PORT ANGELES — A total of 714 cyclists braved the steep climb to Hurricane Ridge during Sunday’s sixth annual Ride the Hurricane, according to its organizer.
Russ Veenema, director of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and organizer of Ride the Hurricane, said 53 percent of the riders were from the Seattle metro area and 24 percent from the Olympic Peninsula.
Nine percent came from across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Vancouver Island, while another 9 percent were from Oregon and 5 percent were from other states such as Texas, California, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Idaho and Minnesota, and even as far out of the nation as Germany.
They brought their money with them, Veenema said, estimating that the event brought $67,810 into the community.
“That’s probably low,” he said Wednesday.
“People do buy gifts at the retail stores and buy gas and groceries. I didn’t plug that in.”
He estimated that 128 rooms were booked because of the event.
“We use for calculating purposes 1.8 people per room, which means 230 people stayed in town for a night or two,” Veenema said.
“We estimate a person spends $125 per day, which means the 230 people staying in our lodges brought $28,750 to the community.”
Many planned to eat out or have a beer in town, Veenema said.
“So a rough estimate of 300 riders spending $35 each would bring in another $10,500.”
Registration for the event was $40. Fees collected came to $28,560, which go toward supporting the bicycle tour and are spent locally, Veenema said.
Riders received wristbands when they checked in that provided added value at local businesses.
The wristbands “were a big hit, and I think this has a lot of potential to expand in future years,” Veenema said.
Nearly 700 participated in the 2014 Ride the Hurricane.
Wilder Auto donated a Thule Rack Box that was given away after a drawing.
Marci and Dave Chance won the rack box. The Port Angeles couple have ridden all six years of the event, Veenema said, and “are avid supporters, usually bringing one or two other people with them for the ride.”
Riders had the option of departing from Heart o’ the Hills, which is at an elevation of 1,807 feet, for a 24-mile round trip to the 5,242-foot Ridge or leaving from Peninsula College for a 36-mile adventure.
They also could ride in a route that was new this year: a 40-mile, sea-level-to-summit option from Peninsula College down Ennis Street to the waterfront trail and up Francis Street Park to Race Street and the Ridge.
