ONE OF THE SNOWIEST winters in recent memory drove bicyclists bonkers. Studded snow tires on the winter bike only help so much, and forget the indoor trainer. Yuck. But it’s now time to get on the bike and prepare for the summer. Whether for fun, competition, as a challenge to yourself (or all three), here’s a list of events that will put winter behind you and remind you why you love those two wheels. For more information on each ride, check the appropriate website.
SOLD OUT RIDES
SCENIC TOUR OF THE KOOTENAI RIVER (STOKR). May 10-11.http://www.libbymt.com/events/stokr.htm.
VALLEY GIRL TRIATHLON. July 13. or http://www.valleygirltri.com.
RIDE AROUND WASHINGTON (RAW). August 3 – 9. http://www.cascade.org/EandR/raw
RSVP. Ride from Seattle to Vancouver (B.C.) and Party! August 15 & 16 http://www.cascade.org
RIDES & EVENTS
APRIL
SPOKANE BICYCLE CLUB. Regular bike rides of varying lengths and intensity. Non-members welcome. New members more welcome. http://www.spokanebicycleclub.org.
BADLANDS CYCLING CLUB. Cyclists test their mettle with either a road race, time trial, circuit race or criterium nearly every Tuesday through August beginning April 15. One-day USCF licenses available.http://www.baddlands.org.
NORTHWEST CRANK. Join the Seattle International Randonneurs for five days of training in and around Wenatchee. Each day features supported rides over varied lengths and terrain. For more, join SIR’s scheduled brevets and maybe qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris. April 24-28.http://www.northwestcrank.com
ALE FEST BIKE RIDE. 25, 50 or 75 mile routes start at the Lake Wenatchee Recreation Club near Leavenworth. Cycle through the Wenatchee National Forest and along the Little Wenatchee River. Minimal climbing. April 26 http://www.alefestbikeride.com/
LILAC CENTURY SURPRISE. The Inland Northwest’s early season event offers a 15-mile family route plus half- and full-centuries; fully supported with “Famous Potato Feed!” at the end. Century winds through Spokane’s West Plains and along the Spokane River and Lake Spokane. April 27.http://www.northdivision.com/lilac.htm
MOUNTAIN BIKE ORIENTEERING. Solo or team competitors bike and navigate from control location to control location within a set time. April 27, May 18. http://www.spokanetrailquest.com/
MAY
BIKE TO WORK MONTH, WEEK & DAY. May has been Bike To Work month for more than 50 years. BTW Week kickoff at Riverfront Park, May 12 starting at 8:00 a.m. Celebrate the end of the week at the Steam Plant Grill at 5:30 p.m. on May 16. http://biketoworkspokane.org.
BEACON BLOWOUT WA STATE DOWNHILL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Beacon Hill/Camp Sekani, just off Upriver Drive. Beginner to Pro Categories. Qualify for Nationals or just have fun. Practice Saturday. Race Sunday. USA Cycling licenses required and available on-site. May 19 and 20. Email:spokes@bicyclebutler.com
STEAMPLANT GRILL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE SERIES. Races for all levels at Riverside State Park’s Seven Mile Airstrip.. May 21 and 29, June 5, 12, 19 and 26. USA Cycling licenses required and available on-site. First race on a Wednesday, all others on Thursdays. eric@milliseconds.com
TOUR OF THE SWAN RIVER VALLEY (TOSRV WEST). A two-day tour through spectacular western Montana scenery. Choose from the 110-mile a day Classic or 85-mile a day Potomac routes.. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided on Saturday; breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Food stops along the way. 300 rider limit. May 17-18. http://www.missoulabike.org.
24-HOUR NORBA NW 24-HOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS. Spend your Memorial Day weekend riding your mountain bike around and around the 12-mile route through Riverside State Park for 24 hours. Go it alone or with teammates. May 24-25. http://www.roundandround.com.
N.I.CHALLENGE SPRINT ADVENTURE RACE. Compete in teams of two or four, all working together through each leg of the route. Expect to bike, run, paddle and read. Route secret until race week. May 31. http://www.nic.edu/activities/pursuits/challengeweb
JUNE
LOREEN MILLER BIKE RIDE. This 15th anniversary event features 12, 50 and 100-mile routes. June 1 www.cancerpatientcare.org/loreen_miller.php
WENATCHEE SUNRISE ROTARY APPLE CENTURY. 50 or 100 mile routes along the Columbia River from Wenatchee to Lake Chelan and back to a festival with beer garden. Late starters may battle head-winds in each direction. June 7. http://www.applebikeride.com.
