North Lake Washington Loop from Gas Works Park (Moderate)

Let's meet at Gas Works Park at the east end of the parking lot.  Be there, ready to go at the time listed above. We will start with a required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done.  All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Background: I'm jealous of the many good rides on the "East Side" (I'm looking at you Woodinville); but I'm not always in the mood to drive 30-60 minutes each way from my home in Lower Queen Anne.  So here's the solution: let's recreate some of those rides, but start/end at a central location like Gas Works Park.

This ride starts at Gas Works Park, then follows the pretty-darn-flat Burke-Gilman clockwise around Lake Washington to Kenmore.  There we'll get off the Burke and climb Juanita heading South.  Then for good measure we'll descend and climb Holmes Point Drive NE.  Suitably gassed from those efforts we'll stop at the Starbucks in Juanita for a leisurely social/food break (Starbucks is ~200 feet North of Top Pot Doughnuts, which some may prefer). After a nice break we'll climb the hill on Market Street, cruise past the Marina Park in Kirkland, and then follow Lake Washington Blvd E to the 520 Trail.  The 520 Trail offers a couple smaller hills before we head West across the lake back to the Burke-Gilman.  We finish by retracing the Burke back to Gas Works Park.  (Acknowledgement and thanks to Bobbie Howard for introducing me to the climbs on Juanita and Holmes Point Drive NE.)

We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, and we will regroup frequently.  We'll also limit our speed on any multi-use paths to the legal maximum (usually 15 MPH on the Burke-Gilman and 520 Trails).

Porta potties are available at Gas Works Park.  There are also restrooms at Log Boom Park (mile 12), Starbucks in Juanita (mile 20) and Marina Park (mile 22).  The stops at Log Boom Park and Marina Park are optional and we'll only make those stops if someone needs a break.  Note that water is turned off for the winter at Marina Park.

Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Other things to bring: phone; ID; cash and/or credit card; ORCA card; water and a small snack. Please have full fenders if the roads are wet, or you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

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 cancel the ride and all registered riders will be sent a notification email. If the ride is cancelled at least two hours before the start, Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location. Please check before leaving for the ride.

We hope you can join us!