Whether you pedal solo or join a team under the “Corporate Cup,” you’ll be riding for more than just mountain views—all entry fees go to support cancer research at the DanaFarber Cancer Institute. Born from the legacy of Wendy Ramsey and her battle with a rare form of blood cancer, the event brings together community, riders and cause—a chance to help push forward vital funding for cancer research. Climb for the Cure founder Duane Ramsey said there are other upgrades planned for this year’s ride, from prizes, a water station addition near the summit and more food options to adjustments to the two route start times to synchronize when riders roll back in. “It’s always a goal to make the rider experience a little better every year,” said Ramsey. 

The post Climb for the Cure Keeps Growing  appeared first on Out There Venture.

For more than three decades, the Lilac Century Bike Ride has marked the start of cycling season around Spokane with scenic miles, good food and a welcoming vibe for riders of all abilities. The 33rd annual event rolls out Sunday, May 17 from Big Barn Brewing on Green Bluff, where all routes start and finish. Riders can choose from paved 25-, 50- and 66-mile (metric century) routes, a full 100-mile century, or a 35-mile gravel option that explores the backroads of Green Bluff and Peone Prairie.

The ride is fully supported with monitored courses, SAG vehicles and mechanical help from North Division Bicycle Shop. E-bikes are welcome, although e-bike mechanical support may be limited. Each route includes well-stocked food stops and a food truck at the finish serves up a hearty post-ride meal included with registration. Participants can relax afterward at Big Barn Brewing with a pint or cider. Hosted by the Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club, the Lilac Century is the group’s main fundraiser, supporting community service projects ranging from local youth programs to veterans’ assistance and global health initiatives. Registration opens Jan. 1, 2026, at Lilaccentury.com. 

The post Lilac Century Bike Ride Returns May 17 for 33rd Year  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck

My first foray into Zwift racing came courtesy of a friend’s invitation to ride with the ODZ Killer Whales of the Zwift Racing League (ZRL). The team, many of whom are from Spokane, races in C Category, considerably above where I began in E. Having taken plenty a beating in real-life racing, I figured it couldn’t be any worse online despite the discrepancy. 

To race in ZRL and to chart my progress, I created a ZwiftPower account. Finishing races can improve one’s ZwiftPower score. Whatever one’s scores, outside of ZRL, Zwift will place riders in the most competitive racing category to minimize mismatches. To further balance the scales, given that about 20 percent of Zwift users are women, in-game performance is based on power-to-weight ratio, watts per kilogram, or w/kg. That makes Zwift racing fair for riders regardless of gender. W/kg is a great equalizer and the reason I have finished behind many a woman.  

My first race as an ODZ Killer Whale was a team time trial of 16 miles. I didn’t do well, finishing five minutes off the back. Only the first four finishing times counted for the standings and I was our fifth. The second race was 27 miles. I finished 14 minutes behind. I missed the third race because our cat Chloe walked across my computer keyboard just before the start, crashing my computer. Race four was 25 miles and I was 10 minutes off the back, pack fodder yet again. In each of the three events, I was the penultimate finisher. (For those who don’t know “penultimate,” that’s “next to last.”) Despite my poor finishes, the team ranks nine of twelve in its category. 

I finished so far behind because I am outclassed by the competition. No duh. My present FTP, the power I can presumably hold for an hour, is about 225 watts, roughly 2.5 w/kg. For the first race, I produced 2.0 w/kg. The winners averaged over 3.0 w/kg. Given the power differential, it was only a few minutes before I was blown off the back and slogging away on my own.  

Finishing off the back means I don’t score points for the team or myself. Scoring points requires finishing ahead of those with higher scores, which is how one climbs from one level to the next. Being the penultimate finisher is little help with that.  

Thankfully, there is more to Zwift racing than ZRL. Zwift offers at least one race every hour around the clock. These races have a category for totally new racers and there is no need to join a team. As I write this, I’m competing in the Zwift Unlocked series, five races over five weeks that began Oct. 6, three of which I have completed.  

For the first two races, my ZwiftPower score placed me in the E group. Not long into the first race, I was with three racers, having gapped the others. We dropped one of the group, and then the other. I was excitedly riding for the win until the final kilometer, a climb. I lost by three seconds, but I was feeling confident about my prospects. While second among 10 finishers, I was first among those with ZwiftPower accounts, earning 10 points for my Zwift Racing Score.  

In the second Unlocked race, there were 11 racers. Myself and one other rider dropped the others after a few miles. I lost by about 10 seconds as the winner pulled away near the finish. Because I had better racing scores than those I beat, I gained just four points, based, I assume, on my second place finish. Even though there was just 11 of us, the thrill of racing tactically, dropping riders and challenging for the win, made it fun.  

For the third Unlocked race I decided to take a chance with the D group despite not having the requisite score, hoping to level up to D. The strategy paid off. I placed 40 out of 47 but picked up 42 points, putting me solidly in the D category. But it came at the cost of having to slog away off the back, having been dropped after a few minutes. Definitely not as much fun as contending.  

I’ve been riding a second weekly race, Zwift’s Crit Racing Club. Two days after my third Unlocked race, I entered a crit race in the D category, again hoping to score some points and solidify my place in D Category. Finishing ninth out of nine cost me 30 points! Points wise, I was nearly back where I started but still, for the Unlocked series, three points above the D category threshold. Right near the bottom.  

With my low score and ranking, Zwift racing cannot be about winning and losing, especially since I’m not winning. Being a contender is more fun than getting beat up by better riders, but the real benefits have come in raising my power from 1.9 watts per kilogram (w/kg) before the first race to 2.6 w/kg as I write this. My functional threshold power rose more than 50 watts and is now equal to my outdoor FTP of 225 watts. Middling for sure, but real progress. I’ve also had my best 15-second, 30-second and one-minute power numbers in three years on Zwift. Even for a dummy like me, what’s not to like?  

Bradley continues to love teaching writing and literature courses at Spokane Falls Community College and hopes to both get stronger in Zwift races and enjoy as much time downhill skiing as possible this winter.  

The post I’m a Zwift Racing Dummy  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Justin Short 

Riverside State Park offers some excellent terrain when it’s time to roll the fatties, so I haven’t been in the habit of driving anywhere when there’s snow in town, but I figured it was time to give the (Almost) Annual Methow Fatbike Festival in Winthrop, Wash., a go. 

I’m calling this thing a festival because I like the alliteration, but you must know it’s a low-key affair that, in line with the event’s official name, is more of a “meetup” to keep the production costs as sustainable as possible. Erratic winter conditions have required a few cancellations over the years, and event organizers can no longer count on winter to stay wintery, even in the blustery north of the Methow Valley.  

It’s as much a gamble to attend a fatbike event as it is to organize. The festival is a long-weekend affair, so you’ve got to reserve a room well in advance given that Winthrop hosts a youth hockey tournament the same weekend. All you can do is book your stay and hope for the best. Worst case scenario, the weather goes to hell and you have to reschedule your reservation for a week or two later or come back for the spectacular summer riding.  

Managing the uncertainty is definitely worth the risk, because if you should happen upon the Methow Valley in prime winter conditions you will be confronted with what Jessica Robinson of Sandpoint, Idaho, describes as a veritable “Disneyland for fatbikes.”  

The Methow Valley is known far and wide as a mecca for Nordic skiing, but it has also got a phenomenal network of separate groomed fatbike trails at multiple locations. Of course, by now you’ve noticed that I’m using the term “fatbike” as a single word. While it’s not technically correct, it has kept me from running afoul of social media community standards. We will tolerate no hate speech, not even against bikes.  

The good folks at Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop kick this thing off Friday night with a fire pit meet n’ greet before a night ride on the town trails. That’s when you find out how many of your friends from Spokane are regulars at this thing, and you notice riders from the west side having a similar experience. The temperatures plummet as the sun disappears over the ridge, so dressing to stay warm while you’re standing around yacking with folks ends up being the perfect layering strategy for zooming around in temperatures that dipped very quickly down into the lower teens when I was there. Somehow, cold is always less cold when you’re having fun. 

Saturday is the main event, and many riders come out just for this. Riders gather before 10 a.m. at the Pearrygin Lake lower trailhead for a pre-ride introduction to the trail system as well as words of wisdom for those new to fatbiking. A demo fleet is also typically on hand for riders to try some of the new fatbikes available at the bike shop. Riders scatter in all directions after cramming in for a group photo by the lake, and the adventure begins.  

Rolling climbs reveal breathtaking, expansive views over the lake framed in by the surrounding mountains. The climbs themself are somewhat breathtaking as well, but none too daunting and totally worth the groomed flow trail descent that awaits. Zooming back down to valley floor amidst the jubilant hoots and hollers of my friends, I think this may be my best day ever on the big squishy wheels. Returning to the lot for hot refreshments next to the fire pit deepens the social element before heading out to explore another segment. We didn’t explore everything Pearrygin Lake has to offer, but it was still a very big day.  

At 4 p.m. riders regroup at the bike shop for charcuterie, snacks and fizzy beverages until a fireworks show out by the fire pit. Afterwards, my friends and I rode across town to devastate the menu of one of the fabulous Winthrop restaurants. Then we went out for an exceedingly fun evening bonus ride on the town trails as the temperatures dipped into single digits. I was feeling no pain, as I had bought a magic flannel that was on sale at the bike shop—Club Ride, if you must know—and it has become my go-to layer for all rides outside of the dog days of summer.  

Sunday wraps up the weekend with a ride in other areas such as Big Valley or Gunn Ranch. We went somewhere else that was chosen on the fly because it was an area that is not normally open to fatbiking. You may find yourself soaking in the reverie over post-ride burgers in town, vowing to make the Methow Fatbike Festival a tradition. For more info, contact Methow Cycle & Sport or check out their socials. 

Justin Short is a world fatbike traveler, if by the world you mean Riverside and the Methow Valley.  

The post Methow Fatbike Meetup: Winter Riding in Winthrop appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce

Grant County’s only bike shop opened its doors in Moses Lake this summer, offering bike repairs, select sporting goods, and new and used bikes, including entry-level e-bikes. The shop is a welcome addition to the Central Washington community after the closing of Tri-State Outfitters following COVID. Shop co-founder Andrew Spark says he’s excited to serve all of the cyclists living in the Moses Lake area. While many cyclists travel to Wenatchee, Spokane or Beezley Hills in Ephrata to ride, having a home shop will help stoke the local cycling community by offering in-town bike maintenance and gear options. 

Sun City Cycle & Sports also carries a curated line of disc golf supplies, including beginner- to pro-level discs. Why disc golf and bikes? Because the shop owners love both sports. Spark says the disc golf course at nearby Blue Heron Park is a hidden gem in the region. Sun City is also offering consignment for used bikes that are still in good shape and plans to carry skateboards soon to support the passionate local skatepark scene. Drop by the shop in downtown Moses Lake at 312 S. Division St. 

The post Sun City Cycle & Sports Brings Bike Repairs and Gear to Moses Lake’s Growing Outdoor Community appeared first on Out There Venture.

How does a river city turn natural beauty into everyday well-being? In Spokane, the answer is the Centennial Trail, a paved corridor that links neighborhoods, parks and river views.  

The route now stretches about 63 miles. It runs roughly 40 miles in Washington, from the Idaho border through Spokane Valley to downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park, and west to the Nine Mile Falls Recreation Area. Another 23 connected miles of trail continue in Idaho, through Post Falls to Higgins Point on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Washington section, known as the Spokane River Centennial Trail and managed as a Washington State Park, was recognized as a National Recreation Trail in 2010, underscoring its regional significance. 

The vision for the trail took shape in the mid-1980s, when a group of citizens rallied behind the idea of creating a continuous path along the Spokane River. By 1991, their efforts led to the formation of Friends of the Centennial Trail, a nonprofit organization that has served ever since as the Washington portion of the trail’s leading advocate. Working in partnership with Washington State Parks and local municipalities, the group helps secure funding, organizes volunteers and champions trail maintenance and completion. 

Today, millions of trips are logged on the Centennial Trail each year. Families, commuters, cyclists and runners use it daily for transportation and recreation. Beyond its role as a recreational outlet, the trail has been shown to contribute significantly to public health and the regional economy, while strengthening community connections and property values. 

For anyone who enjoys the trail, membership with Friends of the Centennial Trail is one of the most direct ways to give back. Supporting the organization helps ensure this riverside backbone remains accessible and well cared for into the future. 

The post Keeping Spokane’s River Path Thriving  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Shallan Knowles

Ever had that feeling that it’s September (already?!), and you haven’t had your fill of hiking, pedaling, kayaking or huck picking? What the heck happened to summer? Well, you’re in luck. With cooler fall temps promising perfect outdoor adventure weather, the good times out on the trails are not over yet.   

The Inland Northwest is crisscrossed with incredible long-distance rail trails, cycling routes and pathways that seem to get better every year. The Route of the Hiawatha is at its smooth, gravelly prime. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s famed moose and great blue heron sightings are plentiful. More and more family and friends are embarking on the Bitterroot 300, enjoying the sleepy Saint Joe River wilds as well as the Route of the Olympian rail trail heading deeper into Montana. The North Idaho and Spokane River Centennial trails continue to be improved upon, raising the recreational experiences of walkers, cyclists and dogs alike.   

As fall draws ever closer, the only climate-change positive is a longer cycling season expanding well into October and beyond. If you are hoping to fit in a fall ride on the Route of the Hiawatha, you’ll need to make it happen by Sept. 21, when the “Tunnel” shuts down for the season. The fall cycling season is the best, with little to no precipitation, no bugs, and few people, which means the trails are wide open to ride.  

With another summer trails season behind us, I want to take the opportunity in this public-lands focused edition of Out There to draw attention to an issue that continually jams my saddle: poor trail etiquette. When I ride, which I do almost as much as possible or as long as a pair of clean bike shorts are available, I am all about enjoying the aesthetics of the trail I’m on. Be it the wilderness-like Hiawatha or more urban-focused Centennial, I am in the moment of the “the ride.”  

I stop frequently to enjoy the flora and fauna, chat it up with other cyclists, and soak up the glorious recreational amenities we have such easy access to. My focus, naturally, is not on who is speedily coming up from behind me hell-bent on a Tour de France-type ride. I am looking around, checking out flowers, wildlife prints in the mud, the sound of the river or wind in the trees. Many other riders out there on our shared trails are similarly absorbed in their own in-the-moment experience much of the time and not looking out for potential moving hazards either. This is where trail etiquette comes into play. It’s every trail user’s responsibility to do their best to keep each other safe and take care of the trail and surrounding environment. 

Trail Etiquette for Cyclists, Hikers and Dog Walkers  

Here are some trail-behavior basics we all need to follow to keep it fun and safe out on our region’s trails (especially when they are long and straight rail trails). 

Be Courteous: 

• Stay to the right when enjoying the trail. 

• Slower traffic and pedestrians have the right of way. 

• Make yourself known when overtaking another user by announcing something like “on your left” or deploying a bike bell. 

• Always pass other trail users on the left (assuming they are following the rules and are on the right side of the trail). 

Ride Safely and Responsibly: 

• Avoid sudden changes of direction. 

• Announce yourself when stopping or turning. 

• Yield when entering or crossing roadways. 

• Don’t block the trail. 

Protect Natural Resources: 

• Pack out all of your trash and strive to leave no trace. 

• Enjoy wildlife sightings, but don’t disturb or get too close to wildlife. 

• Stay on existing trails to reduce erosion and avoid trampling plants. 

Control and Pick Up After Your Pet 

• Leashes are required for dogs on Idaho and Washington state park trails unless otherwise posted. 

• Always pick up and pack out your best friend’s droppings. 

• Don’t let your dog chase after other trail users, other pets or wildlife. 

By making a small effort to use the above trail etiquette tips, we can all more fully enjoy our trails and public lands. Learn about more trails in the Idaho Panhandle and find more trail etiquette recommendations at Friendsofcdatrails.org. Feel free to contact me with any trail comments or questions at wallacepm56@gmail.com. See you out on the trails! 

The post Sharing the Trails: Fall Adventures and Friendly Reminders Cycling, hiking and dog walking with respect for nature and others  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Justin Short

Spokane has a lot of weird bike stuff going on. Twenty-one years ago, one guy goaded a few friends into riding all night, and the Midnight Century was born. More recently, Dan Webber rolled out a couple of signature Spokane events: The Great Spokane Shop Ride, which sends riders scrambling to visit every bike shop in town, and my personal favorite, The Spokane Stair Master, which climbs 25 staircases and over 1,200 steps in 20 miles. There’s really no shortage of eccentric things to do on bikes here, but why not add to the fray?  

Gravel Braintrustee Anthology Johnson had been brainstorming a way to get a bunch of goofballs to ride a century in costume sometime around Halloween. Enter the 7th annual Corbin Park Witches’ Ride. Anthology had been eyeballing Corbin Park as a potential site for something akin to the Ladd’s 500 in Portland, a legendary goofball fest that draws hundreds of idiots out to ride a century on a roundabout in the historic Ladd’s Addition neighborhood. At eight-tenths of a mile and being rectangular in shape, Corbin Park would fit the bill quite nicely. This whole thing came together last minute, so we didn’t have a commemorative sticker or a candle burning on the altar bearing the image of OTO writer Carol Corbin, our patron saint. Perhaps this year she can kick this thing off by anointing riders on the nose with a dollop of magic donut frosting. She’s always wanted to start a cult.  

