Midweek Tune-Up: 7 Hills Kirkland

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

This ride includes all 7 hills of the classic route with the exception of Kingsgate (due to road construction) and adds the 153rd Place climb.

We'll take Market and Juanita out of Kirkland with detours onto Seminary Hill (Holmes Point) and 153rd PL off of Juanita, followed by Norway, Winery, and Rose Hills (Old Redmond Road) on the way back to the start. We'll relax between the climbs on relatively flat stretches, at a social moderate pace.

***If you would like the option of bypassing some climbs, download the " optional bypass route/cues" Ride with GPS route at the link below; you'll be able to skip your choice of 1, 2 or 3 hills and rejoin the group at a regroup point or rest stop later on the ride (the ride leader can help with the hill-skipping, just speak up)***

Be ready to ride near the back (East) end of the South Kirkland Park and Ride at start time; we'll do 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. Note that entering the "official" 10610 N.E. 38th Pl. address for the Park and Ride on Ride With GPS (RWGPS) yields a location just slightly north and west of where you actually need to turn at 107th LN NE.

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

THE "MODERATE" PACE RATING REFERS TO GROUP PACE ON FLAT STRETCHES (14-16mph, adjusted for wind). 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.

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 social moderate pace ride as a group on the flats. 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 15mph speed limit on the multi-use trails.

Restroom/water/snack stops at Kirkland Marina Park (mile 2.5), Blyth Park (mile 15.6) and 60 Acres (mile 27.6). Bring snacks; we won't make a coffee stop, but there will be time at frequent rest stops and regroups to eat and drink.

Route map and cue sheet at the Link, 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.