Mercer Island Tour (Steady)

You are invited to join us for a scenic tour on Mercer Island.  Experience a wide variety of scenery, views, roads and trails, and beautiful neighborhoods that look like they were transplanted from Heaven.  See Mercer Island in a way that few cyclists have.  If you've wondered what the island offers besides the popular perimeter loop, come along and find out!  

The route includes some woodland single-track trails and short gravel connector trails, but they are smooth and well-groomed enough to accommodate road bikes.  The ride finishes with curvy riding on East Mercer Way, before leaving the Island.  

Registration: Please click on the green Register button!  Note: 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.  Friendly non-human pets do not require registration, while dangerous pets are not permitted.  

Ride Start and Time:  We will meet at the Newport Hills Park & Ride lot.  Please be ready to ride by 11:00 am when we will have a required safety briefing, rolling out immediately after. All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Pace:  Pace is Steady, 12-14 mph on flat, smooth surfaces without wind, but there are many places where we will be riding slower for sight-seeing and trails.  Riders should be strong enough to maintain that speed range on flats, for the ride distance.  Climbing and descending is at rider's own pace with regrouping at the top of hills.  Leader will climb at a level of effort which should be achievable for the average rider at this pace. 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.

Regrouping:  We will regroup if needed, at the top of climbs, and any time riders become separated by more than the distance between turns. If you are far enough ahead of the group that you are out of sight or out of voice range, stop and wait for the group at the first hill summit or intersection you reach, whichever comes first. The route is complex and even a trail or small side street counts as an intersection.

Rest and Food Stops:  Restrooms are available at mile 3 (Enatai park), mile 11.8 (Bicentennial park) and mile 24.3 (Enatai park). Short snack/coffee/rest stop, 20 min. maximum, at Starbucks in the south QFC shopping center near Pioneer Park at mile 19.  

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.  Please have a backup plan - person to call, or transportation fare - if you are unable to ride to the finish.

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). The Ride Leader will send a notification email if any of these calamities force our ride to be canceled. If the ride is canceled at least two hours before the start, Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location. Please check before leaving for the ride.

If you have any questions, you may contact the ride leader.  Looking forward to riding with you!