. –Clancy Wolf, IslandWood faculty

We asked Clancy one more thing...

By the way, we’ve seen a curious frog riding around Bainbridge in years past. Fill me in, would ya?

WaqWaq started as a team mascot many years ago. Someone had an old trail-a-bike sitting about and too much time on their hands. WaqWaq, by the way, is the Lushootseed word for “treefrog.”

Sounds like quite the accomplished athlete. How many times has he ridden Chilly Hilly?

WaqWaq didn’t ride this year, but he has ridden seven times.

(Way to go, WaqWaq!)

Any particularly memorable moments for WaqWaq throughout the years?

About five years ago, someone gave him some nice knees and locked the freewheel in back, so he actually pedaled throughout the ride. It was really fun, but he acted like a governor and kept his co-rider down to about 9 miles per hour. That lasted only through Bay Hay! What’s most memorable are all the frog and toad jokes. Some tandem jokes, too: “Hey, your stoker is coasting!”

What's the hardest part for Waq Waq about being strapped to a bike for 33 miles? Or having a frog strapped TO your bike for 33 miles? 

Everyone loves making some comment—and it’s all in good fun (whether they are passing or being passed!). I ride some of the steepest hills all year around as part of my daily commute, so it’s not too much of a challenge to bring him along. I feel sorry for those who are tuckered out when they get passed by the silly frog!