Spring Training Series #5 - Pacelining Series (Brisk - Strenuous)

Join us for our Spring Training Series (STS) - a Pacelining Training Series. This is a series devoted to teaching you to paceline safely and successfully -- This is not your average Free Group Ride: Every rider will be asked to lead during our rides and will be expected to be open to coaching and willing to ride in a safe manner and work as a team with the rest of the group. We will be rotating leaders.   You must have a bike computer that measures speed. A rear view mirror is strongly encouraged. 

We will ride most every Sunday from April 2nd through June 18th.  Rides typically depart from points around the Eastside, building from 55-130 miles. Please read through the Spring Series Rider Guide (see link, below) for a full schedule and details about how we roll.  While note required, we encourage riders to attend all the rides so they get the benefit of specific skills taught each week. 

Some of our longer rides may not be suitable for riders who have not been training earlier in the spring. We encourage you to ride 2-3 days a week to be successful in this series.  

Pacelining Rules/Requirements: The STS rides encompass pacelining. We plan to teach riders how to safely paceline and expect all riders who wish to participate to follow the guidelines of pace-lining (see link, below).  Riders should review the route before the ride and the paceline rules and have a cycling computer.   

As riders get more skilled, we may at the ride leader's discretion allow riders to ride less than a bike length behind the wheel in front, which would be an exception to our SMART guidelines. 

Routes: Our routes use generally low traffic roads and have stretches that are conducive to pacelining. Your ride leaders will let you know which stretches to rotate. These are beautiful rides. 

Tools and skills needed to change a flat absolutely required. Your bike should be in good working order. Helmets and cycling computer required. 

Ride Start: You must show up 20 minutes before ride start in order to hear the route briefing and safety notes. We will begin the briefing 10 minutes before the start of the rides.

Registration: Registration on the Cascade site is free and greatly helps the sign in process for the ride leaders. We also encourage you to RSVP on Meetup so you can join conversation and see photos.  

Mechanicals/Pace: Riders should be able to sustain the appropriate pace for their selected group, know how to read a cue sheet, change a flat tire (and have the requisite equipment to do so).  We will wait for minor mechanicals. For major mechanicals, please have a cell phone so you can call a ride home. 

Cancellation Policy: Hard steady rain/ice/snow or otherwise unsafe riding conditions will cancel. In the event that conditions are as described for cancellation, ride leaders may not come to the ride start. Ride cancellation will be posted in the Comments section in both the Cascade and Meetup postings for this date at least two hours prior to the ride start in the event that ride leaders will not come to the ride start.  

Fenders required if there is any chance of rain. Strictly enforced.

Rest Stops: See route map

 Other notes:  We are not doing a formal lunch, so bring snacks for en route or plan to purchase something at mid-point.