Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party

Read on for information about the start line, rest stops, and finish line.

Friday Early Packet Pickup & Bag Drop-Off

Location: Cascade Bicycle Club, 7787 62nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (map)

Start Line

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, Parking Lot E-18 (map)

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Food Stops

There are three types of food stops on the route: 

• Official Rest Stops - Food is free, Gatorade sports drink available, Honey Buckets onsite, First Aid kits, and mechanic onsite. Exception: Allen Community Park will not have a posted mechanic.
• Official Mini Stops - Food is for purchase, water may be for sale, Honey Buckets onsite, self serve First Aid kits, and some have mechanics onsite.
• Unofficial Stops - Community groups, kids with lemonade, and others set up stops along the route. Some offer free food, some offer food and drink for purchase. No additional services have been arranged at these sites. They are often unknown to the organizers until the day of the event. Riders are encouraged to use any and all stops along the RSVP route that fit their personal needs.

Our fully supported 190+ mile ride is kept at a comparatively low cost with seven free food stops on route. Participating in mini-stops helps the communities along the route raise funds for their community work and allows us to keep your registration fee at a minimum. Food at official stops is not a three course meal; food is chosen for caloric intake and meant to keep you fueled. If you have multiple food allergies we suggest carrying bars that you know you can eat. The route goes through many small towns where grocery and convenience stores are readily available.

Official Rest Stops

Official Mini-Stops

• Mile 21.5 Maltby Park, Maltby, WA. Water and restrooms.

Bellingham Midpoint

Kulshan Trackside Beer Garden at Waypoint Park, Bellingham, WA (map)

Open 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday

Enjoy a drink at Kulshan Trackside Brewing by redeeming your drink ticket on your bib. Food truck is available, with food for purchase. 

There is a Trek bike shop adjacent to the park. Open until 6 p.m.

See Baggage Details page for more info about picking up and dropping off your luggage.

Finish Line

Location: David Lam Park, Vancouver, B.C. (map)

Stop by the finish line and get your finisher meal, enjoy a drink (included) at the beer garden, take photos, pick up your luggage, load onto Monday buses (ticket required), and get your bike onto the bike truck on Sunday back to Seattle (ticket required). 

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Route Support

Rider support # (206) 841-9665

This number is printed on your bib and map. Only works during the event hours. Roaming fees may apply.

Official support hours

Saturday     6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday       6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Support vehicles

Ten support vehicles will patrol the route to pick up riders unable to continue. These vehicles will circle the course until the support hours end. While we keep an eye on the last riders and when they will finish, please be mindful that there is a point where we will end official support.

Mechanical support

Most official rest stops provide mechanical support for your bicycle. Supporting bicycle shops provide volunteer labor, but charge for parts. Come prepared to pay for bicycle repairs that you may need on the route. Many mechanics are cash only, but a few will accept credit cards. Tips for service are appreciated.

Medical support

Medics, firefighters, police officers, nurses and doctors volunteer to ride RSVP as members of the Medical Team. These volunteers are identified by red medical team jerseys or helmet covers.

Outriders

Cascade Bicycle Club Outriders are a team of trained and experienced Cascade volunteers and ride participants. They are well versed in Cascade events and are available to help with minor mechanical issues, fixing a flat, and can answer any questions you may have about the ride. You’ll see them wearing the green, white and black Outrider jerseys. Flag them down if you need assistance. The safety of ride participants is their first priority.

Operations Center 

Our operations and support crews on RSVP are crucial to the success of the event, receiving phone calls and messages from the rider support line, dispatching SAG vehicles or escalating issues to first responders, and communicating with services like bike mechanics along the route.

Stay supported

If you are not able to keep up a pace of 10 miles/hour (including stops), you will fall behind support. Our drivers will assist you as much as possible and will often offer “bumps” to get you back into the areas of support.

If you are not coming to the start line, calculate your pace and your start time accordingly or you will be ahead of support. Do not leave the start line area after 7:30 a.m. or luggage trucks will be closed and you will be behind support services.

Utilizing SkyTrain in Canada

If for any reason you cannot complete the route on your bike, the SkyTrain light rail system may be able to assist you in getting a boost to the finish line. For RSVP riders, there are two stations on the Millennium Line near the Port Moody rest stop that are convenient. Taking this line shaves off the last 15 miles. Bikes are permitted on SkyTrain, but you'll have to purchase your own ticket to ride. You'll also have to transfer onto the Expo Line to make the last part of the trip into the city of Vancouver.

SAG drivers, if they pick you up and drop you off at Port Moody, may direct you to use SkyTrain. This prevents our SAG vehicles from getting caught in urban traffic for hours at a time and allows them to respond to other calls in a timely fashion.

Personal Support Vehicles (PSVs)

RSVP riders are well-supported with plenty of food, mechanical support, and medical support.

In past years, we have seen an excessive number of PSVs on the cycling route, leading to unsafe and unpleasant riding conditions. If you must rely on a personal support vehicle, we ask that your driver and support team follow this etiquette. 

Support Vehicle Etiquette 

1. Avoid the cycling route at all times. Only drive the route if you are needing to pick up your rider. 
2. Do not pull your vehicle into official rest stops. There are 1,500 riders trying to safely navigate these rest stops, and only official support cars are allowed to pull into these locations. Please determine meet-up spots with your riders in advance. 
3. Do not eat the food at official rest stops. Please feel free to stop at mini-stops where community groups are selling items to raise money for their organizations. It is great to give back to them as they graciously host the ride once a year! The food at official rest stops are for registered riders only.
4. If your rider calls for support, please have them walk to a safe place fully off the road. It is much easier to pick up a cyclist in a designated lot on the opposite side of bicycle traffic. Try not to turn right in front of the cyclists' route whenever possible.
5. Slow down, give riders at least three feet of space, and only pass when safe. RSVP is a steady stream of cyclists and that is why we ask that you stay on I-5 or Canada's Highway 1 wherever possible.