Dear RSVP Riders

Dear RSVP riders,

RSVP is a challenging two-day ride that travels on scenic back roads from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. It’s different from the STP in many ways — it has fewer rest stops, less road support, fewer riders and a more difficult route. These differences make the ride special for the many participants who ride with us year after year.

For the first time this year, we have two RSVP rides: RSVP, held Friday – Saturday, Aug. 5-6, and RSVP2, held Saturday – Sunday, Aug. 6-7.You must ride in the event for which you are registered. The color of your bib number will indicate which event you are to be riding; if you do not have the correct bib number, you will be refused services.

If you you’re registered for RSVP2 and have a friend who would like to ride with you, registrations are still available! But hurry — registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 25. Register here.

Please read the following information carefully to ensure that you have fun, stay safe, and arrive at the party in Vancouver with a smile on your face. Thanks for your support of Cascade, and have a great ride!

 

 

 

 

 

SUBMIT YOUR BICYCLE’S MAKE & MODEL

If you purchased bus/bike transportation or bike-only transportation, you must provide your bike’s make, model and serial number in order for us to transport your bicycle back into the US from Canada.

To submit this information, you will need to complete the webform in your Cascade account by following these instructions:

1) Log in at shop.cascade.org.
2) Click on “My Account” on the left-hand side bar.
4) Select “Event Registrations,” and click on the blue “Webform” link next to the RSVP event.
5) Click the “Edit” tab to update.

Important note: The individual who made the initial registration purchase must log in to complete the web form.

Questions? Email Kim Thompson at kim.thompson@cascadebicycleclub.org.

START LINE

The start line will be open Friday, Aug. 5 (RSVP) and Saturday, Aug. 6 (RSVP2), 6 – 7 a.m. at the University of Washington’s E1 parking lot on Montlake Blvd. Lot opens at 5 a.m. Enter at the north end near the golf range. Follow the signs to the parking and drop-off areas. All baggage trucks leave at 7:15 a.m. so don’t be late, or you’ll have a long way to ride with your bags!

Overnight parking: There will be overnight parking, Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday. Cost for all three days is $15. If you did not pay for parking with your registration, you still can buy a parking ticket on the day of the ride. You must have a parking pass on your vehicle, or it may be towed.

RSVP STOPS

Friday (RSVP) or Saturday (RSVP2):

• Mile 15 – Mechanic stop sponsored by Eastside Ski & Sport(7 a.m. – 9 a.m.) on corner of Woodinville-Duvall Rd. and 156th St. in Woodinville
• Mile 36.5 – Food stop at Machias Station (7 a.m. – 11 a.m.), volunteers provided by the local community, so please thank them for volunteering.
• Mile 63.7 – Water-only stop (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.), intersection of Lake Cavanaugh Rd.
• Mile 75.3 – Food stop in Mount Vernon (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), volunteers provided by the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce. Please thank them for volunteering!

Saturday (RSVP) or Sunday (RSVP2):

• Mile 43.8 – Food stop at Fort Langley Lions Hall (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) in the lower parking lot. Make sure to thank the volunteers, provided by Cap’s South Shore Cycling Team.
• Mile 66.4 – Mini-stop at Rocky Point Park (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Mini -stop provided by Cap’s South Shore Cycles.

REPAIR/SUPPORT CREW ON THE ROAD FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Craig Tamara and gang will be on the route again with four vehicles.

There will be a bike mechanic doing repairs and selling tubes, etc. at the Mt. Vernon food stop (day one) and at the Fort Langley food stop (day two). The repair crews will assist you with minor repairs only.Be prepared to pay for parts or for major repairs. Note that there is very limited road support to transport riders over long distances. Riders will only be transported to the nearest food stop.

LUGGAGE TRUCK

PLEASE SIGN BAGGAGE LETTER IN YOUR PACKET AND GIVE IT TO THE VOLUNTEER WHEN YOU PUT YOUR BAGGAGE ON THE TRUCK. This is a requirement of Canadian Customs.

Bellingham bag drops: There are three baggage drops: The Days Inn (215 Samish Way in Bellingham), Western Washington University (Fairhaven Hall) and Best Western Heritage Inn (151 E. McLeod Rd). At the start line, you will be asked at which of these stops you want your bags to be dropped. Bags will be available from 1 p.m – 7 p.m.

Baggage Sherpa service: Again this year there will be baggage “Sherpa” service available on day one for the local Bellingham hotels. The cost is $10 per bag. This service is offered by the Bellingham Rugby Club. You can sign up and pay for this service the morning of the ride at the table next to the luggage trucks.

