RAPSody: Early Discount Ends July 15

In a month and a half, hundreds of bicyclists will ride around the Puget Sound, following a meandering course on paved trails and back roads, over the water and through the mountains, in a scenic weekend ride broken up by delicious snacks and beautiful rest stops along the way. The 9th annual RAPSody, a 170-mile overnight bike ride hosted by five Puget Sound bike clubs, is taking place August 25th-26th and is open for registration at a discounted early bird rate through July 15th.

If the event description alone doesn’t convince you that this is something you want to be a part of, consider the fact that proceeds from the event benefits you!  Proceeds from RAPSody support the Bicycle Alliance's statewide advocacy and education efforts. And, just for being one of our members, you can receive an additional $10 discount on top of the reduced early bird rate.

For further details about the route, logistics, food offerings, and training tips and to register online, visit the RAPSody website, or, if you still need convincing, look back at our previous blog post showcasing the ride.

RAPSody has enjoyed eight extremely successful rides to date and has provided an idyllic and challenging weekend adventure for thousands of bicyclists over the years, and, if you register as a Bicycle Alliance member before July 15th, you get to take part in the experience for just $75. Join us and other riders from all over Washington State and ride around the Puget Sound!

A tip of the helmet to the five bike clubs that organize RAPSody:  BIKES Club of Snohomish County, Capital Bicycling Club, Cyclists of Greater Seattle, Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club, and West Sound Cycling Club. 

RAPSody: A Ride for Bicyclists and Bicycling

Kristin Kinnamon is today's guest blogger.  A resident of Marysville, Kristin is a former Bicycle Alliance board member and a current member of the RAPSody planning team.

The Ride Around Puget Sound  is like many bicycle events around the country. There are tasty food stops, a carefully marked and well-considered course, and friendly locals happy to have you visit on two wheels.

What sets RAPSody apart from some events, however, is that this is a bike ride that raises money for bicycling - not for cancer or animals or Dream Dinners (I kid you not), although most of those worthy causes I happily support when not on my bike.

However, when riding I like to support safe streets, bicycle education, advocacy in Olympia. It just seems a fitting way to "walk the talk," so to speak. Many bike club event rides support cycling. 

RAPSody is organized by five bike clubs on behalf of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington:  BIKES of Snohomish County, Capital Bicycling Club, Cyclists of Greater Seattle, Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club, and West Sound Cycling Club. Such cooperation across clubs is unique, and it demonstrates how the Bicycle Alliance often brings people together. RAPSody organizers are from Thurston, Pierce, Kitsap, King and Snohomish counties.

This is our 9th year, and we're getting pretty good at this. It doesn't hurt to have beautiful Northwest roads and trails as part of the route, and great community partners like the Port of Allyn  (where we have a beautiful rest stop) and SOCK, which hosts meals at our Shelton overnight.

If you want a challenging but friendly event to finish off your summer, consider riding 170 miles on behalf of bicycling.  Register by July 15 to receive the early bird discount.  Bicycle Alliance members receive an additional $10 discount!

Make Your Pedaling Worth More: Rides that support statewide bicycle advocacy and education

Photo by Carla Gramlich

It’s the middle of August, Labor Day is just around the corner, and there are still some great bike rides coming up!  If you want to get the biggest bang for your pedal power, sign up for one or more these rides.  They support the statewide advocacy and education work that the Bicycle Alliance does, so not only will you be getting a healthy workout but you’ll also support a safer and friendlier biking environment.

RAPSody – Ride Around Puget Soundon August 27-28.  With 170 miles of rolling hills, RAPSody is challenging fun.  Organized by BIKES of Snohomish County, Capital Bicycling Club, Cyclists of Greater Seattle, Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club and West Sound Cycling Club, all proceeds from this ride benefit the Bicycle Alliance of Washington.  Registration closes this Friday, August 19.

 

PROS –Perimeter Ride of Seattle on September 5.  PROS offers a challenging and scenic course with lots of hills and views.  The full route is 80 miles with 4500’ of gain, and a shorter 56-mile option is available.  Organized by the Cyclists of Greater Seattle and all donations benefit the Bicycle Alliance..

People’s Coast Classic, September 11-16.  This 6-day event is a benefit for the Arthritis Foundation and travels along the scenic coast of Oregon.  This tour averages 50-70 miles each day, with rest stops and activities along the way.

Cycle the WAVE on September 18.  This event ride is  non-competitive and for women only.  All riding levels welcome, from the 25-mile Girly Girl to the 62-mile metric century with lots of climbs.  The ride starts and ends in Issaquah and benefits domestic violence programs.

WaCanId (International Selkirk Loop) Ride, September 20-24.  This scenic 5-day ride is fully supported and benefits 7 local rotary clubs.  The ride traverses around and through the acclaimed International Selkirk Loop route through Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.  Ride is limited to 150 riders starting in two locations (Sandpoint, ID or Nelson, BC).

Got Time? Volunteer Opportunities with the Bicycle Alliance

Help us spread the bicycle love to others!  The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is looking for volunteers to help with a variety of program and operational assignments.

