Cycling enthusiasts from WSU will host a bike tour through the rolling hills of the Palouse during this year’s National Lentil Festival in Pullman.

The Tour de Lentil, a decade-long tradition that usually draws in between 100 and 150 people, will take place on Aug. 23. It is organized by the WSU Cycling Club.

“People do it as much for the social aspect as the beautiful route,” race director Jason Hurdlow said. “It’s fun to go out and ride with a large group of people and meet new riders and make friends.”

Participants often spend much of the ride conversing in groups rather than competing against one another.

“I can ride with my friends and cooperate with them instead of competing,” said T. Jay Clevenger, who owns Paradise Creek Bicycles in Moscow and has participated in the ride three times.

Clevenger said he likes the fact that the Tour de Lentil is not necessarily a race.

The event includes two routes: a 100-kilometer ride for the seasoned cyclist, and a 50-kilometer option for those who want less of a challenge.

The 100-kilometer route will take cyclists out of Pullman, through Colfax and Palouse, past Kamiak Butte and back to Pullman.

“Last year’s tour was the first time I’d ridden on something other than the Chipman Trail,” Cycling Club president Abrrey Monreal said. “And I liked riding on the road through the hills.”

Monreal said riders should be prepared for hills, although the routes were chosen to avoid the worst climbs.

“This is a safe time for people to come out and ride the Palouse and see the golden hills,” he said, noting that the ride appeals to those who haven’t participated in large-scale rides or simply want to ride with fellow cyclists.

Clevenger said the ride enables participants to experience the culture of the area.

“The lentil festival is a celebration of the Palouse, and the ride is a tour of the Palouse,” he said.

Paradise Creek Bicycles will provide free tune-ups before the ride. Clevenger will follow cyclists in a car to help those who experience bike problems along the way.

“We make sure everyone’s tires are pumped and gears are clicking,” he said.

Cycling club members hope to expand and improve the ride in future years. They’ll add a 150-kilometer route next year for those who seek even longer distances.

“Every year, we try to improve it,” Hurdlow said. “We take notes about what went well and what didn’t, and find out what we could do better.”

During the school year, the club holds races and training rides, including the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference finals road race.

Monreal said the club accepts anyone interested in biking and riders of all experience levels.

Participants must register on the WSU Cycling website before the ride. The $45 fee includes snacks and water at aid stations along the route as well as admission to the post-ride barbeque.