Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Saturday's Tour de Lentil, the bike riding event for Pullman's Lentil Festival, will send riders on three different routes around the east side of the county.
The tour's format is officially posted as a fun ride, but entrants can get a little competitive, according to Margaux McBirney, a third-year WSU student from Sandpoint, Idaho, who is president of the WSU Cycling Club, sponsor of the event.
As of Tuesday, the club had 47 riders signed up for the tour. More riders are expected to enter during the week and on the day of the event.
The tour offers rides of 150 kilometers, 100 kilometers and 50 kilometers.
As of Tuesday the club had nine riders signed up for the 150K event. It will take riders down Highway 194 to the Onecho Church, up to Colfax on the Almota Road and then north to Steptoe Butte. Riders will climb the butte and then descend before heading for Garfield, Palouse and back to Pullman.
The 150K, which is more than 90 miles, usually takes riders five to six hours to finish.
The 100K event will follow the same route to Colfax, but it will not include the loop up Steptoe Butte. At Colfax, riders will turn onto Highway 272, climb the Palouse grade and then ride across to Palouse and then down Highway 27 to Pullman.
Twenty-two riders had signed up for the 100K at the start of the week.
The 50K ride has been designated the Albion loop which will take riders to Albion, west on the Albion and Hamilton grade roads to 194 and then back to Pullman.
The club has signed 16 riders for the 50K.
Starting point will be near the east entrance of the Lighty building on the WSU campus with the 150K riders starting at 6:30, the 100K at 7:15 and the 50K at 7:30.
Riders will finish back at Lighty where the WSU cycling club will host a barbecue.
Entry fees for the ride are $55 for the 50K, $60 for the 100K and $75 for the 150K.
This week's traffic advisory from the Department of Transportation's eastern region office advises motorists to be alert for the riders. cycling@wsu.edu
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