Stinky Spoke Mountain Bike Ride
THERE IS SPACE FOR ONLY 400 RIDERS!
Join us on Saturday, January 27, 2024, to ride this classic 20-mile mountain bike loop in Redmond, WA, on what we hope will be the "stinkiest" weather day of the year. You belong to this ride, no matter your experience or fitness level--it's a fun ride for novice and expert mountain bikers alike! Let's pedal to raise funds to support local and international causes!
REGISTRATION COMING SOON! DELAYED SO THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT THE MOST USER-FRIENDLY REGISTRATION EXPERIENCE. STAY TUNED!
Ride Day Details
Parking:
For the 2023 Stinky Spoke Ride, we are once again able to park at Overlake Christian Church, just south of Willows Run Golf Complex. The address is: 9900 Willows Rd, Redmond, WA 98052.
Packet Pickup and Happy Hour:
Packet pickup will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, January 26, at Willows Run Golf Complex. Willows Run is also holding a special no-host Happy Hour for us during those hours, so we hope you'll join us! In terms of the ride, it’s always more convenient to pick up your packet the day before, if possible. Then, in the morning, you’ll park your car, ride your bike to Willows, and be all ready to go! If it’s not convenient to pick up your packet the day before, be at Willows in the tent starting at 7:30 a.m. on ride day to pick up your packet with your rider number. It’s possible to pick up your swag bag after the ride—all you’ll really need from the packet is your ride number.
Bike Parking:
This year, we have bike racks available for parking for MOST of the bikes that will be entered in the ride. Riders should bring their own locks, however. There will be some volunteers available to keep an eye on the bikes parked there, however, ride organizers will not be responsible for bikes before or after the ride.
What’s Available on the Ride Course:
Water is available at Redmond Ridge, Farrel-McWhirter Park, and Sammamish River SAG stops along the route. At the Little Bit stop in Farrel-McWhirter Park, traditional hot potatoes and hot chocolate are also available. There might be additional snacks along the way, but if you’re going to need more fuel, better carry your own snacks.
Volunteering on the Day of the Event:
This event takes a lot of volunteer support. Even if you're not riding, volunteering to help before and after the ride is important. Signups for volunteers will open on January 1, 2024.
Timing of the Ride:
The ride starts promptly at 9 a.m. from Willows Run Golf Complex. You can find the starting line on the path between Willows Road and the golf complex. You may start the ride before 9 a.m., but there will be no guarantee that the SAG stops will be ready for you, particularly Heart Attack Hill and the stop at Redmond Ridge. If you take longer than four hours on the course, you may find that SAG stops have wrapped up for the day and most everyone will have left Willows Run Golf Complex. Lunch will be ready at 12 noon. Prizes will be awarded between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. At 2:00 p.m., volunteers will be cleaning up and heading home.
The After Party:
After you’re finished riding, your registration fee entitles you to one free beer or soft drink (more beer is available for purchase) and hot food. Stick around for the results of the best poker hands and, even if you didn’t have a good hand, you’ll be eligible for drawings of wonderful gifts and prizes.
Food Before and After the Ride:
Breakfast and lunch are available to order from the menu at the golf course, if you don’t see what you like from the event food that is part of your ride registration. We're doing chili, cornbread, and cookies again this year. We'll have a vegetarian/vegan option for those with dietary restrictions.
History of the Ride:
Stinky Spoke was started by avid mountain bike rider and organizer Todd Cowles to benefit Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. After 13 years, the ride transitioned to the Rotary Club of Redmond, the ride’s current organizers. Despite a one-year hiatus during COVID, the ride continues on in its great tradition.
Course Description
The ride begins at Willows Run Golf Complex. Riders ascend Heart Attack Hill—either walking or riding is acceptable. After getting your heart rate up and celebrating its crest, you’ll wind your way on the Tolt Pipeline Trail through Redmond Ridge and Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park to the Sammamish River Trail and back to Willows Run Golf Complex.
Ride Traditions
What keeps us coming back
Poker Ride
Heart Attack Hill
Redmond Ridge
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Sammamish River
Finish Line
Registration DELAYED!
STAY TUNED!
Redmond Rotary uses the ACTIVE event registration platform. ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations. Registration includes one beer, lunch, SAG stop snacks, goody bags, and all the fun you can stand. Priceless!
A portion of your registration will go to the Redmond Rotary Foundation to support local and international charities. Riders will also have the opportunity to fundraise for their favorite charities. See the ACTIVE registration site for more information.
On-line registration ends at midnight on January 24. You'll still be able to register in person on the day of the event, but it's going to cost you!
Our Charities
All proceeds go towards helping these non profit organizations and others:
Tips from our Blog
Tips, tricks, and other good to know information from our blog, written by our sponsors:
Great Memories
Come make some with us!
Frequently Asked Questions
Redmond Rotary depends on many volunteers on the day of the event to make it a success You can sign up to help either before or after the ride. Signups for volunteers will open on January 1, 2024.
For the 2024 Stinky Spoke Ride, we are once again able to park at Overlake Christian Church, just south of Willows Run Golf Complex. The address is: 9900 Willows Rd, Redmond, WA 98052. Riders can park at Willows Run Golf Complex, but please leave the spots closest to the tent open for golfers.
Rider packets will be available starting at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the ride. Rider packets will also be available the evening before, Friday, January 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Willows Run Golf Complex. We encourage all riders to save time and pick up their packets the evening before the ride.
The part of the course that runs through the watershed is a single track. There are places you can ride side by side, but there might be other people on the trail. We’d say that more than 70 percent is not a single track. The ride through the watershed has many curves and only a few steep ups and downs. Most of the pipeline trail is wide. Heart Attack Hill is a challenge, with two steep downhill runs on the course.
Rain will make the ride even stinkier! We will hold the ride, even if it's raining. We have, however, postponed the ride when snowy and icy conditions made it too treacherous to ride. Sometimes the weather can be just too stinky.
Kids and families are welcome to ride. However, the course is challenging, and we recommend that riders be nine years of age or older.
We are not checking that each rider wears a helmet, but it is recommended for the safety of each rider.
Redmond Rotary Club
Rotary International is a humanitarian service organization that brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide community service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace, and understanding in the world. Redmond Rotary produces Stinky Spoke, our major fundraising event of the year, to raise needed funds for local charities and international priorities. Its education program recognizes students-of-the-month at Redmond High School, supports Redmond High’s Interact Club, and awards scholarships so that students can further their educations.
(Thanks to all the photographers that have captured Stinky Spoke images. Our lead photo is courtesy of Kimberly Lind Photography.)
Redmond Rotary meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at noon at the Family Pancake House and the second and fourth Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at Postdoc Brewing Company - Join us!
