Sports nutrition products such as bars, gels and drinks offer no performance advantage;
however, they may be more convenient than real food. However, bars that taste good
when riding at 80° F (27° C) may be unpalatable (because of taste and/or hardness) at
32° F (0° C). As a rule of thumb, as the temperature drops go for softer foods. I like to
eat banana bread, oatmeal cookies, soft bagels with peanut butter and jelly, boiled salty
potatoes, and the occasional gel. I cross-country ski, too, and on winter rides I’ll often
take the same food as I would skiing, food that’s crunchy whatever the temperature:
granola bars, crackers or pretzels, nuts and dried fruit.
Hydration Requirements
While your caloric requirements increase in the cold, your hydration requirements
decrease, although you still need fluid. Some physiologists used to think that hydration
requirements increased in the cold because you are exhaling moist, warm air; however,
when you metabolize glycogen (from carbohydrates) that releases H2O, which more than
offsets the water exhaled. The rule is the same year-round: drink to satisfy your thirst. I
drink hot beverages such as hot tea with honey or hot sports drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stinky Spoke depends on many volunteers on the day of the event to make it a success. Sign up to help before, during and/or after the ride. Contact us any time about volunteering.
Parking is available at the Redmond City Hall parking garage, 8711 160th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052, on the second through fourth floors. Overflow parking may be available at the King County District Courthouse, 8601 160th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052. Please DO NOT park in the Redmond Public Library parking area.
Yes, you can register at packet pickup on Friday, January 30 at Postdoc Brewing, 17625 NE 65th Street #100, Redmond, WA 98052, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. You can also register the morning of the ride. HOWEVER, if you choose one of these options, the base cost of $70 will increase to $85.
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 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Postdoc Brewing Company, 17625 NE 65th Street #100, Redmond, WA 98052. 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 where you can ride side by side, but there might be other people on the trail. About 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 Stinky Spoke even stinkier! We will hold the ride, even if it's raining. Only if conditions are unsafe, such as with ice or severe weather, will we postpone the ride.
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 highly recommend that all riders wear helmets for safety, but we do not police helmet usage.
Yes, electric bikes are allowed. Stinky Spoke is a ride for mountain bikes, gravel bikes, e-bikes and your bike!
Rotary Club of Redmond
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!
