Saturday Eastside Loop

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

We'll ride out of the parking lot at the far east end of 60 Acres park (on the south side of NE 116th St/York Rd.) Please be there, ready to ride, at the time noted above. We will start with the required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done. If you are not present for the briefing, you won't be able to ride with the group.

This route includes a stretch on the Redmond Connector, followed by a run down West Lake Sammamish, the Newport climb, a cruise through Medina and on the 520 trail, along the Kirkland waterfront, up Market and Juanita Hills, then 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). Additional rest stops are marked on the Ride with GPS route map/cue sheet linked below.

Enjoy the snacks you bring with you at any of the rest stops; we won't be making a coffee stop.

The pace is nominally moderate (14-16 mph on the flats). Ride your own pace on the hills; there are regroup points on the cue sheet/RWGPS route for most of them, so faster riders can attack the hills and then wait for the rest of us at the top. We'll observe the speed limit on regional trails (typically 15mph).

Bring navigation aids, in case you find yourself substantially off of group pace 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. 

Please be considerate of other riders' comfort and safety by using full fenders with long, stable mud flaps (ideally 2" and a maximum of 4" from the ground) if rain is possible or the roads are wet. You may still ride without such long fenders and flaps, but if it's wet you will need to ride at the back of the group (behind all bikes with better fenders).

In case of cancellation for any reason the ride leader will not be at the start, and notice will be posted here at least two hours prior; please check "Comments" (below) before heading to the start (and check your email, if you registered online).