Snohomish for Lunch 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 71 mile ride with two to four 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 Green Lake. 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 downhill on Perkins Way to Log Boom Park for our first break (15 miles). From there we head to downtown Woodinville and then have our first significant climb out of town.

We may stop for bathrooms and water at Maltby park (mi 25) and then head over to Snohomish (mile 35) for lunch. We will take a 30-45 minute break for lunch in Snohomish (either at the Snohomish bakery or a grocery story). We head back to Maltby along a different route with our second, and steepest, hill climb of the day and stop there for our reward at the Snohomish Ice Cream Factory. (mile 45) 

We have a great, but dangerous downhill toward Woodinville and onto the Burke Gillman trail. The route back leaves the Burke Gillman trail at the Bothell Golf Course and then takes us over two of the 7 Hills of Kirkland (Juanita hill and Market Street) into downtown Kirkland. (Note, If we are beat, we can skip the hills and just stay on the Burke, thereby eliminating about 650' of climbing.) In Kirkland we have our final optional water/bathroom stop before the last 13 or so miles (mostly flat) home. 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 8:50 am) for our pre-ride safety briefing, with a departure at 9:00 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 optional restroom and water stops available at about mile markers 15, 25, 35 (lunch), 45 (ice cream), and a final optional stop at about mile 60.

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!