If you see this on a desktop web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc on a Mac, Windows, etc), then something is amiss. There's a strange interaction going on between some browsers (especially running in private/incognito mode or with enhanced tracking protection enabled) and Club Express. Until we devise a proper fix, you can work around this problem by:
- Click here to open the SIR home page in a new tab.
- Click the blue "Member Login" link in the upper right corner.
- Enter your name and password, then click the big blue "Login" button.
- Come back to this tab (you can close the home page tab if you wish) and refresh this page.
- Hopefully all is well and you can continue with the waiver and registration process.
If you see this on a mobile device (phone or tablet) then you probably got here by clicking a link within Facebook. Our registration process does not work with the Facebook IOS integrated web browser. You'll need to open this page in a "real" (native) browser:
-
Click the ellipses (three dots) in the upper right corner of this window. You may need to scroll the page up and down slightly to encourage the ellipses to appear at the top of the screen.
-
Click "Open in external browser" in the popup menu.
-
Continue with the waiver and registration process.
RUSA Route #3784 "Figure 8s & Airports"
Ride Description
Today you’ll embark on a 115 KM figure-8 style route from Bellingham to Bayview and back to Bellingham. You’ll find 13 KM of flat, tame gravel. The author and locals usually ride on 44s but you will be perfectly happy on 32s (or even 28s if anyone out there is still on them!). There is only one full-services stop on the route and it sits at the southern most point of the ride. The start/finish are separated by only a few flat KMs. If you park immediately near the start you’ll have to pay. Free parking is to the north and east. I recommend using the Bellingham High School parking lot or, if unavailable, seeking parking in the adjacent neighborhoods to its north. That will put you pretty much right between the start and finish.
Start your morning at Cafe Velo where Kim will be pulling espresso and serving up baked goods from a bakery down the block. Your roll out will weave through downtown and take you to the firmly packed gravel Bay Trail that connects Bellingham to Fairhaven. Enjoy the soft pedal start because the high point and biggest climb of the day is right in front of you. Weaving up a series of S-Turns will put you on top of Lake Padden. From here, continue to climb up Samish Way until reaching the ride's "summit" at the Galbraith Mountain Parking Lot. The descent down to Lake Samish is a fast one and quite the reward. A bathroom and water fountain is located at Lake Samish Park.
Enjoy Lake Samish Drive and Barrel Springs Road. Your second bit of gravel today will come at the turn onto Wood Road. It's a short section but a lovely stretch of road. Another fast descent, turn hard left onto Colony Road and enter the Figure 8 connection roads. You’ll be through here twice. The Colony Road climb is not a leg breaker but the gradient remains consistent all the way through the top. Near the top, to your right, is a fantastic view south and west towards Anacortes.
After you turn onto Bow Hill Road you’ll pick up some speed. Practice your safe cornering ability with a high speed, right-then-left S-turn. Mind the tracks at the bottom but you’ll have plenty of time to size them up and reign in your speed. Continue through to the neat little town of Edison. Your first control awaits you here. From Edison you’ll continue south across the Skagit Flats (until you get hit by the Farm to Market Road climb, that is).
Winding south through Bayview brings you right down to the water’s edge. The next prolonged gravel section is approaching here but fear not. It is a flat winding path right along Padilla Bay. There is very little loose gravel but likely there will be foot traffic. Use your bell. After exiting the Padilla Bay Shore Trail, head south towards your next control at the State Route 20/La Conner Shell Station. Fuel up here because it’s the only full-services stop on the route. After you have negotiated the two SR20 crossings (use those pedestrian signals) you will begin the northbound return leg of the Figure 8. Riding by Skagit Airport you’ll be one of the lucky ones if a plane is landing or taking off during your passage.
