Winter Training Series (WTS) 9: Greater Seattle Century

This is the last of this year's nine Winter Training Series rides.  WTS weekly rides are on Sundays, starting January 8th and ending on March 5th. During this nine-ride series, distances progress from about 34 miles to 100 miles. WTS is a great way to do some early season training, with a natural buildup of miles, while enjoying the company of other riders. Winter riding is tough enough--this gives you a chance to do it with friends. 

The Greater Seattle Century (GSC) takes you on a wide clockwise circle around the greater Seattle area with a variety of terrain having many flat stretches interrupted by a few steep hills. We start by heading north along the Burke-Gilman Trail to Bothell, then along mostly quiet backcountry roads through Woodinville, Maltby, Carnation, Fall City, Issaquah and Maple Valley. The GSC then follows the Cedar River Trail to Renton and returns to Magnuson Park via Seward Park, Lake Washington Blvd. and the Burke-Gilman Trail There is a total of approximately 3,400 feet elevation gain from beginning to end.

This 101-miler will start at 8:00 AM. Please be at the start early enough to have your registration confirmed, pump up your tires, adjust your fenders, and put all your warm clothes on. Registration check-off begins at 7:30 AM. The mandatory ride & safety announcements are at 8:00 AM, and we start riding when that is completed.  If you miss the briefing, you will not be able to ride with the group. Registration prior to the ride start is required. Click the red "Register Now" button at the top of this page. Registration cutoff is 4 hours prior to ride start time.

These are self-paced and self-guided rides, with friendly encouragement and lots of camaraderie from other riders (many of whom are experienced with group riding). THERE ARE NO REGROUPS IN THIS SERIES. For more general information, please follow the link below to Introduction to WTS.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you desire a cue sheet, please go to the route link below and print one for yourself.  There won't be any available from the ride leaders.

All rides are rain or shine. We might shorten the route to a Metric Century (65 miles/3220 ft) for really foul weather, but the only outright cancelation will be for snow or ice. CHECK THIS WEBPAGE BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancelation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions 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

As always, please watch out for each other, local traffic, and respect traffic laws.  This includes sticking to posted speed limits on any trails we might be using.  Use special care at the ride start which will be crowded before riders spread out.

Directions to Start: from I-5 take the NE 45th St exit; head east on NE 45th St about 4.5 miles to where 45th becomes Sand Point Way NE; continue north along Sand Point Way NE to the 7400 block traffic light; take a right at the light into Warren G. Magnuson Park; go straight to the third right at the stop sign; turn right into the large parking lot. From Hwy 520, take the Montlake exit; head north on Montlake Blvd past the UW following the arterial to the right; Montlake becomes 45th and then becomes Sand Point Way; turn right at the 74th Street light into Warren G. Magnuson Park; continue straight to the 3nd right at the stop sign; park in the large parking lot easst of the tennis center nearest the port-a-potty.