Ride for Major Taylor

Event Description

Explore the many sides of southern Puget Sound on one of two great routes. If you're looking for a reasonable challenge, the long route will take you through south King County's winding roads along the Sound, on a ferry ride to rural Vashon Island, and back to White Center through West Seattle. Riders looking for a shorter route with cityscape views can select the West Seattle route, which includes jaunts along the Duwamish and Alki Trails. Head back to the finish line for an awesome meal and connecting with other riders.

This event is a fundraiser for Cascade Bicycle Club's Major Taylor Project. 80% of your registration fee goes directly to MTP clubs in schools throughout the Puget Sound region. Your registrations and donations provide just more than an entry to an event; it provides character building, team work, and confidence through cycling for middle and high schools students of color and communities facing income insecurities. Your donations matter!

Registration

Registration opens: Tuesday, February 7 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific.

Registration closes: Thursday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. 

Register by April 11 and your rider packet will arrive the week before the event.

Prices increase by $10 on April 12. If you register between April 12 and 20, your packet is available at the start line.

Route support, souvenir, ferry fare, and finisher meal included with registration. See details below.

Route

There are two routes: 26 and 63 miles.

We encourage you to wait until the day before the event to download these maps to your preferred device for easy access on the day of the event. 

Printed cue sheets are available at the start line tents. The route is marked with navigational markings on the road surface.

Event Schedule

	Opens	Closes
Start Line - Long Route	7 a.m.	8 a.m.
Start Line - Short Route	8:30 a.m.	9 a.m.
Course Support	7 a.m.	3 p.m.
Long Route
Rest Stop at Palisades Park	8 a.m.	10 a.m.
Rest Stop at Pt. Defiance	9 a.m.	12:30 p.m.
Ferry from Pt. Defiance	9:15, 10:05, 10:55, 11:45 a.m., & 12:35 p.m.
Ferry from Vashon Island	See WSDOT schedule
Short Route
Rest Stop at Alki Park	9 a.m.	11 a.m.
Finish Line	11:30 a.m.	3 p.m.

Parking

Parking is available at Cascade Middle School and Evergreen High School, just down the street from the start line. Neighborhood streetside parking is also available, where posted. Please do not park at the White Center Bicycle Playground parking lot.

Ferries

If you select the long route, you will have your ferry fares included in their registration fee. Your rider bib acts as your pass onto the first ferry. Check in with the Cascade volunteer to get swiped through the toll booth in Tacoma. There is no charge for bicyclists traveling from Vashon to Fauntleroy.

Ferries depart from Point Defiance at 9:15 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 12:35 p.m. Boarding outside of these times means you will have to pay your own fare.

You may board any ferry from Vashon to Fauntleroy within course support hours.

Inclusion

Everyone is welcome at Cascade events. We are committed to celebrating and promoting diversity in the bicycling community. We aim to provide safe spaces at start lines, finish lines, and official rest stops. Read our commitment to anti-racism and our participant code of conduct and grievance policy.

We would like to acknowledge that our rides take place on native land. Our offices are located on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present.

Food & Breaks

Rest Stops: Located at miles 20.6 and 41.3 of the long route and mile 17.4 of the short route.

You can refill your water and electrolyte bottles and enjoy light snacks that will power you for the second half of the ride. Fare includes energy bars, chips, nuts, fruit, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. 

Gluten free and vegan snacks and sandwiches are available.

Finish line: Enjoy a meal from local eateries at the finish line, included in your registration!

Support During the Ride

This ride is supported by Cascade staff and volunteers, local community group volunteers, and municipal and county services.

Support and gear (SAG) vehicles are present on the route and dispatched when you call the ride support hotline. SAG vehicles can transport you and most models of bikes in the event of a mechanical or minor medical event. You should always call 911 in a life-threatening emergency.

Outriders are volunteers in white, green, and black jerseys that ride on the route, assisting you with minor mechanical and minor medical issues, like cuts and scrapes, dispensing advice and directions, and helping you to Ride S.M.A.R.T. 

Medical riders are volunteers on bike in red and blue jerseys that can assist you with minor medical issues like cuts and scrapes, dehydration, sprained joints, and other non-life threatening issues. 

Mechanics are posted at the start line in White Center. Bike shops are present along the route on Vashon Island and near Alki Beach.

Weather

Wear layers and be prepared for a chance of rain. Morning and afternoon temperatures may vary widely. 

Get your bike tuned up and in shape to ride in slick, rainy, low-visibility conditions. Bring front and rear lights, install fenders, service your brakes, and clean your chain.

E-Bikes

E-bikes of all classes are permitted on the long route, as the route is entirely along public roads. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are permitted on the short route, which utilizes multi-use trails.

Training

To help you prepare for this ride, you can check out our extensive schedule of Free Group Rides in the Puget Sound area. Find rides that fit your schedule and desired pace and distance.