Getting Ready to Ride South #7: Sumner to South Prairie and back

Are you new to bicycling, been off your bike for awhile, feeling trapped inside or tired of looking at the same four walls during exercise? Is 2023 your year to get active, begin commuting, take part in Free Group Rides, tackle your first century (100-mile ride), the STP (Seattle to Portland), or another personal challenge? Are you a bit unsure about your biking capabilities, riding in groups, or cycling during winter? If so, then Getting Ready to Ride (GR2R) is for you!

We are pleased to announce that Getting Ready to Ride South (GR2R-S) will be running a winter training series for 2023 with two paces offered: Leisurely (10-12 mph) and Steady (12 - 14 mph). Please note that miles per hour refers to speed on flat terrain without significant wind forces and will vary with elevation and wind. If you are not sure which pace to sign up for, we suggest trying the Leisurely pace and if it is too easy, do Steady next time.  GR2R-S will run for eight Saturdays, from February 4th through March 25th. All paces will use a common route each week.

Please register for the ride using the red "Register Now" button at the top of this page. You may register with a mobile device at the ride start if you wish and are able to - only riders who have registered on-line before the ride may ride with the group. Please contact the ride leader before the day of the ride if you have difficulties registering on-line or if you have any other questions. 

Ride #7: Our seventh of eight great rides will be another moderately challenging ride out of Sumner. We will be riding out of Sumner using surface streets heading south to the Foothills trailhead. Once on the trail, we will follow it along the beautiful and scenic Carbon River through Orting and out to South Prairie. We will turn around and head back to Sumner along the same trial into Sumner with a small variation towards the end of the ride. We will meet at the Fred Meyer in Sumner in the east parking lot in the front of the building. Be at the start and ready to ride at 9:00am. We will start with introductions and a safety briefing and roll out when that is completed. If you miss the safety briefing, you will not be able to ride with the group. Restrooms are available at the start, at the park in Orting, about 10-1/2 miles into the ride, at South Prairie Park mile 18, and in Orting once again on the return trip mile 26.

We will climb and descend hills at our own pace. Our goal will be to stay together and we will regroup if we get separated. 

All riders should dress appropriately for unpredictable winter weather, carry nutrition and water, carry a phone to call for assistance if needed, as well as cash, and/or a credit card and some form of ID.  

Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Please have full fenders if the roads are wet, or you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

Cue sheets will not be provided. An electronic version of the route, from which riders may print their own cue sheets if desired, is linked below. Route can also be downloaded to navigation devices. 

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 cancel the ride at least two hours before the ride start time and will not be at the start location. If the ride is canceled, it will be noted in the title on the ride post and registered riders will be sent an email to the address associated with their Cascade account. 

We hope you can join us!