Cycle The Gap 2024 #3: Redmond- Monroe- Snohomish (Steady)

The CYCLE THE GAP TRAINING SERIES (CTG)  is a five-week series of rides to help folks get in shape for Cascade's Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP) -  Aug. 24-25 and other late summer events. CTG will run for five Saturdays, from July 20 to August 17.  CTG is designed to build endurance and strength. The rides will incrementally increase in distance and elevation gain starting at 41 miles with 1,800’ of elevation gain and concluding with a 79 mile 3,400’ route.

Today’s ride: A 61 mile, 2,900’ route from the Bear Creek Park and Ride in Redmond at the Steady Pace (12-14 mph when flat with no head or tail winds). 

We start in Redmond and go into the rural beauty of local farmlands and the grandeur of the Snohomish river valley with views of both Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainer, if we are lucky. We stop in Snohomish for a quick lunch stop and then on to Maltby for an optional ice cream stop (who doesn't like ice cream!) From there it is mostly down hill back to the start. 

**NOTE** There are no restrooms at the ride start but we will stop at about 1.5 miles in Perrigo Park 

Rest Stops: The rest stops will be at Perrigo Park, mile point 1.5; Maltby Park, MP 23; lunch at Haggen Grocery, MP 34; Maltby Park (again), MP 43: and finally Perrigo Park (optional), MP 57.

The Basics:  These rides are not supported. Riders should be able to sustain the pace, carry nutrition/water, a cell phone to call for assistance, and have the know-how and equipment to fix a flat tire.  We will pause briefly to assess any mechanical problem, but will not delay the group for an extended time. Everyone may climb the hills at their own pace and we will regroup at the top. We will observe posted speed limits on multi-use trails (usually 15mph, but sometimes 10mph).

Be considerate and have full fenders including mud flaps if roads are wet or a prediction of rain is in the forecast. If you don't have fenders, you will be asked to ride at the rear of the group.  

The Route: A link for the route is the Route Map, shown to the right. Frequently there are small changes made to the route as we preride the route a few days in advance. So it is best to check back for the most current version of the route or, if you are using Ride With GPS. simply chose to PIN the route. By Pinning the route, you should automatically have a link to the most current route in your Pinned ride folder.

New Riders:  We are very happy to have you with us.  Please read the New Rider link (“Read our newcomer information”), above, and keep in mind that a helmet is required for all Cascade rides. 

Weather - If on the evening before the ride Weather Underground predicts more than a 50% chance of more than .2" of rain or showers between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, the Ride Leader will cancel the ride. Additionally if weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed above, or if there is poor Air Quality Index (above 125 on the Airnow.gov website), 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 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.