Tour de PNW 2023
Here’s an opportunity for a few good riders interested in an expeditionary bike tour to explore a slice of our Pacific NorthWest region in a unique adventure. This tour is designed for active senior bicyclists to ride their bikes eastward in a series of 5-day tours, or phases, across Washington and Idaho. Riders may do 1, 2, or all 3 phases. Continuing this tour series eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean is possible, depending on sufficient interest.
Tour de PNW 2023 is planned for overnight stays in motels and most meals in restaurants to minimize weight and bulk on the bikes. No camping gear required. You will need to carry your gear and clothing for 5 days of riding. We’ll make use of commercial services enroute for food, water, and lodging. Some stretches of the route are up to 35 miles with no services and no shade, so these days will require carrying sufficient supplies including extra water. You must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat repairs, and maintenance.
The route is something like 2/3 paved and 1/3 gravel. Gravel capable bikes with wide tires are a must. The routes involve trails, country roads, and highways with shoulders. The pace will be a moderate effort slowed down by a touring load of gear, gravel riding, uphills, headwinds, etc. Frequent regroups.
Daytime only rides are expected. White front and red tail lights are recommended for daytime road use to improve your visibility to motor vehicle drivers. A really good white front light is required in tunnels to help you see your way around potholes, debris, and sleeping bears.
Schedule: Not locked in yet, but there is a need to get started in April or early May of 2023 to allow completing subsequent ride phases before the fire and smoke season begins. A week or two back home could be expected between tour phases to allow you to keep up with yard mowing or whatever.
Contact the ride leader Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net by the end of January 2023 if you are interested. This is a cooperative endeavor, where riders help plan logistical details. Maximum number of riders is tentatively set for 6 due to limited lodging availability in some locations. Each tour phase will be posted to the Calendar page for rider registrations after further development and dates are set.
An overview map of the Tour de PNW is in the attachment below and the RWGPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41604463. Detailed RWGPS routes for each day are under development.
Phase 1: 5 days of bike riding across western Washington from the Pacific Ocean at Rialto Beach to Mill Creek. Each day ride varies from 14 – 62 miles with elevation gains of 600 to 2,800 feet.
Phase 2: 5 days of bike riding across mid Washington from Mill Creek to Beverly on the east side of the Columbia River. This phase cannot start until the Snoqualmie Tunnel opens on the Palouse to Cascades Trail, which is tentatively set for May 1st. Each day ride varies from 30 – 49 miles with daily elevation gains of 500 to 3,300 feet.
Note: Services are not known in Beverly but are available 12 miles north in Vantage.
Phase 3: 5 days of bike riding across eastern Washington and into Idaho from Beverly, WA to Wallace, ID. Each day ride varies from 38 – 62 miles with daily elevation gains of 1,200 to 2,400 feet. Riders on this tour phase could meet up in Plummer, Idaho with a separate BIKES Club tour focused on riding only the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s.
