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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Region’s most popular bike tours fill quickly

Procrastinators miss out on some of the region’s popular premium bicycle tours, which already booked with riders for 2011, although in some cases names are being put on waiting lists.

Here are some tours that were nearly booked or filled this week.

RAW, the Ride Around Washington, Aug. 20-26, still had openings in its quota of 230 riders for the 10th annual event. This year’s route begins runs from Willapa Bay to the Yakima area, sponsored by Cascade Bicycle Club. Cost: $930. Info: cascade.org/

Seattle to Portland (STP), July 9-10 was about 95 percent full Friday for the 200-mile fully supported tour. It’s the largest of the region’s cycling events with 10,000 riders. Info: cascade.org/

RAMROD, the Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day, July 28, is a challenging 152 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing for 800 cyclists. Applications are accepted through March 31 for a lottery to pick participants. Cost: $80. Drawing is April 12. Info: redmondcyclingclub.org/

RSVP – Ride from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C., Aug. 5-6 – The 30th annual event on a 188-mile route of back roads is sold out, but new this year, the Cascade Bicycle club is offering RSVP 2, the same ride but running Aug. 6-7. Cost: $105 Info: cascade.org/

Quotas filled

STOKR, the 98-mile Scenic Tour of the Kootenai River ( libbymt.com/events/stokr.htm), a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser based out of Libby, Mont., is held the second weekend in May, but the 400-rider registration limit for the 17th annual event was reached during a mail-in lottery after taking applications in February.

RATPOD, the Ride Around the Pioneers (Mountains) in One Day ( ratpod.org), a rigorously hilly June 25 ride that runs a 130-mile loop out of Dillon, Mont.

Cycle Oregon ( cycleoregon.com) – a premium tour set for Sept. 10-17 – sold out its 2,200 slots in two days after the 450-mile route was announced in February. Cost: $850.