July a hot month for bicycling events

June is a tough act to follow for organizers of bicycling events in the Northwest, while July delivers some of the most popular rides of the year – so popular, they’re mostly sold out.

Highlights if more than two dozen events in June included the Pedal Around a Glacier, eh! two-day loop around Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, the 47th annual TOSRV-West out of Missoula, the I Made the Grade hill climb out of Clarkston, the Tour de Blast hill climb on Mount St. Helens and the kid-friendly Spokane Summer Parkways in the Comstock-Manito neighborhood of Spokane’s South Hill.

July has some events that are highly competitive just to enter:

Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, July 15-16, known as STP. Sells out 10,000 rider slots by early March.

RAMROD, July 27. The Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day ultra-marathon cycling event, fills 800 slots drawn from a lottery that closes on March 30 even though riders will punish themselves with 10,000 feet of climbing in 168 miles.

But some notable Eastern Washington bicycling events have open arms. Among them:

Spokatopia, the third annual outdoor adventure festival, July 8, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Camp Sekani Park on the Spokane River. Offers introductions to a variety of outdoor sports from slacklining and paddling to climbing. Also in the mix are free mountain bike shuttles to avoid uphill pedaling on the Sekani trails, a mountain bike jump jam and bike demos by local bike shops.

Blue Goose Family Fun Bike Ride, July 22 at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. A family-friendly 10.5-mile ride on packed, graded dirt roads, interpretive signs. Start 8:30 a.m.-9 a.m. at Refuge Headquarters, 1310 Bear Creek Road southeast of Colville. Finish by 11 a.m. at headquarters for snacks, prizes. Free. Info: (509) 684-8384.

Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration, July 30. Ride 10-, 25- or 50-mile routes based from Mirabeau Meadows Park in Spokane Valley; family friendly with food stops sponsored by ValleyFest organizers. $10-$20.