In 4th grade, when I first learned about the Chaski runners that ran long distances to carry communications within the Incan empire, I marveled at their ability to run 50 miles or more in the mountains.  I can still remember staring at the pictures in my social studies book, wondering how it was possible.

Since that time, I've been drawn to endurance events and strive to set challenging physical goals and to meet them.  This website is dedicated to my modest efforts to explore my own limits.


I'm in the process of migrating content over from a prior Dreamweaver-based site, a part-time effort at best, so please excuse the gaps until the website gets fleshed out.

Jeff Maurer

Woke up at 5am (not on purpose) on the 4th and decided to ride from Sandy, OR up to the summit of Lolo Pass and back.  About 75 miles and 8500' of elevation.  Rode Bluff Road to Dodge Park on the Sandy River, then up Ten Eyck, Shipley and Marmot Rd to E. Lolo Pass.  Wonderful route that totally avoids the crush of Hwy 26 and sees little traffic.  Not hard to daydream what it must've been like for the pioneers traveling over the Barlow Trail.  ...well, except for the doppleganger transmission towers that span the ride over Lolo Pass.  Saw deer in velvet, cottontail bunnies, osprey, hummingbirds, goldfinches and more.  Some wonderful little waterfalls along the way that I'd missed prior.


Broke all the rules: riding alone, on a major holiday, new saddle and forgot my toolkit.  Rode with caution and a gnawing sense of foreboding but returned home without incident.

Flat and fast 40km course in Peoria, southwest of Corvallis, OR.  1:07:29 over the 24.8 mile course.  Definite tailwind on the southbound leg of this out and back course.  I hit the turnaround in about 32 mins, momentarily thrilled with my time but quickly realized that the slight headwind on the way back would exact a toll.  Some serious competition that left me wondering how many of these guys with skinsuits, aero helmets and TT bikes should really be running CAT 5!


Torque?  Yeah, I'll find some in there somewhere.  Remind me not to start in 15th gear next time.

Two options for this time trial, 12 hr and 24 hr.  The race starts with a 140 mile/7500' elev loop from Vancouver, WA to Stevenson, WA, up the Wind River gorge and over Old Man Pass, then back along the lakes to Amboy, WA, eventually returning to Vancouver.  Upon returning to Vancouver, riders make as many loops of a 10 mile course as possible prior to the time limit.

I chose the 12 hr - the longest distance I'd done in 2010 was about 65 miles, so I decided to be conservative.  It rained much of the way up and over the pass.  Gorgeous ride but not really ample shoulder in the Wind River area - a bit puckering at times.  That said, traffic was light and congenial for the most part given the holiday weekend.  I arrived back at the start with approx 10 hours elapsed.  Not bad considering my conservative pace, the weather and the pass.


I took time to change shirts and lube my chain.  I had legs for several 10 mile loops but only had time for two - a total of 160 miles.  In hindsight, I should've managed my time more carefully and could've squeaked out one or two additional 10 mile loops easy.  Next year.


Overall, a challenging, well run event.  The 24 hour would be an amazing spectacle.

27:16 over the 10 mile out and back course near Vancouver Lake.  Flat, fast and a fun/homey atmosphere.  Reasonably pleased with the 22 mph ave, but clearly a lot of potential for improvement.

Eye-shatteringly beautiful 20 mile out and back TT along the Upper Clackamas River above Estacada.  I rode a 59:19 on #1 and a 57:54 on #2.

12 mile time trial series over three consecutive weekends.   Gorgeous course SW of McMinnville over twisty, hilly farm roads.  My first event of the 2010 season.  I rode a 35.26 (about 20.5 mph ave) in Men's Cat 4/5.  A decent effort considering I've probably only ridden a couple times since last year's Vineman (embarrassing, yes, although I've done a lot of spinning in that time).  This is great prep for the Estacada TT series on the upper Clackamas River starting in April.