Josh Wilson Road, Ershig Road, Worline Road. Out here there are lots of straight, farm-friendly, 90 degree roads. Soon enough you’ll get back into the twisties and have some shelter. You’re approaching the Figure 8 connection again and this time you’ve got to climb up Bow Hill Road. By now maybe you’ve accumulated a little fatigue? The shoulder has been redone on this stretch so you should have plenty of room. It’s a steep climb and it does not immediately let off as it drags up to Ershig Road. After a fun descent down Colony Road you have completed the connection and are heading towards Chuckanut Drive and your final control near Chuckanut Manor.
Be mindful on Chuckanut Highway. Traffic is usually aware that cyclists are out and you will see a variety of “Bicycles on Road” and “Share the Road” signs indicating that you are not an anomaly out here. Enjoy the scenery. The last non-paved section comes at the Lost Lake Trailhead Parking Lot and the Interurban Trail. Again, this is a very tame section but will likely have some walkers, runners, and other cyclists on it. Use your bell and enjoy the trail. There are two sharp descents and they are noted in the cues: please review their location and control your speed early.
Rejoin Chuckanut Highway as it enters Fairhaven. Your last climb of the day is what the locals call the Fairhaven “Stinger”. You’ve done all the hard work and Kulshan Brewery Sunnyland awaits you. Generally there is something of a tailwind as you go north through Fairhaven and along the Bay, fingers crossed. Navigate State Street to North Forest Street to Holly Street to Cornwall Avenue. Kentucky, Grant, and Carolina. Refreshments. Well done on this Rouleur 115!
Start
Cafe Velo
120 Prospect St STE 2
Bellingham, WA 98225
Business hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
8:00 AM – Rider check-in begins
8:55 AM – Ride briefing
9:00 AM – Ride bikes
10:00 AM – Start control closes
Please contact the ride organizer if you will be arriving after 9:00 AM or if you are registered and choose to not start.
Finish
Kulshan Brewing Co - Sunnyland
2238 James St
Bellingham, WA 98225
Business hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The finish control opens at 12:23 PM, closes at 16:53 PM (7:53 elapsed).
Complete route divided into smaller chunks (may be more compatible with some devices and software)
:
[PRELIMINARY]
Note:
Printed cuesheets will not be available at the start. You may choose to print your own from the desktop web page (not the mobile application). To print a cuesheet:
- Open the route link above.
- Click the More button.
- Click Print Cuesheet. For more control over columns, formatting, etc, click Print Map & Cue PDF instead. This is required if you want the notes with your cue sheet.
Registration
Registration opens Thursday, September 3 at 12:00 Midnight (Pacific Time).
-
Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate same-day registration.
-
Registration includes signing a responsibility waiver using the same SmartWaiver system used for RUSA Permanents. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED WAIVER IN ORDER TO START THE RIDE. No waiver, no ride, no exceptions.
-
Current RUSA membership is required. Click here to create or renew your RUSA membership. Allow a few days in advance for RUSA verification. You'll need your final RUSA number (not a temporary number starting with T) to sign the waiver and register for the ride.
-
Current SIR membership is required. Click here to create or renew your free SIR membership. Once you log into your SIR account the Sign Waiver button will be visible at the bottom of this page.
-
Online registration is open until Thursday, October 1 at 12:00 Noon (Pacific Time).
-
Ride fee must be paid online at the time of registration.
Registration has closed for this event. We cannot accommodate same-day registration at this time.
REGISTRATION LIMITED TO RIDERS WHO RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO REGISTER.
General Rules
All riders must:
- Have current memberships in RUSA and SIR.
- Read and sign a waiver (part of the online event registration) before beginning the ride.
- Comply with local traffic laws as well as RUSA's Rules for Riders.
- Have front and rear lights, a reflective vest or sash, and reflective ankle bands. See RUSA Article 10 for details. Be prepared to show these to the ride organizer at the start. Lights should be on during any low-light conditions (rain, fog, night, tunnels, etc).
- Contact the organizer ASAP if they cannot finish (DNF). The organizer's contact info may be found on the brevet control card.
- Turn in their signed brevet control card at the ride finish.
- Check-in with the organizer or a volunteer at the start, the finish, at any overnight controls.