Cannonball 2008

Date: Saturday, June 21, 2008. 3am Start

Presented by the Redmond Cycling Club

CANNONBALL is a one-day, ultra marathon endurance ride between Seattle and Spokane. It is 275 miles long, of which all but 17 miles are on the shoulder of Interstate 90. This year's Cannonball will be on Saturday, June 21, 2008, is officially sponsored by the Redmond Cycling Club, with finish line assistance graciously provided by the Spokane Bicycle Club. Cannonball has spawned many legends over the years. The ride was first suggested by the Quasi-Anonymous Cannonball Committee (QUACC) in 1984, soon after the Washington State Department of Transportation opened most interstate highway shoulders to bicyclists. However, credit for starting the ride must go to the ACC (the totally Anonymous Cannonball Committee). The ACC (a local racer with too many miles in the saddle) mailed an anonymous letter of invitation to the Bicycle Paper on April 1st, 1985. Three riders responded to the challenge, showing up at Russell Road Park in Kent at 3 AM on June 29, 1985: Don Anderson and Rich Saadeh (on a tandem, unsupported) and Sebastian Daley. Anderson and Saadeh went on to finish that first ride in 16:27. The ACC continued to mail anonymous letters of invitation to local riders each April 1st, through 1989. In 1990 the QUACC took over the ride and brought it to the Redmond Cycling Club. The number of riders has grown at a modest rate over the years, because of the daunting challenges of Cannonball. The 44 starters in 1993 made up one of the largest groups ever. Though the field is small, it has usually included the best endurance riders in the state. Nearly every Northwestern participant in the Race Across America (RAAM) has used Cannonball as a training ride. Bill Nye (a.k.a. Science Guy) has attempted Cannonball three times and finished twice. Cannonball 2007 has a $20 entry fee. This will help cover the costs to the Redmond Cycling Club (primarily for the USCF event permit, USCF insurance and printing and mailing costs). RCC offers no food or mechanical support. RCC will start the ride, provide volunteers to guide the way to I-90, arrange for a sign-in board and a room with a shower at the finish, publish a list of finishers, and have t-shirts for sale. Cannonball is sponsored by the Redmond Cycling Club. For more information and advice on preparation, send us an email or call (206) 361-5064.

For complete information on Cannonball, download the Cannonball Brochure.

Start

The ride starts near the west end of the I-90 bicycle/pedestrian tunnel in Seattle, which is at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and the I-90 bike trail. On-street parking is available on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The wide bike path on the I-90 bridge is well-lit and provides a fitting way to start the ride that is associated with I-90. The course continues on the I-90 trail over Mercer Island and through Bellevue to Eastgate. From Eastgate the course follows Newport Way to Issaquah and then Sunset Way through Issaquah to I-90. Check the new cue sheet on page 3 and the detailed maps (separate downloads). The start time is 3 AM, Saturday, June 21. Getting there by car: See the map below for directions. Support drivers may also want to consider parking at the Mercer Island end of the bridge, where there is a good parking and setup area with easier I-90 access. This parking area is on W. Mercer Way, just to the north of I-90; the bike path from the floating bridge runs right through it. To get there from I-90 eastbound, take exit 6A, followed by a left onto West Mercer Way. From I-90 westbound, take exit 6B, followed by a left onto 76th Ave. SE, a right onto 24th St., and a right onto West Mercer Way. Another advantage to parking here is that your riders can warm up by cycling over the bridge to the start area. To get back onto I-90 from the start area in Seattle, just go back south on Martin Luther King Way, then west on Massachusetts Street and north on Rainier Avenue to the eastbound on-ramp to I-90.

Finish

The finish is at the former Starlite Motel (traditional finish location). This motel is now with new owner/management, is allegedly refurbished, and has a new name, Airway Express Inn. The Airway Express Inn is plainly visible from I-90 (north side of freeway) near exit 276 (where Cannonball riders must exit). The address is:

Airway Express Inn 3809 S Geiger Blvd Spokane, WA 99224 (509) 747-7186 (509) 455-6319 (fax) (800) 772-7186 (toll-free) Although the finish line is at the AEI, you may seek other lodging. There is a newer motel next door now:

Best Western Inn 3711 S Geiger Blvd Spokane, WA 99224 509/624-4655
Several more motels are nearby on Sunset Blvd. (just follow Geiger Blvd. towards downtown). There is a Dennys and a Subway next to the AEI. Other restaurants are near by.

Course

The course starts with the bike path out of Seattle on the I-90 floating bridge. In Mercer Island take the trail across the north end of the island. Leave Mercer Island on the bike path of the East Channel Bridge. Follow the Mercer Slough trail in Bellevue to 118th Ave. SE (also known as Lake Washington Blvd.). The bike trail jogs to the south side of I-90 here and through the Factoria Interchange to Richards Road. Take SE 36th St. to 151st Ave. SE. Turn right on 151st Ave. SE and go uphill to SE Newport Way. Turn left onto Newport Way and follow it all the way to Issaquah. Turn left on Sunset Way in Issaquah and follow it through downtown Issaquah and onto I-90. Don't get off I-90 until you see the Airway Express Inn (and the Bicycles Must Exit sign) at exit 276.

Cost and Benefits

Cannonball 2008 has a $20 entry fee. This will help cover the costs to the Redmond Cycling Club (primarily for the USCF event permit, USCF insurance and printing and mailing costs). RCC offers no food or mechanical support. RCC will start the ride, provide volunteers to guide the way to I-90, arrange for a sign-in board and a room with a shower at the finish, publish a list of finishers, and have t-shirts for sale.

Contact Information

Address mail to:

Voice mail contact number: (425) 739-8609

A waiver form will be required to ride. Download the Word Doc Here and Adobe PDF form Here.

For complete information, download the Cannonball Brochure.

If you need the Adobe Reader you can download it here:

Cannonball Course Records

Last modified on 06-Mar-2008