Winter Training Series (WTS) 3: Renton, Covington, Hobart, May Valley, Bellevue

This is the third of this year's nine Winter Training Series rides. WTS starts January 8th and will end on March 5th. During this nine-ride series, distances progress from about 34 miles to 100 miles. WTS is a great way to do some early season training, with a natural buildup of miles, while enjoying the company of other riders. Winter riding is tough enough--this gives you a chance to do it with friends. 

The ride starts and ends at the Newport Hills Park & Ride along I-405. This year's route is a reversal of last year's new route but keeps us mostly off the perennially busy Issaquah-Hobart Road. We first head south through Renton and out the Cedar River Trail. From there it's up 196th to Covington and Maple Valley to Hobart.  Then up Tiger Mountain Road from the south and back via Maple Valley and May Creek Roads to Newcastle.   Along the way we follow a short stretch of the unpaved section of the Cedar River Trail onto one of our favorite roads: Dorre Don.  One of our favorite coffee stops, Ristretto's Coffee comes a little early in the ride going this direction (29 miles), but it's well worth the stop. 

Generally all the Winter Training Series rides start at 9:00 AM except the last one. The 100-miler on March 5th will start at 8:00 AM. Please be at the start early enough to have your registration confirmed, pump up your tires, adjust your fenders, and put all your warm clothes on. Sign-in starts at 8:30 AM, mandatory ride & safety announcements are at 9:00 AM, and we start riding when that is completed.  If you miss the briefing, you will not be able to ride with the group. 

Though there will usually be a number of ride leaders on the course, these are self-paced and self-guided rides with friendly encouragement and lots of camaraderie. THERE ARE NO REGROUPS IN THIS SERIES. For more general information, please follow the link below to Introduction to WTS.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you want a cue sheet, please go to the RideWithGPS link below and print one out for yourself.  There won't be any available from the ride leaders.

All rides are rain or shine. We might shorten a route for really foul weather, but the only outright cancellation will be for snow or ice.  We may delay the start if we believe that the conditions will be safer a bit later in the day.  CHECK THIS WEBPAGE BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.

Pre-registration is required. There will be no sign-in at the ride start.  You must be registered by no later than 5:00AM on the day of the of the ride.  If you already have a Cascade account make sure you are logged in and click the <Register Now> button at the top of the ride description, then make sure to check the box indicating you have read the Waiver & Release, add your emergency phone number and click <Save Registration> button. Don’t worry if you can’t make the ride, you don't need to un-register. If you don’t have a Cascade account set one up! It only takes a couple of minutes and won't cost you anything.

Even though you’ve pre-registered, you will need to check off your name at the start of the ride.  Make sure you are registered by 5:00 AM the day of the ride.  Registrations after that will not be accepted and you will not be allowed to attend the ride!

Directions to Start: From I-405 take Exit 9.  The large parking lot is on the east side of the freeway.  THERE ARE NO RESTROOMS AT THE START - (There's a Starbucks at Exit 7 - 2 miles south of the P&R.)