Ride Around Clark County moves to later date, amps up perks, festivities

The point of rolling back the annual bicycle Ride Around Clark County, from early May to late August, was weather.

Avoidance of gray skies and rain was paramount, because cyclist jitters often meant avoidance of registration until the last possible moment. Organizers grew more worried about iffy spring skies — and depressed turnout — than ungodly summer heat, according to Devin Bowen, president of the sponsoring Vancouver Bicycle Club.

Well, what’s more ironic than weather? It’s turned out to be a dry scorcher of a summer, right through this week — yet, at last check before press time, the forecast for ride day, Aug. 18, called for humane heat that’s only in the mid-80s, plus perhaps the smallest possible spray of precipitation. Have we threaded a needle here?

This reporter sure hopes so, because the 67-mile loop is calling me again. That’s the longest distance I ever try for, by far, and it makes Ride Around Clark County the highlight of my cycling year. That’s partly because of Clark County’s gorgeous greenery, of course.

“It’s always been a good ride, and super-popular mostly because of the routes,” Bowen said. “They’re some of the most beautiful roads in the entire area.”

But if 67 miles of beautiful roads seems crazy long to you — or not quite long enough — there are other distance options. In recent years, the club has redesigned some of its routes and expanded its route offerings from four to five, so the distances this year are: 20, 34, 54, 67 or 101 miles.

The bicycle club’s rolling mechanical support leverages a carefree day. Break a brake or flatten a tire along the way, it won’t be long before a vehicle powered by an actual motor — not legs — comes along and disgorges a volunteer who either can solve your problem or, if you’ve simply had enough, collect you and your bike and deposit you at the start/finish line.

That’s what’s really new this year: the ride’s base of operations has moved to Pearson Air Museum, where punched-up finish-line festivities will include a barbecue lunch, smoothies and a beer garden from noon until 4 p.m. That’s very different than previous years, when riders rolled back to Clark College, where nothing was happening beyond the parking lot thinning out. No congratulations, no celebration. Sad!

“I remember the first time I rode back, that really struck me,” Bowen said. “I thought, we have to change this. It could be a wonderful community celebration” instead of a study in attrition.

There’ll also be a breakfast bar at Pearson, so you can fuel up before you start pedaling. And, as always, there are seven well-stocked rest stops along the way where you can refuel with all sorts of goodies — from water and juice to fruit, cookies, coffee, pastries, even burritos, wraps and sandwiches.

All hail the mister

Newest of all for riders who are attacking the longest routes, both of which require struggling up Salmon Creek hill (Northwest 36th Avenue) into Felida, and just when you’re nearing the end and don’t need one more killer challenge: a home-made PVC-pipe spray-mister, contributing some welcome cool and wetness to the Felida Fire Station rest stop. It’s the brainchild of club member Kelly Gerke, who’s minding that stop this year.

“It looks like we’re going to have a really hot day, and I’m the last rest stop,” Gerke said (11 days before the event, when weather forecasts were really just guesstimates). “I just need to get them hydrated and cooled off, and it’s eight more miles back to home base. It’ll cool you off a good 15 degrees. You can stand underneath it or you can ride right through it.”

At its maximum, the spring Ride Around Clark County drew upwards of 1,000 participants. Given this year’s change of venue, Bowen is hoping for a base of 500 from which to start rebuilding toward future rides. And, while he’s at it, weather that’s sunny but comfortably cool.

“We’re hoping for a beautiful day,” he said.