Le Tour De Spokane More Than 250 Riders Turn Out For Food, Fun And Exercise In Race That Lasts Up To 100 Miles

They probably could have ridden longer, if it weren’t for the dreaded disease that struck on the last hill.

Paul and Christy Dungan of Spokane rode a tandem bike about 60 miles Sunday morning as part of the 11th annual Le Tour de Spokane. They hit speeds of up to 43 mph on the trek, which looped from Riverfront Park out to Cheney.

The last hill was the worst.

“You’ve got butt-itis by then,” said Christy Dungan, who rode on the rear seat. “It’s when you’ve been in the saddle too long.”

The ride offered something for everyone with a bike - routes of about 15 miles, 30 miles, 62 miles and 100 miles.

At least 250 people showed up at 9 a.m. for the event, said Shannon Perez, outreach coordinator at Recreational Equipment Inc. REI and Arrivee Cycling Club sponsored the ride, which benefits Arrivee.

Along the route, participants could stop for drinks and food. The Cheney rest stop offered up fruit, bagels, a gourmet shrimp pasta salad and cookies. The ride ended at REI, where fruit, bagels and Gatorade were served.

“They get treated really well,” Perez said. “We try to pamper them with really good food.”

That’s what Rusel Hause said. Hause, who lives near Seattle, drove to Spokane and rode 64.9 miles with his son Sunday. They averaged 13.8 miles an hour.

They know the specifics because they’re all logged in a timer on Rusel Hause’s bike.

“I went slower than my usual form,” Mike Hause said.

“We’re in for the distance, not the speed,” Rusel Hause countered.

After the ride, they planned to ride their bikes from REI to their car, near Riverfront Park.

Brian Cox had a different cooldown in mind - a 40-mile bike ride. He had planned to ride the 100-mile route, but his bike wasn’t really into it.

First, many miles into the ride, his bike’s rear tire went flat. Cox used his spare tube. About 15 minutes later, that tube blew. Cox waited on the side of the road until somebody he knew rode by. He borrowed a patching kit, fixed his rear tire and finished 66 miles.

At REI, Cox restocked his supplies and planned to head out for another 40 miles.

“It’s just a beautiful day,” Cox said. “What else would I want to do?”

Lisa Brewer had one idea. She rode 62 miles in five hours and 42 minutes, with plenty of stops along the way. Her knees were killing her.

“I get to go home and take a shower,” she said. “That’s one good thing.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo