To promote family-friendly fitness and fun, the 23rd annual Tour de Pierce bicycle ride will commence on Sunday, June 30. The weather is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high of 76. In past years, the event has seen anywhere from 400 to 900 participants, depending largely on weather.
The routes were adjusted this year to scale down on confusion and provide a variety of options for riders. There are now three mapped routes available, which all begin at the Washington State Fair’s gold parking lot in Puyallup.
The 12-mile route through Puyallup and Sumner is designed for beginners and families. For the slightly more adventurous, a 30-mile loop adds Edgewood and Orting to the tour and the 50-mile loop incorporates South Prairie.
Each rider will be required to wear a CPSC-approved helmet. Good Samaritan Hospital’s Celebrate Seniority will have a limited amount available for purchase before the ride, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost varies from $7 to $10. Event t-shirts will also be available for an additional $20.
In addition to always wearing a helmet, Tour de Pierce officials remind riders to obey all traffic laws and use appropriate hand signals when turning, slowing down and stopping. To ensure each bicycle is in good working condition, Pierce County provides the following pre-ride checklist:
• Chains are clean and lubricated
• Cables are in good working order; greased and moving freely
• Brakes are checked for brake pad wear
• Wheels roll freely
• Tires are checked for air, cuts and tread wear
Participants can begin their selected course at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the ride, but registration will remain open until 11:30 a.m. to accommodate everyone’s needs. The course will close at 2:30 p.m. and at the end of the day, a support wagon will inspect each route for stragglers and those who may need assistance.
Registration fees are $18 per person or $54 for a family of four.
