Get on Your Bike: Remembering My Early Cycling Days

Been off the bike for a while? Bought a bike and not yet confident riding? Time to get riding for health, fitness or just fun! Here is your opportunity to develop riding skills, become more familiar with your bike and feel confident riding in a group.

This is an easy out and back route from Cascade Bicycle Club to Starbucks in Lake Forest Park via Burke-Gliman Trail. This route is very similar to one of the first-ever rides I joined though Cascade's Free Group Rides. It was cold and sleeting that day, but I had a great time riding with people. It made a lasting impression and now I have become more confident and comfortable bicyclist. I would like you to become more confident and comfortable, riding around. We will go over hand signals and some tricks as a cyclist on the road while riding and at Starbucks over warm beverage.

10:00am is a roll out time. Please come early enough to give yourself plenty of time to be ready at the start to listen to SMART safety briefing and introduction to others. The start location has a restroom and way to fill your water bottle. 

This is a social ride with experienced ride leaders to grow your confidence with group riding. It is free and open to everyone. The route consists of trails and bike-friendly streets with easy climbs so you can practice shifting gears. Everyone will ride the hills at their own pace and we always regroup at the top and before any turns so you need not be concerned about being left behind.

"Easy Pace" is up to 10 mph on flat surface without any headwind. We will go slower on hills and with a headwind and faster going downhill. Average walking speed is around 3 mph if that will give you an idea! If you aren't sure about your pace, please join us anyway. Carrying an ORCA card is a good option.

You should dress appropriately for the weather, but you do not need spandex or other specialized bike gear. Just make sure to have good gloves (ski gloves work in cold weather), headband that covers your ears, and thick socks (remember the wind chill factor on the bike until you get warm!). All you need is a working bike and a helmet. If you haven't ridden your bike for quite some time, please do a ABC Check (link below) or take it to your local bike shop a few days prior to the ride date.

Please arrive 20 minutes before the published start time to ready your bike, check in and participate in the safety and ride briefing. We will go over hand signals and what we say during the ride to keep ourselves safe.

Register - Please sign an e-waiver by clicking on the “Register Now” button at the top of this page (right below the ride title) and enter your information. If you cannot make the ride, you do not need to unregister.

Weather - Showers or more severe weather will cancel the ride.  Ride cancellation will be announced in the comments section at least two hours before start time and the ride leaders will not be at the start.

If you have questions, please contact the Ride Leader.