PORT ANGELES — In a year unlike any other, why not challenge yourself with an unparalleled bike ride?
The 12th annual Ride the Hurricane recreational bike climb, a car-free ride up Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge Road, will be held Sunday.
Hurricane Ridge will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to noon Sunday.
The event is smaller in scope this year, but riders will still get the benefit of those Olympic Mountain views.
“Because of COVID, we didn’t really advertise it or try to get a lot of cyclists here,” Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Marc Abshire said. “We are probably going to end up about 50 percent of our normal number of cyclists. We always get a large number of Canadians that come over on the first ferry on ride day, but obviously with the border closed, they will miss this event.”
Recent years have seen 400-plus participants.
“It will be a smaller, scaled-back event this year, but we are glad to be able to do it,” Abshire said. “It’s great outdoor exercise and provides the social distancing required.”
Registration for the event is a two-part, online process that requires choosing a time slot and providing cyclist information and the $60 entry fee, and submitting a release of liability waiver online at ridethehurricane.org/2020registration.
Online registration ends at 9 p.m. today, Friday, July 31.
Cyclists can check in, sign online waivers and pick up their event packet, wrist bands, and a Primal Maska face-and-neck covering during advance check-in from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday at the Port Angeles Visitor Center, 121 E. Railroad Ave.
Those who choose this option do not need to check in on race day and can begin the ride when they like.
Abshire said ride-day registration will be available on race day morning at the 2020 check-in location on Port Angeles’ City Pier.
To ensure social distancing, each cyclist will choose a 30-minute window for check in when registering online.
No check-in will be available at Peninsula College or the Heart of the Hills entrance station this year.
Riders can begin the ride independently from City Pier to make it a true sea-to-ski event, the Heart of the Hills or anywhere along the way.
High-energy snacks and water will be provided at seven aid stations along the route, and a deluxe aid station with treats and beverages will be available atop Hurricane Ridge.
The event is presented by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit ridethehurricane.org or call 360-452-2364.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
