Hi friend, 

The 40th anniversary of RSVP is just four Saturdays away! The Ride from Seattle to Vancouver & Party supported by Western WA Honda Dealers will be here before you know it, so read on to prepare yourself for this gorgeous two-day ride across northwestern Washington and into British Columbia.

RSVP Is Selling Out!
The last spots are dwindling. If your friend or family have been meaning to sign up, don’t delay any longer! Although August 13 was set as the registration deadline, it’s likely that this ride will completely sell out before then. Sorry, but due to preparations for the border crossing, we won’t be able to get anyone onto the registration list after August 13. There is no registration at the start line.

We’re also down to the last handful of combo bus tickets and return bike transportation.

Mailing Packets
If you registered by July 31, your rider packet will be mailed to you. Are you going to be on vacation or otherwise away from home in mid-August? Would you rather pick up your packet in person? Email us at info@cascade.org and we’ll set your rider packet aside for you.

If you registered on August 1 or later, your rider packet will be available for pickup. You have two options for pickup: 

• Friday, August 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Cascade Bicycle Club office in Magnuson Park, Seattle or 
• Saturday, August 26 from 6 to 6:45 a.m. at the start line in the E-18 parking lot at the University of Washington 

Everything in your rider packet helps us match you up with your bike, your bag, your bike box, and your beer and dinner!

Friday Packet Pickup and (Some) Baggage Drop

Yes, you ABSOLUTELY need your rider packet! This expedites a lot of things: border crossing, bag trucks getting across the border, and you getting services, food, and drink along the route. 

Friday, August 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cascade Bicycle Club’s offices at Magnuson Park in Seattle, we’ll be hosting an early packet pickup and bag dropoff. Please read all details:

• Pick up your packet early. Your packet includes your rider bib, bag tag, bike plate number, and border crossing form for your baggage.
• Drop off your bag early for $5.
• Drop off your bike box early for $5.
• Pick up your souvenir – an RSVP multitool! – which you can use during the ride if needed.

❗If you’re interested in the baggage shuttle service to local Bellingham hotels – operated by the Bellingham High School band program for $25 – please wait until Saturday morning to drop off your bags! They’ll be tagged and sorted at that time.❗NOT available on Friday night.

Ride S.M.A.R.T.
Safety and etiquette are the #1 topics we get feedback on after each event. Being a courteous, communicative, and safety-conscious rider will help make RSVP a fun ride to remember. RSVP is a two-day ride, not a one-day race.

1. Ride S.M.A.R.T. (Read) (View video)
2. Know how to descend hills safely (View video)
3. Know how to climb hills safely (View video)
4. Remember that the course is not closed to auto traffic on roads and highways or slower traffic on multi-use trails.

Route Notes
Here’s just a sample of some of the route where you’ll want to apply your knowledge of Riding S.M.A.R.T.:

Day 1

• Twelve miles on the Burke-Gilman Trail. Keep your speed at or below 15 mph and share safely with other trail users.
• Twenty-two miles on the Centennial Trail. Share the trail. Please ride single file on the trail. This is a multi-use trail with a speed limit of 15 mph and users that range from tiny kids learning to ride a bike to equestrians. Give a wide berth when passing others and slow down when needed. 
• Mile 51 in Arlington. A curved trail takes you across railroad tracks. You need to slow down and cross at a 90 degree angle to the tracks. Leave plenty of space between yourself and other riders, who may not be as savvy as you, O reader!

Day 2

• Two narrow bridge sidewalk crossings in Canada. Please share with other users.
• ​​​​​​​Mile 57. Railroad crossing. One train may hide another! Wait for signals to give you the all-clear and cross with your wheels at 90 degrees to the track.

Railroad crossings require your attention!

Bellingham = Beer, Vancouver = Vittles

Check out Kulshan’s offerings at the Bellingham midpoint. There’s no beer garden this year in Vancouver, so enjoy a bubbly brew or non-alcoholic beverage in Bellingham. You need your bib ticket to redeem.

Once you reach the finish line in Vancouver, B.C., you’ll have a selection of food trucks to select from – but you gotta have that bib ticket to redeem it for food and a non-alcoholic drink!

Mr. Tube Steak (Kosher, gluten free, and vegan options)
G's Donairs (vegetarian options)
Dos Amigos (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options)

Take some time to digest all this information, save dates in your calendar, and maybe even read it a second time for good measure.

Thank You To Our Sponsor, Western WA Honda Dealers!