10,000 ride in Seattle-to-Portland bike classic

By KOMO Staff

Summary

Some 10,000 bicyclists set off Saturday morning on the largest multi-day ride in the Northwest - the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. It's the 30th year of the 202-mile event, which was sold out more than a month ago.

Story Published: Jul 11, 2009 at 11:09 AM PST

Story Updated: Jul 11, 2009 at 11:09 AM PST

10,000 ride in Seattle-to-Portland bike classic

Thousands of bicyclists head out on the 202-mile ride to Portland, Ore. (Photo courtesy of Cascade Bicycle Club)

SEATTLE - Some 10,000 bicyclists set off Saturday morning on the largest multi-day ride in the Northwest - the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.

It's the 30th year of the 202-mile event, which was sold out more than a month ago.

Participating riders left Saturday morning from a University of Washington parking lot. The route leads bicyclists through the scenic valleys, forests and farmlands of Western Washington and Oregon.

Some finish the race in one day, others in two. The route covers 202 miles, with an uphill distance of nearly 31 miles.

The event began in 1979 with 69 finishers, and has been held every year since except for 1980, when the eruption of Mount St. Helens coated roads in volcanic ash and forced its cancellation.

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