Preparing for Spring Rides #10 Mercer Island – Kenmore Loop

Preparing for Spring Rides is a 10-week series intended to keep our legs moving and warm throughout the winter. Optional social gatherings are available before and after the rides to meet and connect with Ride Leaders and fellow riders. Our mid-ride rest stops will be brief in an effort to retain body heat. Please arrive 20 minutes before the published start time to ready your bike, check in, and participate in the SMART safety discussion.

Preparing for Spring Rides #10 starts at the Mercer Island Park & Ride in the SE corner of the upper parking lot. We’ll head east off of the island and cut north through Beax Arts, Medina, 520 Trail and eventually to the Kirkland Marina for our first rest stop. We’ll continue north over the Market Street hill, then northwest over Juanita hill. We’ll take a short breather along the Burke Gilman Trail, then head south to tackle Waynita and Market Street hills before stopping at the Kirkland Marina for our second rest stop. Our route continues south along Lake Washington Blvd with a short turn east to climb the 112th hill. We’ll roll downhill through downtown Bellevue and return to the Mercer Island Park & Ride via the Lake Washington Loop and I-90 Trails. After stowing your bikes, you’re welcome to join us on a short walk to The Islander Restaurant to enjoy a carb-reloading meal with your fellow riders and ride leaders.

Cue Sheet: Map and cue sheet are listed under “Links” on the Cascade Bicycle Club ride announcement. Please print and bring your own cue sheet; copies will not be provided. Please download the cue sheet and/or RideWithGPS route after 3:00 p.m. one day before the ride to reflect any recent changes.

Pre-Ride Coffee Time and Location: 9:00 a.m. at Tully's Coffee, 7810 SE 27th St, Mercer Island. Restrooms are available here; not at the Park & Ride.

Rest Stops: Kirkland Marina mile points 13 and 28

Post-Ride Meal Location: The Islander Restaurant, 2441 76th Ave SE, Mercer Island

Rider Safety and Responsibilities: You must wear a properly fit helmet, ride safely, and follow Cascade’s SMART guidelines. Earphones/earbuds are strictly prohibited while on a Cascade ride. If there is any chance of rain or wet roads, fenders will be required and rain gear is strongly recommended.

You should be able to sustain the posted pace. Please be sure you have the equipment and knowledge to fix minor mechanical issues (flat tires, dropped chains, rubbing fenders, etc.), plus a cue sheet to get home on your own or a phone to call for assistance if needed. The Ride Leaders’ responsibility is to the group, and it is at their discretion whether to stop for individuals’ mechanical issues; they will, however, stop for all medical issues and emergencies.

Nutrition and Hydration: Riders must bring their own food and drink. Our rest stops will have water fountains but will not have an option to purchase food or beverages.

Group Communication: Communication is key for individual and group safety. Please pass communication to the rider directly behind or in front of you. If such communication is done well, the Lead and Sweep will hear each other’s hazard communications passed through each and every rider.

Regroup Policy: We will regroup at safe places whenever the Sweep is beyond sight distance from the Lead, primarily at the top of hills, at critical turns or past intersections. If a safe regroup point isn’t available, we will “soft pedal” (ride well below pace) to allow the split group to reconnect and resume the posted pace.

Cancellation Policy: If there is heavy rain, high winds, flooding, ice/snow or other unsafe riding conditions, Ride Leaders will cancel the ride. Ride cancellations will be posted in the comments section on both the Cascade and Meetup sites, ideally two hours prior to the start time. If such posting takes place, Ride Leaders will NOT be at the start. A ride may also be called at the ride start or during the ride for safety reasons. CHECK THE CASCADE OR MEETUP WEBPAGE BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.

Ride Leader mentoring is available. Please contact the Ride Leader prior to the ride.