Bellingham bag loading: Return your bag to the location where you picked it up the night before between 6:30 and 8 a.m. (no earlier, no later). Baggage pick-up locations are Days Inn, Western Washington University (Fairhaven Hall), Best Western on McLeod Rd, or another hotel if you’ve arranged for baggage Sherpa service. You must have your bags back to one of these locations before 8 a.m. or they will not be transported to the finish in Canada.

Saturday baggage drop: Baggage drop will be at the Coast Plaza Suites Hotel, 1763 Comox St. Baggage will be near the party area. Pick up your luggage between 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. After this time you must check with the hotel lobby.

NEED A MASSAGE?

Sign up for a massage when you arrive at the Days Inn. Fifteen-minute massages are first-come, first-served and are provided by Washington Sports Massage. Cost is $18.

JERSEYS, SHIRTS AND MORE

RSVP apparel is available online. Jerseys will ship immediately, and shirts will ship starting July 27. Shipping time is one to three days. Event merchandise will also be sold:

• Seattle start lines on Friday and Saturday: jersey & shirts available for purchase & pickup
• Vancouver finish lines on Saturday and Sunday: taking orders only, with samples available for sizing. Location: Mezzanine level of the Coast Plaza Hotel
• Post-event: Online ordering will be available through Wednesday, Aug. 10.

PARTY IN VANCOUVER

There will be a no-host reception at the Coast Plaza Suites Hotel from 1 – 6 p.m. All riders will receive one ticket in their packets for a free beverage or food item, and we’ll have music again this year.

A bike corral for registered riders will be located in the hotel garage. The corral will only be open during the hours of the reception. If you will need your bike before these times, please don’t keep it in the corral. You can store your bike overnight in the corral, but you must load your own bike onto the bike truck in the morning if you choose to do so.

RSVP 1 bike corral

• Open Sat. from 1 to 7 p.m. – Locked overnight
• Open Sun. from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. – ALL bikes must be out by 9:30 a.m.

RSVP 2 bike corral

• Open Sun. from 1 to 7 pm – Locked overnight
  
• Open Mon. from 7:30 am to 9:30 am – ALL bikes must be out by 9:30 a.m.

Keep your bike number on your bike — your bib number will be your claim check to get your bike out of the corral.

RETURN TRANSPORTATION

Loading: Bike loading will be on Sunday and Monday, Aug. 6 & 7 from 8:30 – 10 a.m., and bus loading will start at 10:30 a.m. Buses will leave when full. The last bus will leave at 11 a.m. SHARP! The bus is only for riders who purchased transportation and bike tickets prior to the ride. You must load your own bike. If you can’t load your own bike, make sure to let the bike corral attendant know on Saturday. Be prompt — we will not wait for you!

Location: Bike and bus loading will be in front of the Coast Plaza Suites Hotel on Comox St. Buses will not load until 10:30 a.m.

Bike pick-up on Sunday: You can pick up your bike at the start line area on Sunday and Monday between 3 and 5 p.m. This will be a manned bike corral area and you must have your bib number with you to pick up your bike. After 5 p.m. on Monday, any unclaimed bicycles will be stored at the Cascade Bicycle Club office for a fee of $10 per day.

Notice: It is understood by those utilizing this service that the maximum liability of Bekins Moving and Storage Co. and Cascade Bicycle Club is sixty cents ($0.60) per pound for the actual weight of any lost or damaged article or articles. In general, riders concerned about damage, loss or theft of their bicycles should consult their insurance company for personal insurance to cover such losses.

KEY ITEMS TO REMEMBER

• Identification — PLEASE READ THE BORDER-CROSSING INFORMATION ENCLOSED IN YOUR EVENT PACKET
• Canadian cash
• RSVP transportation tickets and party beverage tickets
• Fill out emergency information on the back of your bib number.
• When crossing into Canada, no large pitted fruit or apples are permitted; bananas are okay.
• No firearms permitted into Canada.
• Personal support vehicles are not allowed to travel on roadway shoulders
• CPSC or Snell-approved helmets are required!

Along the route there will be mini-stops organized by the local communities. Please stop and thank these volunteers for their hospitality. Please ride single file and be safe and courteous on the road in order to help prevent accidents. Remember to obey all traffic laws — fines for bikes are the same as those for vehicles.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Nuun will be returning to RSVP as our official hydration sponsor. Makeyour water count with Nuun!

Look for Dave’s Killer Bread, the official bread of the 2011 RSVP, and CLIF Bar shots and gels at food stops along the route.

After the ride you can upload your photos and share your stories at CLIF Bar’s new site, www.MeettheMoment.com. When you create your first Moment, CLIF Bar will donate $5 to one of five non-profits, and every time you upload a new Moment you’ll have the chance to win up to $8,000 towards your next great adventure!

Have fun and enjoy. Happy cycling!