Midweek Tune-Up (easing into 7 Hills Kirkland series #2 repeat)

Join us for some social climbing on this pared-back version of the classic "7 Hills of Kirkland" course.

To ease into our weekly 7 Hills ride (after taking a few months off), we'll ride the approximate outline of our regular 7 Hills route while bypassing some climbs. This is ride #2 on a series of rides which successively adds a hill per ride. We're repeating this route (we rode it on 4-13) to get more comfortable with climbing before adding another hill.

This time we'll take Juanita out of Kirkland but bypass the Seminary Hill (Holmes Point) and 153rd PL climbs off of Juanita. To avoid ongoing construction on NE 132nd St, we'll bypass the Kingsgate climb via Juanita-Woodinville Way NE. After climbing Norway Hill we'll ride on the flats, bypassing Winery Hill, with a stretch on the Sammamish River Trail. Compared to ride #1, our total distance bumps up from 28 to 33 miles, and elevation gain from 1700' to 2000'. We'll relax between the climbs on relatively flat stretches, at a social moderate pace (15 mph +/-).

Be ready to ride near the back (East) end of the South Kirkland Park and Ride at 10:00. We'll start the required pre-ride briefing at that time, and ride when the briefing is done. If you miss the briefing you will not be able to ride with the group.

No restroom at the start, but we'll stop at Marina Park at mile 2.5.

THE "MODERATE" PACE RATING REFERS TO GROUP PACE ON FLAT STRETCHES. HILLS ARE SELF-PACED; WE REGROUP AT THE TOP OF CLIMBS. Regroup points are noted on the Ride With GPS cue sheet, and the faster riders are used to waiting for the rest of us. We'll limit our speed on any multi-use paths to the legal maximum (typically 15 MPH).

Faster riders are welcome to join us and ride ahead of the group on the climbs, if you don't mind hanging around for the regroups; plan for a relaxed, social moderate pace ride as a group on the flats. The ride becomes self-led for those ahead of or behind the group. Please bring navigation aids, in case you find yourself substantially off of group pace and need to finish on your own.

Restroom/water/snack stops at Kirkland Marina Park (mile 2.5), Blyth Park (mile 12.6) and 60 Acres (mile 23.2). Bring snacks; we won't make a coffee stop, but there will be time at frequent rest stops and regroups to eat and drink.

Route map and cue sheet at the Link, below.

Bring tools and knowledge to repair flats; if rider schedules allow we may pause briefly for flat repair and minor mechanicals, but have a phone and a plan to get home/back to the start if needed. 

If there's a chance of precipitation and/or wet roads, fenders with long mud flaps are recommended. Anywhere the road is wet, if you don't have flaps close to the ground (preferably 2" or less and no more than 4"), you'll need to take the initiative to stay behind everyone with better fenders.

**Please register at least two hours in advance; late registration online or at ride start is not available for this ride**

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions, poor air quality, 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.