Cycle The Gap 2026 #1: Woodinville to Kirkland (Leisurely)

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 22-23 and other late summer events. CTG will run for five Saturdays, from July 18 to August 15.  CTG is designed to build endurance and strength. The rides will incrementally increase in distance and elevation gain starting with 27 miles with 1,100’ of elevation gain and concluding with a 70 mile 2,300’ route.

All paces will ride the same route with the faster paces starting first. So you can challenge yourself and try a faster pace with confidence that you can easily drop back to a slower pace if you are having trouble keeping up.  

NOTE - These routes will be led at the posted paces. If you rode in the Cascade Training Series (CTS) we recommend you consider moving up to a faster pace. (e.g.: Red CTS riders should consider trying the Steady pace.)

Today’s ride: We will ride around the north end of Lake Washington, criss-cross through Kirkland, and head back to Woodinville, using interconnected trails and some streets. In addition to the paved Sammamish River and Burke-Gilman trails, we'll use the Cross Kirkland Corridor Trail and Eastrail Trail, which will give us a fun and challenging 10 miles of riding on crushed gravel. These trail surfaces are quite smooth, well-packed, fine gravel, easy to ride on narrow bike tires. These trails highlight some of the excellent bike infrastructure being developed in our area.

Let's meet at the Woodinville Sports Field, ready to go at the time listed above. We will start with a required safety briefing and roll out when that's done.  All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Rest Stops: Restrooms and water are available at the start, in the building to the east of the soccer field, or across the street at Wilmot Gateway Park. We will stop for restrooms and water around miles 9.5 (Marina Park) and 18 (Feriton Spur Park).

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).

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.  

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 9:00 am and 1:00 pm, the Ride Leader will cancel the ride and all registered riders will be sent a notification email.  

Day of Weather Cancellation - If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed in the Weather Status (steady rain), 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 Director 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.