CHEW 12 (Steady)

 This week start time is 8:00 a.m.! 

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: For this last ride of this series we are heading to beautiful 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 at the start, so come prepared, including having some snacks for the ferry and on the island. 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, so make sure you arrive early. All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

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, have your bike prepared, and 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. There are bathrooms at both docks and on the ferry, and water on the ferries and in the waiting room at the Clinton dock.

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.)

Steady will be riding the somewhat shorter rain route. There is only one food/water stop along the route - the Payless grocery store in Freeland, about 18 miles along the route once we get off at the Clinton dock. After this break it's 15 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.

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!