ride-the-hurricane

By Pepper Fisher

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – The Ride the Hurricane cycling event on Sunday was a sold-out success and is fast becoming one of the premier rides in Washington state.

Port Angeles Chamber Director Marc Abshire, appearing on Monday morning’s Morning Scramble Show, gave our listeners a debrief.

“Huge success. We’re talking 800 cyclists, with 200 on the waiting list and, you know, a lot of people want to do this right now. It’s becoming the ride in Washington state. And about 97% of them come from outside of Clallam County and they just, people were so happy and they loved it. It was really great.”

There’s nothing to keep cyclists from riding the 20-mile route on any given day, but on the first Sunday of August each year, the road is closed to cars from 7:am to noon so that riders can enjoy the view at their own pace without being concerned about traffic. But, that’s not to say that the event is completely free of hazards.

“We had one cyclist hit a deer. He’s fine. He was coming down, but he got back on his bike and kept going. He’s fine. The deer was good, too.” “That’ an issue, though. I mean, even a bigger issue than with a car.” “Well, there was a car incident. Right on Front Street, actually. And I mean, a block from the finish line! And actually, he was in a place he wasn’t supposed to be. I don’t know all the details but, he was hit by a car.” “You have to follow directions.” “Yeah, follow directions. Yeah.”

Abshire says one element of modern cycling has become an issue that organizers have had to face head on.

“You have to train for it. You have to be in shape to get all the way up. And we don’t allow electric bikes. We’ve had to struggle through this over the last few years. because electric bikes are becoming very popular, and they’re wonderful. The amount of people that they’re getting out on bicycles is great.” “And greatly assist, if you need it.” “Sure, but our issue is that we’ve got all these people who trained for this ride, and we’re sold out now every year. And so, we don’t really want e-bikers taking slots that people who are training and wanted to work hard to go up the hill.”

Abshire says a portion of the proceeds raised by Ride the Hurricane go to the Peninsula Trails Coalition and Washington’s National Park Fund.