[2] The ride takes place on the second or third weekend in July mostly on country roads, avoiding Interstate 5 (the freeway between the cities).
The Cascade Bicycle Club describes the 2006 route as "pretty flat with the “Big Hill” coming at the 45-mile mark.
Amenities include overnight accommodations, showers, first aid, chiropractic and massage, bicycle repair and storage, food and drink vendors, pancake feed and breakfast to go, live music, and a beer garden.
[7] There is some mechanical support, provided by Performance Bicycle stores from Tacoma, Seattle, Redmond and Lynwood WA.
From 1979 - 2019, the ride took place every year including 1980 when the route was changed because of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, also ending in Seattle.
[10] Participation reached a peak in 1989, the tenth year (Paul Zakar, Director‘86 to‘89) when the limit of 10,000 riders took part.