Hop on: Half-Century Bicycle Tour returning soon

CHEWELAH — Bike-riding enthusiasts will be happy to learn that the Chewelah Lions Club’s annual Half-Century Bicycle Tour, noted for its route through beautiful farmland scenery, gets underway on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Each year, a specially designed t-shirt is offered to those who participate in this exhilarating and energetic event. Entry fee is $20 per person; $45 if the T-shirt is included. All ages and abilities are welcome, according to event chair, Margie Walters.

Along all four routes — 8-, 10-, 25- or 50-mile — there will be water, snacks and Lions Club guides.

Whichever route riders choose, there will be minimal country-road traffic. To help ensure the safety of the tour, Lions Club monitors are stationed at the handful of crucial traffic points.

The tour begins at 10 a.m. on the southeast corner of Chewelah City Park, with day-of-tour registration starting at 8:30 a.m. Chewelah City Park sits between Park Street on Highway 395 and Third Street, with the tour starting on the Third Street side.

Registration forms are available at the Chewelah Chamber of Commerce office or by contacting Walters at 509-951-8154. Pre-registration is not mandatory but is recommended, Walters said.

The completed registration form can be dropped off at the chamber office or emailed to [email protected]. Registration forms are also available at Adventure Peddler in Colville and these Spokane and Spokane Valley locations: Bicycle Butler, Hillyard Bicycle, Argonne Cycle, Solnix, Wheel Sport, Wheel Sport Valley (Spokane Valley), Mojo Cyclery (Spokane Valley) North Division Bicycle and Spoke ‘n Sport.

Proceeds go to fund Lion’s Club’s community involvement, including vision and hearing screening, help with buying eyeglasses, blood drives, support for families battling cancer and much more.

For more information, contact Sally Beane, Chewelah Valley Lions Club publicity chair, at 509675-7187.