Sometimes when the planets align correctly and all other conditions are just right, we have a perfect storm of recreational bicycle tours. It's a good thing.
Such is the case this weekend.
If you live in Washington state and you can't find a ride this weekend, then you aren't trying very hard.
I count eight organized bicycle rides this weekend from Seattle to Winthrop to Walla Walla. Seven compete for our attention on Saturday, while the LiveStrong Challenge has Sunday all to itself when 2,000 hit the roads in the Seattle and the Eastside.
Here's a rundown (also available on the June Bicycle Ride Calendar at BikingBis):
Saturday
— Painted Cyclists Solstice Parade: Leave the spandex at home for this ride. Participants in the annual Fremont parade ride au naturel beneath about 8 ounces of paint;
— Chelan Century Challenge: Starts at 7 a.m. at Don Morse Park in Chelan; 3 loops of 30 to 40 miles;
— Cycle de Vine: Also starts at Don Morse Park in Chelan, but at 9:30 a.m.; 30-mile ride visits a number of wineries;
— Meals to Wheels: Starts at the WSU research extension station in Puyallup; three options around scenic Pierce County;
— Native Planet Classic: Based in Winthrop and takes in an easy 28-mile options or longer rides up to Washington Pass or an ultra-century of 125 miles with 10,000 feet of elevation gain;
— Tour de Blast: Leaves from Toutle Lake High School east of I-5 on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway and progresses to Johnson Ridge overlook of Mount St. Helens;
— June Weatherill Cycling Classic: The memorial ride around Walla Walla raises funds for the Wheatland Wheelers Bicycle Club.
Sunday
LiveStrong Challenge: Seattle has been named one of four cities to host a LiveStrong Challenge this year. Organizers are expecting some 2,000 cyclists to show up in the area around Fisher Pavillion at the Seattle Center to visit the LiveStrong Village (map) on Saturday and the begin the bike rides on Sunday. Course maps show that most of the ride mileage is on the Eastside.
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