Seattle Update

Registration/Discount

The Cascade Cycling discount codes are still active but will come down soon so please giddy up and register if you are on the fence.

To get $25 off any ride distance just use "cascade25" upon check out once you register. 

To get $75 off the Super Gran fondo, use "cascadesuper" for a check out code.

Commentary on the Olympic Peninsula

The Echelon team has been busy getting ready for the inaugural Echelon Seattle Gran Fondo. Over the past few months, we have to say the riding on the Olympic Peninsula is some of the best we have encountered. This is truly one of the best kept cycling secrets and it is just a 30 minute ferry ride from Seattle. The ride begins with a police escort out of the charming ferry community of Kingston. Riders will stroll through the Kitsap Peninsula through the historic town of Port Gamble. The 70 mile, 100 mile and Super Gran Fondo riders then take a turn over the Hood Canal Bridge to the Olympic Peninsula. Riders will be rewarded with spectacular views of wooded shorelines, marshy wetlands, historic light houses, stunning snow capped mountains and much more. 

The Weather Facts--Come on over to the sunny side

Perhaps the best news about this ride is that it is protected by the “Rain Shadow.”  Even if rain is in the forecast for Seattle (imagine that), the sun may still be out in from Port Townsend to Port Angeles and all points in between.  Some may call this statement bold or a myth, but our friends at http://www.olympicrainshadow.com/ have collected data that proves the Rain Shadow is real! Our friends at the Bicycle Paper even wrote about this as well

http://bicyclepaper.com/articles/274-Bike-on-Over-to-the-Sunnier-Side

Some News on the Courses

We have tweaked our Super Gran Fondo and 100 mile Gran Fondo to provide even more scenic routes on remote roads that provide access to Discovery Bay, The Straight of Juan De Fuca and Fort Worden.  Gran Fondo Director David Cochran lived his first 28 years in Edmonds and says, “Over the past few months, I have discovered parts of the Olympic Peninsula I never knew existed.  I rarely jumped on the boat to come out to Port Townsend or Sequim and had no idea how beautiful and scenic the area is.  Fort Worden is truly a gem that everyone should experience from the historic military buildings to the lighthouse at Point Wilson; riders will feel that they have been transported to another time.”

Super Gran Fondo news--Riding down the Hurricane

The national park is offering us this treasure of a climb but in year one, they just don't want us riding down the mountain (long story about accidents in national parks elsewhere. The park's council welcomes this event but just wants to be extra cautious in year one. It is not a treacherous descent but it can be cold on the way down and after you have ridden 83 miles to the base then climbed 17 to the top, a nice warm bus and a towel will be welcome. We plan to offer the ability to ride down next year. Bring a pack with a change of clothes so you can have a dry bus ride back to the Kingston festival.