Let's ride!

Be part of history and pedal with us in the inaugural Pfizer People's Coast Classic! Click below to go to our online registration tool.



Or, if you prefer the old-fashioned way, download the offline registration form.



Training Sessions

Training rides will begin in March throughout the Pacific Northwest. To find out more about training rides, check back regularly on this site and keep posted on the latest news from TPPCC by following our Twitter feed and Facebook page.
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A little bit of training goes a long way

Training for an event like The Pfizer People’s Coast Classic shouldn’t be intimidating. A few key pieces of knowledge coupled with some good habits will make for a more enjoyable tour. The following training tips, provided by Russell Stevenson, will help you prepare for a more enjoyable cycling experience. Stevenson is a professional road and mountain bike racer as well as an internationally ranked UCI Elite Cyclocross Racer. He is a USA Cycling certified coach, Certified Bicycle Fitter, an employee of Bike Fit Systems, and an Outside Sales Rep for Voler custom Apparel.


Rules of the road and group riding etiquette

Ever felt a bit tense or uncomfortable riding in a pack? Me too. My tip: Try to relax. If you are uncomfortable being sandwiched in the middle of a group try riding along the perimeter. That will allow yourself an out if anything were to go wrong. Still uncomfortable? Look for the folks you are most comfortable riding with. Make friends! Try to stay clear of the jittery guy who can’t stop babbling and isn’t paying attention to the road. Avoid making quick aggressive moves when in a large group. Remember, you are a part of a pack current similar to that of plankton in the ocean. Sometimes you need to just float along...


Nutrition & eating

OK, so it’s the September 12, the first day of The Pfizer People's Coast Classic and you need to be properly fueled! But did you know that starts the day before? My tip: First off it’s usually a hard adjustment if you change your regular eating habits the day before a long ride. It’s best to maintain your typical diet as not to disrupt your system before extended exercise. Eat what you usually eat but get more of it! Be sure to load up on carbohydrates the day or night prior to the ride. My favorites include pasta, pizza or rice mixed with a lean meat of choice and a good supply of cooked vegetables. I’d recommend 65-70% of your meal be carbohydrates and upwards of 1300 –1700 calories. I’d also toss in a bowl of ice cream! High calories? It is, but you will thank yourself at mile 60!


It is also very important to consume plenty of electrolytes the night before a ride. I like to sip the same drink I will use on the ride getting 25-40oz in before I go to sleep. I repeat that hydration the morning of the ride. For breakfast look for easy to digest foods like oatmeal, cereal and muesli mixed with some yogurt or low fat milk. I usually blend one of those with my favorite fruit. If you’re more of the meat and potatoes kind of morning person try egg’s with some toast or pasta. Stay clear of the heavy fats like bacon or sausage.


Warming up

It’s a long ride but, should I warm up? My tip: Yes. Even if it’s just a short stroll around the parking lot it will help get your blood moving. You will enjoy those first few miles of the ride much more! I suggest you get in 10-15 minutes of easy spinning combined with a simple stretching routine. One thing to note for those that do not stretch too often (many of us!) is not to stretch too hard or deep the day of the ride. If you push to the point of pain you are making micro tears in your muscle fibers. That can take away from your performance. Your muscles need time to recover from a deep stretch. Keep your morning stretch light and easy hitting the main muscle groups of your legs, core and arms.


Riding techniques

This is my favorite. I hear many people talking about this sort of riders style or that sort of technique. The reality is anyone can be a multidimensional rider. If you think you are a “masher” or “big gear” sort of guy/gal, try picking up your cadence once in a while. Spin a gear that gets your heart rate up without using a ton of muscle strength. You’ll find you can go just as fast using less effort. Shoot for 90 RPM and experiment with what feels best. You’ll also find it’s easier to accelerate and sprint when the time comes. For those “climber types” that may lack the ability to accelerate or “grind it out” on the flats with the “big engines”, spend a few miles in a very low gear focusing on a round pedal stroke. Get your legs to burn a little. Try this a few times during your rides. Once you recover from that do a few short hard accelerations or sprints. You’ll find much more power and snap in your legs the next time your friends want to play!