The annual Stinky Weather Poker Ride is set for Saturday, Jan. 12 through Woodinville and Redmond. Stinky Spoke benefits Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center which brings equine-assisted therapies to children and adults with disabilities. Another purpose seems to be to get your bike really muddy – the course is described as 18 miles of cold, wet and muddy conditions.
Ride organizers claim to have chosen the date so the weather would be, well, stinky. “We picked what should be the worst day of the year for weather (combination of the rainiest and the coldest),” organizers wrote on the nonprofit’s website.
The 18.6 mile bicycle ride starts just north of the Sammamish River Trail then cuts up the Tolt Pipeline Trail from Woodinville-Redmond Road, dubbed “Heart Attack Hill,” over Hollywood Hill and back to the Tolt, over to Trilogy in Redmond, through the Redmond Watershed then back to the Tolt and the Sammamish River Trail, finally arriving at Redhook Brewery for the end of the ride party. (see the route map).
Along the way, cyclists pick up playing cards hoping to get a winning poker hand back at Redhook for prizes.
Registration is underway and can be done online here. Cost is $40 for pre-registration or $50 at the 9 a.m. start line.
The 2012 ride raised $20,000 for Little Bit, according to the ride's website. Woodinville Bicycle is again donating a bike to the prize list. Last year the winner used the credit towards the purchase of a higher end road bike.
Cycling in nasty weather not your thing? The event also needs volunteers.
