Thank you to the 608 riders that participated in the 28th annual Tulip Pedal!

We could not have asked for better  weather for our annual ride.

We have received a very large number of T-shirt orders.  We are expecting them early the week of April 19. As soon as we receive them, we will ship them to those of you who ordered them.

Many thanks go to our supporters and volunteers who made the ride happen:  Kris Atkins, Group Health, Joes Sports, Bicycling Magazine, Road ID, Crystal Springs Water Co., Costco, Adventures Northwest Magazine, La Conner and Burlington-Edison Schools, Skagit Bicycle Club, Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, Native Springs, Gordon Skagit Farms, Skagit Valley Signs, Washington Bulb Co., Town of La Conner merchants, and numerous individuals from Group Health, Skagit County Medic One, and Safe Kids Skagit County who manned the registration tables and the rest areas.

Thanks to all our riders. Your dollars help us promote injury prevention for kids in our area.

Tulip Pedal 2010 will take place next April. I welcome your suggestions and comments to make the ride better. Thanks to those who already submitted comments and suggestions. Know that I read and consider carefully every one of them.

-- Bill Craig (Tulip Pedal Director)

April 16, 2009

Be Sure to check out future Group Health-sponsored bicycling events. Go to http://www.ghc.org/cycling/ and check out the schedule.

Group Health Cooperative has jumped on board with Safe Kids Skagit County as our Tulip Pedal sponsor!

Group Health's involvement in premier rides such as the Seattle-To-Portland (STP) event, Chilly Hilly and other rides has been renowned in the Pacific Northwest.

Riders Enjoying the 2008 Ride
Photo Courtesy: Linda Wright

Bookmark the 2009 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

(Tulip Pedal 2007 was a hoot for these participants!)

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(2004 Tulip Pedal)

(Waite Family, Tulip Pedal 2005)

Kids and Tulips -- The Heart of the Tulip Pedal!

This is Safe Kids Skagit County’s premier fundraiser. Every dollar from this ride goes toward injury prevention efforts in Skagit County, with emphasis placed on preventing head injuries in children who ride their bikes in our area.

We appreciate our sponsors and supporters. Click on the logo for the company website:

Tulip Pedal Details

608 registrants came out for the 28th Annual Tulip Pedal!

Tulip Pedal offers three rides – a 20-mile course around the tulip fields between Mount Vernon and La Conner, and a 40-mile course that will begin and end near the tulip fields, and also will take cyclists past breathtaking views of Samish and Padilla bays, Mount Baker and the Cascade foothills. The 60-mile course will incorporate elements of the 20 and 40-mile rides, but will offer a swing around Fir Island, too! All rides begin and end at the La Conner Middle/High School complex.  

All riders are required to wear a bike helmet and obey all traffic laws.

All riders will pay $25. Children 14 and under ride free. Shirts will be guaranteed for all riders (with the exception of children) who register prior to March 28, 2008. If T-shirts are not available to those who register after March 28, they will be mailed for  a nominal fee. Along with a T-shirt, riders will receive a tulip from Washington Bulb Company -- one of the world’s largest growers of tulips.

This year’s registration form is downloadable here in PDF format.  Fill out and send to the address at the bottom of the form or you may scan and e-mail the form as an attachment to billc@skagitems.com. You also may phone or fax in your registration along with your credit card information.

Tulip Festival time isn’t very fun in the car.  Most of the thousands of people who flock here in April every year content themselves with driving by our beautiful tulip fields.

You will not be one of those people, will you?

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Tulip Pedal Registration Info

Pre-Registration:
     Adults $25 with commemorative T-shirt
     Kids ride free 
     Extra T-Shirts are $15

Day-of-Ride:
Adults $25 with commemorative T-shirt (subject to availability on ride day)

PLEASE NOTE:  The number of shirts available on day of ride will be limited to the number of pre-registrants. Shirts can be ordered and shipped to riders who register on day of ride. A shipping fee of $3.00 will be assessed.