I spent the afternoon figuring out which lighting system to strap down to which bike, and which snacks to pack—it was a “which’s” ride, after all. I then dusted off my chicken costume and headed for the park. Halfway there, I realized I had forgotten my Conan the Barbarian sized Masonic sword to place upon the altar. Yes, I briefly mentioned an altar in the previous paragraph. The rules of this thing clearly state that riders must lie and say, “I’m all in for the full 100,” even if they aren’t, and they must bring something to sacrifice upon the altar. And, oh, what an altar it was: candles, a skull, a bundle of sage, giant rubber dentures, a mountain bike tire, and a large jug of Fireball for our hydration needs. Snacks and water were piled up on either side for our frequent pit stops.  

The Witches’ Ride, presented by Corbin Park Neighborhood Association, as far as I knew, involved a dozen folks showing up in witch costumes to ride a few laps around the park, then wandering off to hit the bars on Monroe. But it was sooo much more. There had to be more than a hundred witches and various other ghostly and gobliny characters gathered around the basketball court watching a coven of witches do a choreographed dance routine to classic Halloween tunes. Our “baker’s coven” (14 riders) gathered, bedecked in resplendent costumery. We had a mouse, a dinosaur, an avocado, a witch or two, a Spanish Civil Traffic Guard with a Gandalf hat, and a chicken. Anthology was rather understated with a dozen or so fuzzy tarantulas on his helmet.  

As the musical procession concluded, witches took to the streets for a lap or two, cars that lined the park began pulling out, and children were trick or treating amidst the chaos while a couple of guys on e-bikes tossed candy about. We wanted to get the guy on the beach cruiser with a colossal wolf mask to join us, but I’m guessing he couldn’t hear us through that magnificent thing he was wearing. Was it made out of cardboard? Was it made out of quarter-inch steel plate? We’ll never know, but it was by far the coolest costume of the evening.  

As the traffic cleared out, our pace picked up a bit, holding about 13 mph on the front stretch and 17 mph on the back stretch after cresting the “hill.” Our night was mapped out for us: go to the next corner and hang a left. 100 laps would be 80 miles, and 125 laps would be a solid imperial century, or, more appropriately, a “vampirical” century. I lost count somewhere around four laps in.  

At some point, someone suggested we switch directions, and this is where things got weird. For the next couple of hours, I had many moments in which I could not place where I was. Fortunately, there was always a right turn coming up. Our avocado and witch team rode a triumphant metric century. Another witch in an invisibility cloak rode 59 miles, and three of us finished the century while other friends dipped in and out. I’m pretty sure Justin Skay, former writer of this column, had been there for a bit too, dressed as Justin Skay. 

It was well after midnight, and soft cheers emanated from the couple of porches where Halloween parties were still going when the hankering for tacos hit us pretty hard. A 10 p.m. taco drop is something we’ll definitely orchestrate next time around. Anthology’s 125-lap calculation was right on the money. When it was all said and done, I took a few ceremonial glugs from the sacred Fireball jug on the altar and swerved home. I foresee this thing gaining some traction this year, so sharpen your vampire fangs and tighten up the straw on your broom. We don’t know yet if the 2025 Witches 100 will be Saturday, Oct. 25 or Nov. 1, but either way, prepare to declare yourself all-in for the full 100! 

Out There’s “Everyday Cyclist” columnist Justin Short is always looking for an excuse to ride around town in a chicken costume. 

The post Witches on Wheels: Spokane’s Spooky Century  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Eastoberfest returns to Spokane this fall with a full day of racing and community celebration on the mountain bike trails around Beacon Hill. Hosted by Evergreen East, the 2025 event takes place Sunday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Minnehaha Park. This multi-stage enduro will showcase both new and classic trails, giving riders of all levels a chance to test their downhill riding skills. Categories are available for expert, sport, beginner, and junior riders, along with dedicated e-bike divisions.

Registration costs $60 for Evergreen members, $75 for nonmembers, and $30 for juniors, with proceeds going directly to support local trail building and maintenance. Online registration closes Oct. 10 at 11:59 p.m., and no day-of registration will be offered. Registration includes a shirt, swag, a food truck coupon, entry into a prize drawing, and a post-race beverage. Race organizers are recruiting volunteers to help keep the event running smoothly, so sign up if you don’t want to race but can lend a hand. Eastoberfest has become a fall tradition for the region’s mountain biking community. Register at Evergreeneast.org. (OTO) 

The post Eastoberfest Enduro Returns to Beacon Hill Spokane appeared first on Out There Venture.