West Seattle Neighborhoods: Climbing for Coffee (Moderate)

Let's meet out in front of the restrooms at Jack Block Park for an 18-mile, 1800-ft elevation gain, Moderate paced climbing-for-coffee ride. Be there, ready to go at the time listed above. We will start with a required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done.  All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

We'll be doing a tour of some of your friendly neighborhood ride leader's favorite hills of West Seattle (or East Vashon Island as it was known in the bridgeless times...), sticking to bike lanes and quieter neighborhood streets while we get our climb on. We'll head out of Jack Block Park and climb Avalon and then 36th to the Mount, through the new bikeway on 36th, then climb up to the water tower at High Point (520' where we can look down on the lesser hills of Capitol, Beacon, Magnolia and Queen Anne). From there it's on to a descent at Barton and then the epic climb up Marine View Drive before heading back down along Lincoln Park. We'll climb again (get the theme yet?) up 48th, then wind down Jacobsen to a brief flat water view section along Beach Drive. Then it's back up Admiral to the views along Sunset Ave and our coffee stop. After coffee and a bathroom break, it's a quick plummet down Fairmont Ravine back to our starting location.

We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, and we will regroup at major road crossings and top of hills. We'll also limit our speed on any multi-use paths to the legal maximum (usually 15 MPH, occasionally 10 MPH). While this ride is listed as Moderate (14-16mph on flat), there isn't really much flat to speak off. This is really about going up and down and around, so be prepared for extended 6-8% climbs with a few short climbing segments and descents of up to 11%. There are plenty of points to bail out and head back down to the beach and back to the start point if needed. 

Restrooms are available at the start. We will stop along the way for restrooms and coffee at the Admiral Starbucks (17.0 miles).

Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Other things to bring: phone; ID; cash and/or credit card; ORCA card; water and a small snack. Please have full fenders if the roads are wet, or you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

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 cancel the ride and all registered riders will be sent a notification email. If the ride is cancelled at least two hours before the start, Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location. Please check before leaving for the ride.

We hope you can join us!