Tabling at an event.

We need some friendly and outgoing volunteers to staff tables for us at the following events.  Contact LouiseMcGrody if you’d like to help out.

• RAPSody (Ride AroundPuget Sound): August 28, 11am-2pm in Tacoma.  This fabulous ride is organized by five bike clubs and all proceeds are donated to the Bicycle Alliance.  We need a couple of volunteers to staff a table for us at the finish line in Tacoma to welcome the riders and hand out information.

• PROS (Perimeter Ride ofSeattle): September 5.  We need a volunteer with a vehicle to hand out snacks and water at a rest stop in Tukwila, probably around 11am – 2pm.  PROS is organized by the Cyclists of Greater Seattle and they’re asking riders to make a donation to the Bicycle Alliance.

• Cycle the WAVE:  September 18, 11:30am – 3:30pm in Issaquah.  The Bicycle Alliance will have a table at the finish line of this women-only ride and we need a couple of friendly folks to greet riders and talk to them about the Bicycle Alliance.

Our Safe Routes to School program has the following volunteer needs in the south King County area.  Contact John Vander Sluis if you’re interested in any of these assignments.

Drivers with pickup trucks:

The Bicycle Alliance is looking for a pickup truck and driver with some flexibility this fall to move our Safe Routes to School bikes and trailer between school districts in south King County.  Ideally, we need a truck(s) with a 2 5/16” ball mount already installed.  Otherwise, we need a truck that at least has a receiver hitch already installed, and we provide the ball mount and ball.

Maintenance:

The Bicycle Alliance is looking for volunteers to help prepare our Safe Routes to School fleet for the fall. The work party will take place during the day on September 8, time TBD. Volunteers need not be skilled mechanics – there will be plenty of chain-lubing, brake testing, and tire pumping for all!

Mechanics:

The Bicycle Alliance is looking for volunteers to support safe routes to school programs by providing basic bike repair at school events. Volunteers should be able to change a tire and adjust brakes and transmissions.  Dates and times vary.

Two more opportunities with Safe Routes to School—contact Seth Schromen-Wawrin if you’re interested in these:

• Need some creative folks to make signs that will be used for Safe Routes to School trainings.  Will probably schedule a work party in late August to build these.  Contact Seth for more details.

• Have you been involved with a Safe Routes to School project in Washington State?  We’re looking for individuals willing to write a letter to the editor in support of your local program and Safe Routes in general.  Contact Seth for more information.

Auction 

We need volunteers for all kinds of tasks at our annual auction on October 22 in Seattle.  This is our primary fundraising event and loads of fun!  Contact Matt Lyman if you’d like to give us a hand.

Be a guest blogger

Work party.

Passionate about a particular bike issue?  Want to share your joy of bicycling with others?  Submit a guest blog post to the Bicycle Alliance blog!  Contact LouiseMcGrody with your story idea.

Monthly work parties

Help us with our monthly mailings and other administrative tasks at the monthly work parties at our Pioneer Square office in Seattle.  The next work party is August 25.  Contact Jay Steingold for more information.

Broaden Your Horizon on Northwest Rides

Today's post was written by guest blogger Kristin Kinnamon of Marysville.  Kristin is a member of the RAPSody organizing committee, BIKES of Snohomish County and the Bicycle Alliance. 

Photo by Carla Gramlich

Not all people who ride bicycles consider themselves bicyclists. Not all bicyclists participate in bicycle events. Yet it seems everyone who sees me on a bike asks, “Did you do the STP?”

Yes, I have ridden the Seattle to Portland, and it is indeed the quintessential Northwest bicycle ride. But just as I only read even the best books only once, I have moved on from STP to enjoy the many other wonderful bicycle events hosted around the state.

Bicycle events provide a festive atmosphere, food stops, safety in numbers (from cars – but watch out for fellow riders!) and a chance to ride somewhere you’ve never been on routes organized by people who have your enjoyment in mind. In addition to the social aspect of events, there’s also a degree of competition – whether it’s against your own limits (can I ride 100 miles in a day?) or to catch up with that person in the pink jersey or pull the peloton up the next hill.

Bicycle events are organized to raise money for children’s charities (Courage Classic and 8 Lakes Leg Aches), to support local bicycle clubs (TRYBR by Capital Bicycling Club, Tour de Kitsap by West Sound Cycling Club) and, appropriately enough, as a fundraiser for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (Ride Around Pugest Sound -RAPSody).

Bicycle events – like parades, car rallies, and certain family vacations – rely on free and safe access to public roads. The Bicycle Alliance maintains essential relationships with the Washington State Department of Transportation, our state legislature and local jurisdictions to ensure we all can ride on public roads and highways – whether by ones, twos or occasionally twenties.

If you’ve done STP this year, 10 times, or never, I encourage you to consider riding some of the other events that bring bicyclists – and people who ride bicycles – together for summer fun. And eat a bagel for me.

Check the Bicycle Alliance ride calendar to see all rides that support our advocacy and education efforts.