6 Hills of Kirkland from SPU

Join me at the West Ewing Mini-park (at the beginning of 3rd Ave. West, on the Seattle Pacific Univ. Campus, ) for a 62 mile ride with some very significant hills along the way. 

Please note: During COVID-19 Phases 1.5 and 2, all Free Group Rides are limited to six total participants: the Ride Leader and five others. Registration for the ride (using the red “Register Now” button above) is REQUIRED to participate. If you decide not to ride, please unregister for this ride so that an additional spot will be made available to another.

Face coverings (for mouth and nose) are required when the group makes extended stops. Face coverings are recommended for the duration of the ride. Please bring personal hand sanitizer,  disinfecting wipes and tissues for use at rest stops.

The Route:  The route goes across the Fremont Bridge and up to Greenlake. Then we work our way to some bike only roads through the neighborhood and onto the Interurban trail for about a mile. We get off the trail and work our way over to the wonderful Perkins Way downhill to Log Boom Park for our first break (15 miles). From there we take on most of the famous 7 Hills of Kirkland, starting with the infamous Norway Hill. (Note, I encourage the first person up Norway hill to go back down and accompany the last person coming up (which may well be me!)).

We continue along to the next hill (Rose Hill) and then stop at the 132nd St Park for an optional bathroom/water break. At this point (25 miles. 1,500') we will see how everyone is feeling and decide whether to take on Winery hill (+7 miles. + 500') which would be the steepest climb of the route.. 

After the next climb, we have a Starbucks stop, which will be around mile 30. Then we head down to Lake Washington and into Kirkland. From Kirkland we head up Market hill and down to Juanita. We get to finish our climbs with Juanita hill and Holmes Point hill. (This always feels like the hardest one. Is it just because it is last climb?) From the top of Holmes Point we have a fast downhill to Log Boom Park where we get our last optional bathroom break.

The 15 miles home from Log Boom is an easy pedal along the Burke Gillman trail. There are no climbs to speak of along this part of the ride, so the 3,400' of climbing actually happens over 47 miles, not 62. We will be riding at the the moderate (14-16 mph) pace, but we'll limit our speed on the multi-use paths to the legal maximum (15 MPH).

NOTE - We will be following COVID-19 social distancing practices, and I will ask all riders to stay at least 10-12' apart when riding and at least 6' apart when stopped. Since I am in the high risk category (due to age) I will ask all riders to stay behind me throughout the ride and will encourage you to wear your mask. We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, and our goal will be to stay together and regroup as necessary at the top and bottom of all hills. Since I am a slower climber, I will ask anyone who is faster to go ahead at the beginning of the hill and wait at the top.

Start Time:  Let's meet at the West Ewing park 10 minutes before the published start time (i.e 9:20 am) for our pre-ride safety briefing, with a departure at 9:30 am. We will go over hand signals and what we say during the ride to keep ourselves safe.  

Restrooms and water are NOT available at the start. There will be a restrooms available at about mile 15, 25, and 47 with a Starbucks stop for water and espressos at about mile 30.

Fenders and tubes:  Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Please have full fenders. Even if it is not raining, when the roads are wet, rooster tails from bare tires are a safety issue for other riders.  Fenders with long mudflaps show that you care about others. Riders without friendly mudflaps may be asked to ride at the back of the group.

WEATHER:  If, between 8:00pm and 10:00 pm (depending when I can check it) the night before the ride, Weather Underground forecast predicts a greater than 30% chance of significant rain, the ride will be canceled. I will send everyone who has registered an email that night advising of the cancellation and post a ride-cancellation notice in the Comments section on this club page; and I will NOT be at the start. 

Also, if there are unexpected showers the morning of the ride, or if there are other unforeseen hazardous riding conditions, I will post a ride-canceled note in the Comments section below and email everyone who has registered at least two hours prior to the start and I will not be at the start location. 

I hope you can join me!