Midweek Tune-Up (5 to 7+ Hills Kirkland)

Join us for some social climbing on a variation of the classic "7 Hills of Kirkland" course.  

Be ready to ride near the back (East) end of the South Kirkland Park and Ride at 10:00.  We'll start the required pre-ride briefing at that time, and ride when the briefing is done. If you miss the briefing you will not be able to ride with the group.

No restroom at the start, but we'll stop at Marina Park at mile 2.5.

After a short cruise along the Kirkland waterfront, we'll climb Market, Juanita, Seminary, 153rd PL, Norway, Kingsgate, Winery and Rose Hills in turn. Relax between the climbs on relatively flat stretches, at a social moderate pace (15-16 mph+/-).

Variations on the classic 7 Hills route include a detour off of Juanita ("153rd Place") for a little extra climbing followed by a long descent, as well as a stretch of the Sammamish River and the 520 bike trails approaching (and standing in for part of) Rose Hill to avoid high traffic roads that don't have bike lanes.

THE "MODERATE" PACE RATING REFERS TO GROUP PACE ON FLAT STRETCHES. HILLS ARE SELF-PACED; WE REGROUP AT THE TOP OF CLIMBS. Regroup points are noted on the Ride With GPS cue sheet, and the faster riders are used to waiting for the rest of us.

****Don't feel like climbing all seven hills this time? Download the "5 or 6 Hills" route if you want to bypass Seminary/Holmes Point and/or Winery hills (subtracting about 3 miles/500 feet of climbing). You'll rejoin the group at the regroup point or rest stop noted on the Ride With GPS cue sheet****

Faster riders are welcome to join us and ride ahead of the group on the climbs, if you don't mind hanging around for the regroups; plan for a relaxed, social moderate pace ride as a group on the flats. The ride becomes self-led for those ahead of or behind the group. Please bring navigation aids, in case you find yourself substantially off of group pace and need to finish on your own. We will observe the speed limit on the multi-use trails.

Restroom/water/snack stops at Kirkland Marina Park (mile 2.5), Blyth Park (mile 15.5) and 60 Acres (mile 30.8). (Rest stop intervals will be a bit different on the "5 or 6 Hills shortcut route"). Bring snacks; we won't make a coffee stop, but there will be time at rest stops and regroups to eat and drink.

Route maps and cue sheets at the Links, below.

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.

**Please register at least two hours in advance on this website; late registration online or at ride start is not available for this ride**

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions, poor air quality, 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.