CHEW 11 (Moderate)

If you are looking forward to maintain or improve your fitness in the winter season, then Climbing Hills Everywhere in Winter is for you! (Join our FaceBook group here to receive updates.)

CHEW is a 12-week training series that is held on Sundays from January through March (off on Feb 25 for Chilly Hilly) and each successive week progresses from ~ 30 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain to 60 miles and over 4,000 feet of elevation gain.

We are now at week 11 and will hop on Vashon Island to climb hills. Make sure to also download the rain route under Links in the adjacent event details section - just in case. 😊 Please pay close attention the logistics details below related to the ferry ride.

We will be boarding the 9:25 am ferry to Vashon Island at Fauntleroy ferry dock and start the ride immediately upon leaving the boat. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to park your car in Lot 1 at Lincoln Park (refer to the map link above for the exact location) and roll down to the ferry on your bicycle. (Do not park in Lot 2 to the south as spaces there are time-limited.).

Once at the dock, use toll booth #2, the one nearest the exit lanes, to pay. You can use an ORCA card, cash or a credit card. (Information on ferry/bike fees is available through the links below.) You will then be directed to a lane for loading and Ride Leaders will check you in by pace group.

If you don't have an ORCA card and want to speed up the ticketing process, you can purchase your ticket in advance online. Go to: https://wave2go.wsdot.com/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=21&c=12 then click on Single Ride Tickets, read Complete Ticket Details and then find the bicycling ticket option you want. (You can print out a ticket or load it onto your phone.) If you don't use the Vashon ticket, you can use it the following Sunday for the ride on Whidbey Island. Please watch your email inbox for updates as the day draws closer.

There are bathrooms on both docks and on the ferry. Once we've stowed our bikes on the ferry, we'll gather upstairs to do our mandatory safety talks. All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate. Please bring water/hydration mix with you and also bring food/snack as we will not have a food stop until toward the end of the ride.

We have two stops along the way:

• mi 21.3 - Jensen Point for restroom
• mi 41.3 - Thriftway for food/restroom

When your group finishes the route at the Vashon dock, take the first ferry back to Fauntleroy (West Seattle) that you can. Please refer to the ferry schedule here.

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, occasionally 10 MPH).

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.

It is that time of the year, so please be considerate to your fellow riders and 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 (Steady rain cancels) 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.

Click that Register button and join us!