Check-in and Registration:
7 am – Noon at La Conner Middle School. Start pedaling at your leisure. The Course will remain open until 4 pm.
BIKE HELMETS ARE REQUIRED.

We will accept cash, check and credit cards for pre-registrations and day-of registrations.

DIRECTIONS TO La Conner Middle School
From Interstate 5, take Exit 230. Follow Highway 20 west and go to La Conner Whitney Road. Take La Conner-Whitney Road south to the Town of La Conner. Take the roundabout and head west into town on Morris Street. Go to Sixth Street and take a right. The school complex is ahead. Watch for the Tulip Pedal signs.  See it at MapQuest.

Need a bike?
Riders can rent a bike from Skagit Cycle Center, 1704 Burlington Blvd, in Burlington. Skagit Cycle Center offers bike rentals from $30 to $60 per day.  Call them at (360) 757-7910, or go to their website at www.skagitcyclecenter.com.

Have questions?  Read on for answers to our most frequently asked questions.

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Tulip Pedal Frequently Asked Questions

So, what is this Tulip Pedal, anyway?
Tulip Pedal is an annual event that raises money for the prevention of unintentional child injuries, namely bike-related injuries, and is sponsored by Safe Kids Skagit County, under the leadership of.Skagit County Medic One. In other words, we raise money for bike helmets, bike-related information and programs that we disseminate to the public. Tulip Pedal is part of the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which draws thousands of people from around the world to Skagit County.

When did Tulip Pedal get its start?
The Tulip Pedal predates the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival by two years! Tulip Pedal began as an awareness ride for domestic violence back in 1982. Since then, Tulip Pedal has had many sponsors, including Skagit Hospice, KAPS Radio, North Region EMS and Trauma Care Council, and currently, Safe Kids Skagit County. Do you have some items from previous years? Let us know.

Who can participate in this Tulip Pedal?
Anyone who is a capable of riding a bike can participate.

Is there an age limit?
No, but please realize that courses are on busy roads during the most traffic-heavy time of the year in Skagit County. You may find that this is not an event for your little cyclists.

What do I get with my registration fee?
You will receive a T-shirt, a tulip courtesy of Washington Bulb Company -- one of the largest tulip growers in the world -- water and fruit, plus spectacular views of the tulip fields and the nearby Cascade mountains.

Why should I participate?
For fun, fitness and because you would otherwise get stuck in murderous traffic if you tried to get a view of the tulip fields – and who would want that?

Where can I register?
You can pick up ride applications at any bike and sporting goods store in Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish and King counties, Portland, Ore., Vancouver, B.C., and other locations. Or, you can just download an application here. Or, you can just show up on ride day.

Where do I send applications?
Mail applications to:
     Tulip Pedal
     2911 E. College Way, Suite C
     Mount Vernon, WA  98273-8909
Fax to: (360) 428-3235
E-Mail to: billc@skagitems.com
Call Bill: (360) 428-3236

To whom do I make out my check(s)?
Safe Kids Skagit County

Do you take credit cards?
Yes. You may write your credit card info on the application and send it in. You also may call in your credit card number when phoning in a registration. You also can use your card on the day of the ride. We’re sorry, but we don’t have the ability to take online registrations at this time.

Where is La Conner Middle School?
La Conner Middle School is located at 503 N. 6^th Street in quaint La Conner, Washington.

What if it rains?
This is the Pacific Northwest. It likely will rain. Don’t worry. You will be able to continue with your ride.

What if I break my bike, or worse, bust my noggin’?
We will have support personnel from Group Health and Joe's Sports to help out with breakdowns and other problems often experienced during cycling events. Our suggestion is to be prepared. As with any emergency, medical services personnel will just be a phone call away.

Still have questions?
Contact the Safe Kids Skagit County office at billc@skagitems.com or 360-428-3236.

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