CHEW 11 (Steady)

If you are looking forward to maintaining or improving your fitness this winter, then Climbing Hills Everywhere in Winter (CHEW) is for you!

CHEW is a 12-week training series that is held on Saturdays from January through March with no ride on Feb 22 due to Chilly Hilly the next day. The rides are hilly and progress from ~30 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain the first week, to 65 miles and over 4,400 feet of elevation gain for the last ride. The rides pencil out with a slightly higher foot-per-mile ratio than regular FGRs, so be prepared for more than average climbing!

Ride Start: We are at week #11. This is the Vashon Island ride. We will be taking the 9:25 am ferry from Fauntleroy. Washington State Ferries has asked us to be in Lane 3, down at the terminal, as early as 9:00 am and NO LATER THAN 9:15 am. Riders should have pre-purchased their tickets using the online link:

https://wave2go.wsdot.com/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=21&c=12

Tickets are $7.75 and include passage back to Fauntleroy. They will scan our tickets prior to boarding. If you use your ORCA card, you can have the ferry folks scan that instead and save a buck.

In order to have plenty of time, we recommend arriving at Lincoln Park lot #1 by 8:45 am and being ready to bike down to the terminal by around 9:00 am. Smart talk will take place after unloading from the ferry. Riders will be let off the ferry before the cars and we will regroup immediately past the ferry terminal on the right in the striped triangular waiting area. Separate into your pace group and be ready for the SMART talk. We will roll out after the cars have finished unloading.

All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Route Note: This is a very challenging route. Realistically, if you haven't been riding CHEW or other challenging routes prior to this ride, you may want to reconsider. The route is a continuous up and down with a lot of elevation and not much flat riding. If there are any mechanicals or other reasons to resort to a backup plan, friends or family members who will be coming to the rescue will need to catch the ferry from Seattle (which could potentially be backed up at that time of day).

If the full route starts to feel like too much, we have the option to shorten it by using parts of the rain route.

Restroom stops: Restrooms on ferry. It is a good idea to arrive hydrated and with two water full bottles. We will stop at:

• mi 17.3 - Jensen Point, Burton Acres Park (restroom)

Snack stop: Thriftway @ mi 31.0. Note, this will be late in the ride so plan on bringing some snacks for the ride.

Pace: Riders should be able to sustain the appropriate pace—which is 12-14 MPH on the flats with no wind. We may ride faster than the stated pace when going downhill or when we have a tail wind, and slower when going uphill or into a head wind. We will also observe speed limits on multi-use paths/trails (sometimes 15 MPH and sometimes 10 MPH). If maintaining the pace is difficult for a rider, we will do our best to accommodate, but the rider may have to continue the ride on their own.

We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, and regroup occasionally. 

Route Navigation: All riders should have navigation in event of separation due to flats or other situations. Please either download the RWGPS route file onto your phone or GPS device (making sure you sync your device before the ride start), or print out and bring a cue sheet. Cue sheets are not available at the start.

Please note the rain route listed in the additional links, and download that too, just in case.

Mechanical Issues: Riders should know how to change a flat, or deal with other minor mechanical issues and carry a spare tube (or two!) and appropriate tools. Riders must have a backup plan if roadside repairs are not sufficient.  Riders should have a charged cell phone to call for a pick-up or have other means to find their way home. 

Other good items to carry with you besides your phone are an ID, cash and/or credit card, ORCA card, and don’t forget water and a small snack. 

Fenders:  It is that time of the year and the roads may be wet. Please be considerate to your fellow riders and have full fenders (ideally with a buddy flap that extends to within 4” of the ground). Without them, you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

Weather Cancellations:  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!