New Ride Supports Bicycling in Washington

The American Lung Association celebrates 30 years of cycling in Washington with its inaugural Ride Around The Sound event on September 15!  This fully-supported ride around the Puget Sound region features spectacular water and mountain views and beautiful scenery.  Ride length options vary from a 12-mile family ride all the way up to a full century, offering something for everyone!   The course winds from West Seattle to Southworth, ending with a ferry ride back to West Seattle for a finish line celebration!  Bicycle Alliance members can save $10 off the registration fee by using Discount Code “BAW”.  (Minimum fundraising/donations of $125 required to participate, but the ALA provides outstanding fundraising support!)

For every new rider who registers using the “BAW” Discount Code, a $5 donation will be made to the Bicycle Alliance of Washington! 

Ride Around The Sound

September 15, 2012

RideAroundTheSound.org

Bike Rides to Carry You Into the Fall

Labor Day may be approaching, but biking season is far from over!  These upcoming rides support the Bicycle Alliance’s work to grow safe, enjoyable bicycling in communities across the state:

Camp Korey’s Camp Challenge Ride on September 8 is a new ride.  With a start and end in Carnation, this ride takes you through scenic Snoqualmie Valley on a 25- or 64-mile loop.  This ride is a fundraiser for Camp Korey, a program that serves children with serious and life-altering medical conditions.  There is a gourmet BBQ at the end of the ride.

Ride the South Sound, also on September 8, is a new event organized by Capital Bicycling Club.  Routes vary from family-friendly to challenging.  This ride offers spectacular views of south Puget Sound, the farmlands and forests surrounding Olympia.

Cycle the WAVE returns on September 16.  This all women’s non-competitive ride has something for all levels of riders, and benefits domestic violence programs.  The ride starts and ends at Issaquah High School.

WaCanId begins on September 17 and is a fully supported six-day ride along the International Selkirk Loop.  You’ll pedal an incredible scenic byway through Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.  WaCanId starts and ends in Sandpoint, Idaho. This event is organized by the International Selkirk Loop and Rotary Clubs of the Selkirk Loop.

The Boneshaker Bicycle Festival, October 26 & 27, is another new event this year.  This is a fun-filled, family oriented, Halloween inspired celebration of all things bicycling and showcases the Skagit Valley.  The event includes organized bike rides, bike swap and expo, kid’s bike rodeo, music and entertainment, and more.

Our Ride Calendar is a unique list of events that support our mission to grow bicycling statewide.  When you sign up for one of these rides, you are supporting policies to promote bicycling, safer streets for riding, Safe Routes to School programs, and much more.

More Summer Rides that Support Growing Bicycling Statewide

Summer weather has finally arrived and bike riding season is in full swing!  These upcoming rides support the Bicycle Alliance's efforts to grow bicycling in Washington State:

Tour de Kitsap photo by Lee Derror.

Enjoy the scenery and backroads of Kitsap Peninsula by bicycle on Tour de Kitsap on July 29.  There are four routes ranging from moderately hilly to challenging, plus a Family Run Ride to choose from.  A post-ride rootbeer float and complimentary shower are available at the Silverdale Beach Hotel.  Thanks to West Sound Cycling Club for supporting us with this ride.

The Courage Classic, August 4-6, is a fundraiser for the Rotary Endowment for the Intervention and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. This three-day, 173-mile, fully supported tour travels over Snoqualmie, Blewett and Stevens Passes.  This is a bike tour, not a race, so take your time and enjoy the scenery, make new friends and take advantage of the Rotary Rider Rest Stops along the way.

RAPsody, Ride Around Puget Sound, is August 25-26.  This two-day ride offers 170 miles of rolling hills, plenty of Northwest scenery, and well-stocked food stops.  Organized by five Puget Sound bike clubs, all ride proceeds benefit the Bicycle Alliance.  Read an earlier post about this ride.

PROS photo by Louise Kornreich.

PROS, Perimeter Ride of Seattle, is September 3.  Water views and lofty hills dominate this ride as it covers 80 miles with 4200 feet of gain.  A PROS Lite route covers 60 miles with 2700 feet of gain.  Thanks to Cyclists of Greater Seattle for organizing this ride as a benefit for the Bicycle Alliance.

Ride the Oregon Coast September 9-14 on The People's Coast Classic.  This fully supported charity ride for the Arthritis Foundation features rugged coasts, secluded beaches, lighthouses, quaint towns and amazing viewpoints.  Can't spare an entire week?  There are two- and four-day ride options available.

Our Ride Calendar is a unique list of events that support our mission to grow bicycling statewide. When you sign up for one of these rides, you are supporting policies to promote bicycling, safer streets for riding, Safe Routes to School programs, and much more.

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!

