CHEW 12 (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.

This is it! The Grand Finale of CHEW 2024!

For the last ride of this series we are heading to Whidbey Island on our way to a hilly metric century. We will meet in the northeast corner of the Ash Way Park & Ride. There are no bathrooms or water fountains at the park & ride. Please come prepared and bring some snacks with you for the ferry ride and on the island.

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.

It is important that we leave the park & ride promptly in order to get everyone to the Mukilteo ferry dock on time. Please allow enough time to get to Ash Way Park & Ride and prepare your bike, be ready to ride at 8:00 a.m. We will start with a route briefing and SMART talk then roll out.  If you miss the SMART talk you will not be allowed to do the ride.

We will start with a 9-mile ride to the Mukilteo ferry dock. It will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to get to the ferry, depending on your pace group. We will stage in the lane at ferry toll booth 4 (the left-most booth as you enter) and then walk up and pay at booth 3. Then we will be directed to stage in a lane on the dock for loading on the next ferry.

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.)

There are bathrooms at both docks and on the ferry, but the only working water fountain is in the waiting room at the Clinton dock. There is only one food/water stop along the route - once we get off at Clinton dock, it is about 24 miles to the food and restroom stop at the Payless grocery store in Freeland, then 21 miles back to the ferry at Clinton.

When your group finishes the route at the Clinton dock, take the first ferry back to Mukilteo that you can catch. Keep in mind that it is about 10 miles -- with a fair bit of climbing -- from Mukilteo back to the finish at the park & ride. Feed and hydrate while you are enjoying the ferry ride.

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 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!