Eastside Loop

Join us on this variation of the classic "5 cities" route.

Let's meet in the parking lot at the far east end of 60 Acres park (on the south side of NE 116th St/York Rd.) We'll start the required pre-ride briefing at 10:00, and ride when the briefing is done. If you miss the briefing you will not be able to ride with the group.

This route includes a stretch on the Sammamish River Trail, followed by a run down West Lake Sammamish, the Newport climb, a cruise through Medina and on Points Drive into Kirkland, where we'll have a coffee break at Carillon Point Starbucks. Following a ride along the Kirkland waterfront, we'll climb Market and Juanita-Woodinville and head back to the start.

Sanican at the start (proper restrooms/water are available at a 60 Acres lot just to the west of this one; you can see the building from the road, on the south side of 116th/York). Rest stops are marked on the cue sheet.

The pace will likely run a relaxed brisk (around 16-17 mph on the flats). Ride your own pace on the hills; there are regroup points on the cue sheet route link for most of them, so faster riders can attack the hills and then wait for the rest of us at the top.

West Lake Sammamish Parkway is a good place to stretch your legs, so we'll self-pace there as well, regrouping at the usual place (the public school parking lot just past the French Immersion School, noted on the Ride with GPS route. There's a Sanican nearby). We'll observe the speed limit on the regional trail sections.

Please bring navigation aids, in case you find yourself off pace or otherwise separated from the group and needing to finish on your own. The ride becomes self-led for those ahead of or behind the group. Bring tools and knowledge to repair flats; if rider schedules allow we may pause briefly for flat repair and minor mechanicals, but have a phone and a plan to get home/back to the start if needed. 

If there's a chance of precipitation and/or wet roads, fenders with long mud flaps are recommended. Anywhere the road is wet, if you don't have flaps close to the ground (preferably 2" or less and no more than 4"), you'll need to take the initiative to stay behind everyone with better fenders.

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions or other unexpected events, the Ride Leader will post a ride-canceled note in the Comments section below at least two hours prior to the start and Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location.