Midweek Tune-Up Lite - Just A Few Hills in Kirkland

Join us for some social climbing on a "lite" variation of the classic "7 Hills of Kirkland" course. 

****This week we'll ride most of the first half of our usual 7 Hills route (less Seminary Hill), then take alternate routing through the Kirkland Highlands before rejoining the last leg of our regular route back to the start. In addition to Seminary Hill, we'll skip Winery and Rose Hills this week, for a more relaxed ride with about 1200' less climbing than our regular 7+ Hills route. (In case you were wondering, this is not the "5 or 6 Hills" shortcut route that's available for riders to use whenever we ride our "regular" 7 HIlls route)****

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.

After a short cruise along the Kirkland waterfront, we'll climb Market, Juanita, 153rd PL, and Norway hills in turn. Relax between the climbs on relatively flat stretches, at a social moderate pace (15mph+/-).

THE "MODERATE" PACE RATING REFERS TO GROUP PACE ON FLAT STRETCHES (about 15mph). 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.

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. We will observe the speed limit on the multi-use trails.

Restroom/water/snack stops at Kirkland Marina Park (mi 2.5) and Blyth Park (mi 14). Bring snacks; we won't make a coffee stop, but there will be time at rest stops and regroups to eat and drink.

Route map/RWGPS route 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 on this website; 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 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.