TOUR DE BLAST. Ride either 33, 67, or 82-miles through the heart of the Mount St. Helens blast zone and its incomparable scenery. Long route has 6,200 feet of climbing. June 21.http://www.tourdeblast.com.
RIDE AROUND THE PIONEERS IN ONE DAY (RATPOD). This 130-mile ride with 7,000 feet of climbing explores southwest Montana’s Big Hole Valley, birthplace of Astana Team rider Levi Leipheimer. Riders are encouraged to raise donations; prizes for top fundraisers. Limited to 500 riders. June 28. http://www.ratpod.com.
LIVESTRONG RIDE PORTLAND. The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s event raises money and awareness to fight cancer. Requires a minimum of $250 fundraising along with a registration fee. Ride as an individual or part of a team. Route options include 10, 40, 70 and 100-miles. Raise $3000 and attend a pre-ride appreciation dinner. Raise $10,000 and receive an invitation to the Ride for the Roses in Austin. June 29. http://www.livestrongride.org.
JULY
MIDNIGHT CENTURY. No fees, which means no support. Riders should have all necessary equipment to ride 100 miles at night. Begin at The Elk in Browne’s Addition, follow the Centennial Trail to Liberty Lake, then south through the Palouse. Some unpaved roads. July 19
TOUR OF PAIN. The Inland Northwest’s only double century (200 miles!) circumnavigates Lake Coeur d’Alene via Spokane, Cheney, Spangle, Harrison, Cataldo, and Harrison (again). Finish at Coeur d’Alene Brewing Company with beer, bands and food. Finishers receive embroidered vest. Some dirt roads. July 12 http://www.cdabrewing.com/tourofpain.html
SEATTLE TO PORTLAND (STP). 9000 cyclists-more than 2000 of whom will ride the course in one day-annually trek the 200 miles between Seattle and Portland. Forty-four states and several foreign nations represented in 2007. One and two-day options with baggage transport and limited overnight accommodations. July 12 – 13. http://www.cascade.org
RIDE AROUND MT. RAINIER IN ONE DAY (RAMROD). 25th anniversary of what may be the Northwest’s premiere one-day cycling event. RAMROD combines the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park with 10,000 feet of climbing over 154 miles. Participation limited to 800 cyclists selected via lottery on April 1. Register by March 31. Ride July 31. http://www.redmondcyclingclub.org/RAMROD.
AUGUST
EIGHT LAKES LEG ACHES. 30, 50 and 80 mile routes take riders to and around some or all of the following lakes around Cheney/Spokane area: Willow, Granite, Silver, Medical, Clear, Chapel, Kepple and Fish Lakes. Raise $175 for Lutheran Community Services Sexual Assault Center and receive a long-sleeved commemorative jersey. August 2. http://www.lcsnw.org/events.
REDLINE CHAMPIONSHIPS CUP QUALIFIER. American Bicycle Association BMX racing. August 2http://www.northidahobmx.com/
Silveroxx Downhill Mountain Bike Festival. Preceded by Sunday Race Series on June 8 and 22, July 27, August 10 and 28. Festival on September 6 & 7. www.silvermt.com
SEPTEMBER
SPOKEFEST. This inaugural event offers a family ride of one-mile through the Riverfront Park and a 21-mile jaunt through Riverside State Park. Music and vendors will greet finishers in front of City Hall. September 7. http://spokefest.org .
TOUR DE LACS. A two-day journey from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene and back with routes ranging from 40 to 122 miles. Some routes include boat ride from Harrison to Coeur d’Alene. Baggage transport provided. September 20-21. http://www.roundandround.com.
DAM2DAM. 25, 50 or 100 miles rides between the Rocky Reach and Wells Dams; begin and end at Lincoln Rock State Park. September 27 http://www.mikeutley.org/events.html
OCTOBER
Inland NW Cyclecross series. Races begin in early October through mid-November. Races rotate between Spokane, Pullman, Walla Walla and Athol. First race October 4. http://www.emdesports.com