Great June Bike Rides

Now that you’re in good riding shape from participating in your local Bike to Work events and the National Bike Challenge, it’s time to sign up for some June bike rides!  There are some wonderful June rides that support the Bicycle Alliance’s efforts to grow bicycling statewide.

You'll have an opportunity to ride with US National Team rider Logan Owen or Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent on Life Cyle - Bremerton ride on June 2.  The ride starts and finishes at Rotary Evergreen Park on the city's waterfront--easily accessed by the Seattle-Bremerton ferry.  The event includes a kid's bike rodeo and an after-ride meal.

Ann Weatherill Classic view. Photo by Wheatland Wheelers.

The Tacoma Wheelmen's Peninsula Metric Century on June 3 also showcases the beauty of the Kitsap Peninsula.  This challenging ride offers panoramic waterfront views, roads through the rural countryside, lots of rolling hills, and dessert at the finish line.

The Ann Weatherill Cycling Classic on June 16 is presented by the Wheatland Wheelers Cycling Club.  This eastern Washington ride highlights the beauty of the Walla Walla Valley, and treats riders to views of the Blue Mountains, wheat fields, and Walla Walla vineyards.  Entry includes a post-ride lunch.

Capital Bicycling Club's Two County Double Metric Century on June 24 takes riders on the less traveled roads of Lewis and Thurston Counties.  This ride offers five scenic routes ranging from 20 to 126 miles.

Over twenty event rides support growing bicycling statewide with a contribution to the Bicycle Alliance of Washington.  View our Ride Calendar for a complete listing.

North Cascades Highway Ciclovia

Open streets, a.k.a. ciclovias, are events that temporarily close streets to vehicle traffic so people can use them for biking, walking, playing and socializing.  These events are gaining traction nationally and, in Washington, the cities of Seattle and Spokane organize open streets events in the summer.

Last Sunday, Steve and I participated in a ciclovia of sorts.  We biked the scenic North Cascades Highway, which is currently closed to vehicle traffic until WSDOT crews clear it of winter snow.  The highway is closed from milepost 134, east of Diablo Lake, to milepost milepost 171, 14 miles west of Mazama in the winter.

 

In the spring, bicyclists have a window of opportunity to ride portions—sometimes all—of the closed highway before the road is opened to vehicle traffic.  (And yes, it is legal to bike this highway during its closure.)  Sunny skies, combined with a WSDOT report indicating that they hoped to reopen the North Cascades Highway late this week, convinced us to bike it on Sunday.

We pulled into the Diablo Lake overlook in time to watch a group of bike riders depart for a ride up the road.  We leisurely pedaled the couple of miles to the gated closure at milepost 134.  There were more cyclists readying themselves for a ride, and a couple of pedestrians too.  In total, we encountered 25 cyclists and two pedestrians taking advantage of the car-free highway.

The ride was amazing!  Lacking a steady procession of cars and RVs, I could enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the mountains.

We weren’t relegated to shoulder riding, but you should stay on your side of the road as you may encounter approaching cyclists, heavy equipment (except Friday-Sunday), or an occasional official vehicle.

We discovered that Bigfoot had been here!

We stopped at waterfalls along the way to quench our thirst.

We witnessed where avalanches had crossed the road.

 

We reached the end of our climb and the end of the snow plowing at Rainy Pass.

We hung out with other cyclists to take a break and check out the fancy snow removal equipment before facing the long descent back to the car.

There’s also an east side version of the North Cascades Highway ciclovia via Mazama, as posted on the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association’s Facebook page.

Before you head out, be sure to get the latest report from WSDOT and check the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center for current conditions.  The highway passes through avalanche terrain.

These April rides support a bicycle friendly Washington

Photo by Carla Gramlich

Spring has sprung and flowers are emerging from the earth in showy colors.  Why not enjoy the arrival of spring flowers with a couple of bike rides that celebrate daffodils and lilacs?

The 37^th Annual Daffodil Classic, organized by the Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club, is on April 15 and over 200 riders are registered so far.  This ride winds its way through the beautiful Orting valley and surrounding hills.  There are four routes to choose from—enough to please families, recreational riders, and serious roadies.  And there’s strawberry shortcake waiting for you at the finish line!

Inland Northwest cyclists welcome spring with the Lilac Century & Family Fun Ride on April 29.  Organized by the Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club, this 19-year ride offers a variety of fun, scenic and challenging tours for every level of rider.  There is also a tri-athlete’s bike/run “brick” option.  All participants can partake in the baked-potato feed at the finish.

The Daffodil and Lilac rides are not only great early season biking opportunities, they also support statewide bicycle safety education, Safe Routes to School programming, and complete streets efforts with a contribution to the Bicycle Alliance of Washington.  We all benefit when you sign up for these rides!

Over twenty event rides support our mission to grow bicycling statewide.  Check our Ride Calendar for other upcoming rides.