Back for 2025, it's the 2nd edition of Northwest Nonstop, a 1100 mile mostly paved Nonstop from Bellingham in Northern Washington to Davis in Northern California.
Start Date: Sunday June 22nd at 6AM, Bellingham, Washington
Finish Location: Davis, California
The Route: Over 47,000 feet of elevation stands between the start and finish meaning come prepared to climb forested back roads along the perimeter of vast temperate mixed forests. The route explores the inner corridor of the Pacific Northwest, though never too far from the main Interstate through the region, you'll find yourself leaving Bellingham on a connection of minor roads, to link up with a short stretch of bike path that leads to a way around the sprawl of Seattle by way of a few minor summits before following the minor roads through Washington. After trekking directly through the Vancouver/Portland sprawl you'll be dumped on minor Willamette Valley farm roads with a rich history of cycling. As you exit Eugene the prelude Mountain Stage will begin as you climb deep into the "hills" of southern Oregon. At the border of California the mountains truly begin and for the next 100+ miles, it's a bit out there with cell service disappearing for a few stretches. Finally, the last 200 or so miles transition into a more mellow dynamic though the more minor farm roads of the Northern Central Valley. Finally the route finishes at the steps of the US Bicycling Hall of Fame in Davis, CA.
Though this route is not a wilderness trek, the majority of it exists on the perimeter and transitions through cities as elegantly as possible. The primary objective of the route is the lowest traffic with the secondary objectives being equal parts hills and scenery. Finally, a third objective is to add as much off pavement as makes sense without the addition of anything ludicrous. For the record, it’s roughly 94 percent paved with the rest a mixed bag.
Leave No Trace: PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Any violation of this will result in permanent ejection from this and all future events. This also entails where you choose to rest. Don’t expect to post up in the middle of the town park and expect a rosy welcome from the locals. Tread lightly and swiftly, be seen when you need to be seen but sprawling out anywhere publicly is actively discouraged.
Bike type: A smooth tired gravel bike is ideal for most riders, something with tires between 32 and 35mm. Anyone choosing a tire much smaller than that will clearly be sacrificing protection/comfort for speed. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, things get rather chunky and remote. However, nothing’s impossible and just about any rig could make it with the right rider, just don’t say you weren’t warned.
Weather/Fire/Smoke: July is far from peak fire season, nonetheless it's safe to say there will be a fire somewhere within 50 miles of the route. We'll assess any and all fires and offer up any route changes in the lead up to the event. This could well include a shortened route with an alternate finish location somewhere convenient in the I-5 corridor. This is not the plan, but in the name of forecasting uncertainty, contingents are a possibility and will be made available as expeditiously as needed.
Services: The route is designed to take advantage of services and not avoid them. Expect numerous small town gas stations and groceries. Formal camping is hit or miss but there are plenty of bivy spots to be found if arriving late and leaving early. Motel options do present themselves with a reasonable frequency compared to other events. This route is designed to be both complete-able and bail-able. It's not designed to be intentionally hard, if there's a giant freaking hill, it's because it's the mellow option.
Tracking and Media: This event will be tracked exclusively with the Ride Yr Bike Tracker, now in it's 4th year. This will mean you’ll need a modern iPhone or Android device and most certainly a power bank or way to keep it charged. We will lay out expectations for tracking in the manual but the onus is on the rider to use the tracking app appropriately. Additionally this app will allow riders to upload photos and videos in a full screen format allowing content to be posted without the unnecessary cropping that is encouraged by modern social media. You’re still more than welcome to post your own content elsewhere but the app can be used to provide a robust log of your ride history that’s easy for those at home to follow all without having to have a social media account.
Optional Spot or Garmin Tracking: Ride Yr Bike now offers the option to track with a Spot tracker or a Garmin Inreach for no additional charge. You'll need your own satellite service with either Garmin or Spot. We do not provide rental trackers, bringing your own is the only alternative to using the app for tracking.
Safety Requirements and Inspection: There exist reasonable expectations for rider safety when it comes to lighting and reflectivity and we wholeheartedly understand that everyone has their own approach. We will lay out our minimum requirements in the manual. To enforce this, a virtual photographic inspection is required in the lead up to the event. Tools will be provided for this documentation and it is with great zeal that everyone is wished a safe journey.
Northwest Nonstop Event Manual
How to sign up? (SIGN UP HERE)
Northwest Nonstop Rider Agreement and Registration Payment Form