*** Route Update 5/18/16 ***
Benton County has decided to chipseal County Well Rd (2nd loop) and possibly, by the ride date, parts of Weber Canyon Rd. New, loose, course chipseal has made these surfaces slow and unpleasant to ride, particularly on hard narrow tires. It's only 10-15 km but if you're undecided about tire choice, wider might be better for this one (generally true for most DRR routes, really).
*************************
Ride date: Saturday-Sunday, 21st-22nd May 2016
Sign in: 05:30 Saturday
Start at: 06:00 Saturday
Finish by: 22:00 Sunday
Sunrise Sat: 05:16
Sunset Sat: 20:30
Organizer: Norm Carr
Fee: Free for RUSA members.
Start location: John Dam Plaza, Richland WA.Start at: 06:00 Saturday
Finish by: 22:00 Sunday
Sunrise Sat: 05:16
Sunset Sat: 20:30
Organizer: Norm Carr
Fee: Free for RUSA members.
Finish location: Open control, downtown Richland.
Parking: Big parking lot just across Jadwin Ave., north of the Federal Building.
Accommodation
The start and finish will be in the same place as the Spring 400, in Richland.
If you need somewhere to stay, you'll want to book accommodation very soon. A quick survey of local hotels shows several already sold out that weekend, including the Red Lion and Shilo. Alternatives include the Days Inn and Hampton Inn nearby, and the Sleep Inn just over the bridge in Pasco. Further afield, Kennewick also has a selection. There's ample parking nearby if you need to drive to the start.
24 Hr Services in Richland
Denny's, 1301A George Washington Way
Exxon, 1401 George Washington Way
Shari's, 1745 George Washington Way
WinCo Foods, 101 Columbia Point Dr
Route
RUSA route #1943 "Double Cheeseburger 600"
This route is split into two parts, both starting and ending in Richland, and is intended to be ridden over two days, a first day of ~350 km and a second of ~250 km, but there's nothing to stop you riding through if that's your style.
Cue Sheet
Route Part I
Route Part II
Day one is an out and back with a loop that explores some familiar and unfamiliar quiet roads of NE OR. From Richland we'll make an early detour via Dallas Rd and Reata Rd followed by the famous climb over to Oregon up Clodfelter and long descent down Plymouth. After Hermiston it's the long empty trip up 207 to Lexington, then 74 to Heppner. If we're unlucky, this is where the headwinds will be worst. After Heppner, we'll stay on 74 through some hilly, lonely and in places spectacular scenery on a fun road for cycling with some interesting climbs and exciting descents, all the way to US395 and the gradual descent back down to Pendleton. From there it's back along the perennial favorite canyon road to Echo, back on 395 to Hermiston and the river, then the minor matter of DRR's favorite climb, likely in the dark, back up Plymouth to the view of the night-time lights of the Tri-Cities and the decent back down Clodfelter and to Richland.
Day two visits with the Yakima River a little while before another popular local climb up Weber Canyon. Then we'll take a trip through the wheat fields of the Horse Heaven Hills before the fast and fun descent down to Prosser. You'll have done most of the climbing by then, but there's still a trip out and back along either side of the Yakima valley and a hop back over from Benton City before you're done.
Notes
As usual with DRR brevets, this is an entirely unsupported event. Please be prepared for long stretches between services and without cell phone coverage on day one.
There will be riding in the dark. Lights and reflective gear that satisfy RUSA rules must be used.
There will be information controls - please have a pen.
Questions? Use the contact form over there --->>
to get in touch.
Business
Register to Ride
Who's riding? (your entry might not show up here for a few minutes)
