The Epic Race Most Have Never Heard of
Some events are so famous that the name recognition is a big part of the appeal. Boston Marathon, Kona Ironman and Unbound Gravel are household names that speak for themselves and command respect. And to be honest, these events are famous for a reason. With people coming together from all over the world, there’s a vibe that makes participating in them all the more special.
And yet, some of the greatest events are (almost) unknown. You may have heard rumors that there’s this ride, race or gathering, in some far-out-of-the-way place. That the riding is amazing there, and that the people are just as much fun. Information about these events is often sparse. Most web searches don’t pull up anything useful. Asking Reddit only confirms the rumors, without anybody being able to contribute something tangible, like a date and location.
Why-Not-Chee, the crown jewel of the Olympic Adventure Series gravel races, fits that description. It takes you high into the Olympic Mountains, to places where it’s surprising that there’s a road at all. (Sure, online maps show the mountains criss-crossed by roads, but most are long-abandoned and completely overgrown logging spurs, not places you can actually ride a bike.)
I explored this region in my quest to reach Humptulips Ridge, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remote places that’s still accessible by bike. It took me multiple attempts to finally get there. Along the way, I discovered gravel roads that are among the very best in the world. They climb high ridges and drop into deep valleys. There’s little traffic—and not much of the dreaded washboard (and dust) that can make gravel riding a chore. The roads twist and turn—the riding is fun and challenging. The views are spectacular. I kept thinking: “Somebody should organize a ride or race here.”
Turns out somebody does organize a race on these roads. Buck Giles, who runs La Vogue Cyclery in Hoquiam on the Olympic coast, has scouted a route that climbs to the highest parts of Humptulips Ridge. These are places I only dreamt of visiting, not knowing that there was an actual, rideable road up there.
Rideable? It actually depends on your fitness. The biggest climb up Humptulips Ridge rises 2,700 ft (850 m) in one go, on rough gravel, with gradients of 17% and more. That’s more than many of us can handle, especially when it’s only 1/4 of the total climbing of the longest 77-mile race distance. There is no shame in dismounting and hiking for a bit. In any case, it’s not much slower than riding when the terrain gets this steep.
The views and sheer remoteness of the place make the effort worthwhile, whether you are in contention for winning the race or just enjoying the ride. (If you’re racing, you’ll find some strong competition. Last year, Ted King, former champion of Unbound and SBT GRVL and winner of this year’s Race Around Rwanda—came out for the sister race across Bon Jon Pass.)
The race’s name, Why-Not-Chee, is a play on Lake Wynochee, a near-mythical lake nestled in the southern Olympic Mountains. In all my years in the Pacific Northwest, I’d never met anybody who had actually been there. Lake Wynochee does actually exist, located at the foot of Humptulips Ridge. It’s just that it’s 56 km (35 miles) from the next town, on a road that dead-ends at the lake. There used to be a campground, but that closed many years ago. Today, there are no services at all, not even water. It’s about as remote as it gets.
Buck and Lorrie, the organizers of the Olympic Adventure Series gravel races, obviously thought: Why not organize a race in this beautiful, remote place? That’s where the ‘Why-Not’ part of the name comes from: a tongue-in-cheek reference to the difficulty of reaching this beautiful place.
Lorrie and Buck got permission to use the old campground, so racers have a place to stay before the race if they want. They bring in water. They even organize a food truck (included in the entry fee!) Why-Not-Chee a low-key event that’s truly grass-roots, even if the racing at the front is competitive.
In addition to three epic courses between 36 and 77 miles, there’s a scenic 17-miler that goes around Lake Wynochee. This makes it a perfect family event: Come out the day before, camp and enjoy beautiful Lake Wynochee, and then choose a ride or race based on your ambitions and abilities.
For the race, there is water at strategic locations—and you’ll need it. The longest course goes over 77 miles (124 km), with more than 10,000 ft (3,000 m) of climbing. That’s not a typo, and it means that the average gradient is 5% (up or down). It’s easy to underestimate the challenge. Last year, I skipped one water stop toward the end of the race and ended up refilling my bottles from a creek! (I also ran out of food, and a volunteer gave me part of a cookie he had brought as a snack for himself. Thank you!)
Years ago, a best-selling author asked me about a ride for their book Fifty Places to Bike Before You Die. They were looking for an epic adventure that would fuel readers’ imagination. Back then, I mentioned our Cyclos Montagnards Challenge.
Today, I’d suggest Why-Not-Chee. It’s really that special, and I hope Buck and Lorrie continue to organize the ride/race forever. In fact, we love is so much that Rene Herse Cycles has become the title sponsor. It’s our way to give back to our local community.
Last I checked, there were a few spots left for this year’s edition. Mark your calendar for July 26! I hope to see you there.
More information:
- Why-Not-Chee ride/race information and signup
