2011 bicycling events

The pedaling season is shifting into high as organizers gear up for mass bicycle tours throughout the Northwest. Most of these tours are fundraisers that feature great food, with cyclists happily donating to charitable causes in return for the pampering of a well-oiled event. While quotas are reached and registration is closed for some of the region’s most popular tours, many quality bike events are still open to registration. Top events in the region are listed below. Costs are included unless the ride has a range of fees or offers discounts for youths or families.

Organized rides

RAMROD, the Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day, July 28: a challenging 152 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing for 800 cyclists. Applications are accepted through March 31 for the lottery to determine participants. Cost: $105. Drawing is April 12. Skagit Spring Classic May 7: Skagit bicycle club’s 21st event includes routes of 25, 45, 61 and 100 miles between Burlington and Bellingham. Cost: $35. Lilac Century and Family Fun Ride, May 15: Ride 15, 25, 50, 66 or 100 miles starting at Spokane Falls Community College, with food stops. Sponsored by Aurora Northwest Rotary. Email: sanwrc@gmail.com. Inland Empire Century, May 21: 25-, 50-, 75- or 100-mile routes through orchards, vineyards and farm fields in the lower Yakima-Columbia river valleys, sponsored by Kiwanis and Group Health. $35. Bike to Work Week, May 15-21: About 1,500 cyclists participate in Spokane’s bike commuting event, which includes free food, celebrations, clinics and more. Ride of Silence in Spokane Valley, May 18: One more than 130 rides around the nation to commemorate cyclists killed in traffic. Loosely organized, it starts at 7 p.m. and runs 3 miles. Starting location not determined. Go to website for details. TOSRV-West, the Tour of the Swan River Valley based in Missoula – May 21-22: Two-day ride, maximum 300 riders, covering either 85 or 110 miles each way. Cost: $105. Century Ride of the Centuries, May 27-30: Three days of supported riding and meals with new route options each day through Eastern Oregon farmlands near Pendleton and Blue Mountains. Limited to 250 riders. Cost: $195. 7 Hills of Kirkland, May 30: A 40-mile “seven hills route” or a 62-mile metric century from urban to rural roads on a low-traffic holiday, supported with food by Kirkland Rotary. Cost: $30. Apple Century by Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary, June 4: Ride 50 or 100 miles starting from Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee; about 900 riders. Cost: $60. CHaFE 150 Bike Ride, June 4: a 147-mile loop with five food stops from Sandpoint, through Troy and Bonners Ferry and back (or choose the shorter 80-miler), benefits Panhandle Alliance for Education. Limited to 300 riders. Cost: $120. 3 Rivers Race, June 4: Ride 69- or 100-mile routes based in La Grande., Ore., through Grande Ronde Valley, benefits fight against domestic violence. Cost: $75 minimum pledge. Flying Wheels Summer Century, June 11: Ride rural Puget Sound routes of 24, 45, 70 or 100 miles in what’s billed by the sponsoring Cascade Bicycle Club as the largest century in Washington. Cost; $35. Ann Weatherill Cycling Classic, June 18: Ride 30-, 66- or 100-mile routes from Walla Walla’s Pioneer Park, includes food stop and post-ride wine and buffet. Benefits cycling safety. Cost: $45. I Made the Grade out of Chief Timothy Park near Clarkston, June 18: The 31st annual 18-mile ride that climbs 2,000 feet up the Lewiston Grade via the Old Spiral Highway, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church. $20. Tour de Blast, June 18: attracts 1,400 riders to national monument roads in the Mount St. Helens volcanic blast zone. Routes cover 33, 54 or 82 miles, with the longest one tackling 6,240 in elevation gain to fantastic views. Cost: $55. NIC Challenge Sprint Adventure, June 18: Teams bike, run, paddle and navigate through route that remains secret until race day. Double Divide Ride by Helena Bicycle Club, June 18-29: Cycling 139 miles in two days crossing the Continental Divide twice, (83 miles the first day, 56 miles the second) through rolling hills, tranquil valleys and challenging mountain passes. Loreen Miller Bike Ride, June 19: with 12-, 50- and 100-mile courses based out of Mt. Spokane High School. Benefits cancer patient care. Ride the Wall, June 21: About 150 riders of all ages celebrate the summer equinox in this 13-mile evening ride along the Coeur d’Alene River, followed by a barbecue. Benefits Habitat for Humanity. Spokane Summer Parkways, South Hill Route, June 22: Designed for families to ride streets free of motor vehicles, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. South Hill route joins Manito and Comstock parks with Hart Field. Chelan Century Challenge, June 25: Join 500 riders on up to thre loops, ranging from 35-40 miles each past vineyards. Do the entire century ride and bag 8,606 vertical feet of elevation gain. Cost: $52/$37. Native Planet Classic June 25: Ride 63 or 128 miles from Winthrop to Ross Lake with up to 10,000 feet of climbing. Bite the Bullet Tour, June 26: From Lapwai, Idaho, near Lewiston, a loosely organized tour by Twin Rivers Cyclists; semi-supported 68-mile ride with challenging climbs on the Winchester Grade. Northwest Tandem Rally, Pedalin’ the Palouse, July 1-4: The 26th annual rally for tandems (and other bikes) will tour the byways and wheat fields south of Spokane to Cheney, Spangle and Waverly and more. BlueCruise Ride, scheduled July 10 on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes out of Coeur d’Alene last year, but not yet scheduled for 2011. Seattle to Portland (STP), July 9-10: (May be FULL) Ride 200 miles, fully supported. The largest of the region’s cycling events with up to 10,000 riders, sponsored by Group Health. Tight schedule? You can ride all 200 miles in one day. One Helena Hundred by Helena Bicycle Club, July 16: Ride 63 miles along the Missouri River from Cascade to Wolf creek and back. $50. 50 Miles at the Pass, July 23: innaugural event at 4th of July Pass east of Coeur d’Alene. Gran Fondo format includes routes of 10, 17,35 and 50 miles. Benefit for Lake City Trailbuilder’s Association. Info: (208) 667-8969. Spokane Summer Parkways, North Side Route, July 24: Designed for families to ride streets free of motor vehicles, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. North Side route runs from Clark Playfield to Franklin Park. Eight Lakes Bike Ride, Aug. 6: Ride 15-, 30-, 45-, and 75-mile routes, starting from Spokane’s South Hill and out around lakes in Spokane County with about 600 riders to benefit Sexual Assault and Family Trauma Response Center. Cost: $40. Call: (509) 343-5020. Courage Classic, by Multicare Hospital, Aug. 6-8: Ride 172 miles in three days over three mountain passes — Stevens, Blewett, Snoqualmie. $500 in pledges minimum. Le Tour de Koocanusa, based in Libby, Mont., Aug. 13 — 81 miles along the shoreline of Lake Koocanusa, the first year for this event by the David Thompson Search and Rescue. Coincides with the annual Riverfront Blues Festival. Spokane Summer Parkways, Northwest Route, Aug. 14: Designed for families to ride streets free of motor vehicles, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Northwest route runs from Audubon to Dwight Merkel-Joe Albi Stadium area. Tour de Lentil metric century, Aug. 20: has three pit stops through the rolling Palouse hills based out of Pullman. Cost: $20. Three Rivers Century based out of Bozeman, Aug. 27: Ride 33, 63 or 100 miles by the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers in this annual event by Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club. Great Northwest Fall Tour , Sept. 4: Ride 15, 30, 50 or 85-mile routes that begin at the Newport City Park Benefits Newport/Priest River Rotary Club. Labor Day Tandem Rally and bike ride, Sept. 5: The 59th annual ride, loosely organized by the Spokane Bicycle Club (no fee); meet 8:30 a.m. at Post Falls Park, Exit 5 on I-90 and ride 30 miles round trip to Rathdrum Lion’s Club Pancake Feed ($5). Info: Don Carlton, (509) 747-5581. Spoke-d’ Alene Purple Ride and picnic, Sept. 10: Runs on the Centennial Trail with options for 4-, 14-, 36 and 56-mile rides; benefits pancreatic cancer awareness and research. Cost: $20 with $100 minimum fundraising donation suggested. SpokeFest, Sept. 11: attracted 1,400 riders in its 2008 inaugural event, 1,700 in 2009 and 1,900 last year. Spokane’s family event includes rides starting at 1 mile in Riverfront Park, a 2.5-mile loop in the park for kids, plus 9-mile and 47-mile options outside the park in addition to the original 21-mile loop through Riverside State Park. Music at finish. Register by September for discounts. Kootenai River Ride, Sept. 11: Ride 16, 60 or 100 kilometers near the Kootenai River out of Bonners Ferry fairgrounds supported by Rotarians, followed by baked potato feed. Pedal Around a Glacier, eh!, (PAGE), Sept. 11-12: From Nelson, British Columbia, this two-day, 140-mile ride paces along Kokanee and Slocan Lakes and twice across the spine of the Selkirk Mountains to loop around Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. Overnight in New Denver along Slocan Lake. Cycling for Cystinosis, Sept 11-12: a 24-hour solo or relay ride near Sandpoint to raise funds for medical research. High Pass Challenge, Sept. 11: A Cascade Bicycle Club thigh-burner gives up to 600 riders 10 hours to pedal 114 miles and conquer 7,500 feet of climbing around Mount St. Helens. MS 150 Sept. 10-11: ride 150 miles in two days on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to benefit local Multiple Sclerosis. Minimum donation $250. RIM Ride Sept. 18: Rotary In Motion Family Fun Ride starts and finishes in Liberty Lake with rides of 5, 15, 25, 50 or 100 miles; finishes with potato feed. Costs vary, with family discounts. WaCanId Ride, Sept. 20-24: a rare international bicycle tour on the International Selkirk Loop, up to 340 miles or shorter segments. Start in Sandpoint, Idaho or at Creston or Nelson, British Columbia. Call: (888) 823-2626 Swan Lake Mountain Bike Festival, Sept. 24: Family event with clinics, kids’ courses, poker rides and more, south of Republic, Wash. Info: (509) 775-3305. Valleyfest Trail Ride, family bike tour, Sept. 25: On the Centennial Trail starting at 11 a.m. with other festivities at Mirabeau Point Park. Choice of 6.8-, 8.8- and 15.6-mile routes. Cost: $10 or $5 for kids under 11. Methow Fall Bike and Film Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 2: numerous self-guided and organized rides, including a century and kids bike rodeo. Cycle for Life, a Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser starting in Spokane’s Brownes Addition, Oct. 1: Ride 25 or 65 miles on the Fish Lake Trail and routes near Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, fully supported, rest stops every 10-12 miles. Riders must be at least 18 years old and raise at least $165 in pledges. Tour de Rock Mountain Bike Ride & Rough Ride, Oct. 1: At 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort. Choose from a fun mountain bike ride at the resort or go for te challenge of starting in Chewelah and gaining 4,000 feet of elevation on a variety of surfaces. Benefits ski patrol. Info: (509) 937-4922 or doug@shirewood.com Manastash Metric Century, Oct. 1: includes 50-mile or 62-mile options in a ride along the Yakima River from Ellensburg to Cle Elum and back. Organizers claim 14 consecutive years of rainless riding. Cost: $30. Chewelah Valley Lions Fall Half-Century Bike Tour, Oct. 2: Ride 25 or 50 miles from Chewelah to Springdale and back via a Stevens County loop around Waitts Lake. Sign ups allowed up to the 10 a.m. start time in Chewelah City Park. Info: Becky Washington, rebecca214@centurytel.net

Add an event

Email Outdoors editor Rich Landers, richl@spokesman.com.

Cancelled events

Several bicycling events held in previous years have been cancelled. Among them: • Munchen Haus Bike Ride at Leavenworth. • Beacon Hill Blowout Downhill • Tour de Coeur on Centennial Trail for American Cancer Society. • Dam2Dam out of Wenatchee.