The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce and the Cascade Bicycle Club are asking individuals with spare rooms or yards large enough for tents to consider donating space for an overnight lodger in July, when thousands of cyclists will pedal through the Twin Cities for the Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride.
Centralia is the traditional halfway stopping point for riders who do STP – a major fundraising event for Cascade Bicycle Club and many nonprofits along the route — in two days.
The chamber has stated before that the STP also provides a huge economic boost locally, and after its long hiatus due to the pandemic, having it back will be of benefit to the community. Churches, families and schools have donated space for campers in the past.
Club member registration for STP opened Tuesday Jan. 11. Non-member registration opens on Feb. 8.
“We urge everyone who knows a bicyclist to spread the word that STP is back,” said Paul Tolmé, media manager for Cascade Bicycle Club. “After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are hoping for one of our largest turnouts ever.”
STP is the largest and most iconic group cycling event in the Pacific Northwest. Cascade recently announced that it will return July 16-17. Up to 10,000 riders participate in STP, with most riders choosing to complete the ride in two days, staying overnight in the Centralia-Chehalis area.
