Carnation - Fall City - Red Barn

Join us for an enjoyable morning dash through the Snoqualmie Valley - a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather this week and some quiet roads.  Route is essentially flat, so this ride is a good choice for bored Moderate riders who want to explore a slightly faster pace with minimal interruptions.  Other than restrooms near the start, and the lunch/social stop near the end, no stopping is planned for this ride except as necessary for safety at intersections.  

Registration:  Online Registration is required for this ride - see registration rules above. Note that all riders on a tandem bicycle must be registered individually, as the captain's registration does not cover any stokers - it's a legal thing.  

Ride Start and Time:  We will meet in the southeast parking lot at Tolt - MacDonald park in Carnation, on the south side of NE 40th St.  Please be ready to ride by 9:00 am when we will have a required safety briefing, rolling out immediately after.  This start time is chosen to take advantage of cooler morning temperatures.  If you miss the briefing, you will not be able to ride with the group, sorry!

Pace:  Pace is Brisk, 16-18 mph on flat, smooth surfaces without wind.  Riders should be able to maintain that speed on flats for the full ride duration. The goal for most of the ride is to keep the group together.  Climbs are modest and are not likely to cause riders to separate.  However, riders significantly off the group pace should be prepared to complete the ride solo, and may wish to consider selecting a slower pace for their next ride.  It is recommended that riders have the route with them in their memory cells, on a portable device with charged battery, or on a printed copy of the cue sheet.

Rest and Food Stops:  Restrooms are available near the start within the park, but most of the route is rural without rest stops, so be prepared for a 27 mile stretch, about 1.5 hours, without a restroom or stopping.  (There is a restroom at Chinook Bend, mile 17, if any urgent needs arise.)  Lunch/social stop will be at Starbucks in Carnation only 0.5 mile from the end of the ride, so is optional for any riders on a tight schedule.  

Fenders:  For the safety and comfort of your fellow riders as well as yourself, long fenders with extended flaps that reach within 4 inches of the road are appreciated if roads are damp or rain is possible. If you are spraying fellow riders and they are not enjoying it, you may be asked to ride at the back of the group.

Mechanical Issues:  Riders should bring tools and have knowledge to repair flats or minor mechanical problems.  Be prepared to complete the ride on your own, should your bike require a time-consuming repair. The group will stop briefly to ensure you are okay, but will not wait for repairs to be completed if they take more than a few minutes.  Due to the rural nature of the route, should you be unable to continue riding, ride leader will assist with transportation back to the ride start after the ride completes.  

Cancelation:  Ride will be canceled for inclement weather as listed above, or other hazardous road or riding conditions such as snow, ice, threat of lightning or mudslides, steady strong winds, unhealthy air quality, wildfires, unavoidable flooding, riots, acts of war or earthquake damage, or elevated risk of wildlife attack (especially squirrel herds).  Should conditions call for a cancelation day of ride, a cancelation notice will be posted in the comment section below at least 2 hours before the ride start.  If conditions are questionable, please check this page before leaving for the start.  Leader will not be at the start if the ride is canceled 2 or more hours prior to the starting time. 

Route: Ride With GPS route link is below. Please print a cue sheet if you want one, as printed cues are not likely to be available at the ride start due to ride leader's senior memory.

If you have any questions, you may post them in the Comments section below, or contact the ride leader.  Looking forward to riding with you!