Eastside Hills #141 (Brisk)

Join us for a 60-mile ride at a brisk pace (16-18 mph on the flats) from Kirkland Transit Center.

Eastside Hills rides are intended to help strong cyclists maintain and improve their fitness by riding a number of challenging hills on the east side. This week we have a special version of Eastside Hills that leaves our normal stomping groups on the eastside and ventures over to the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island. We'll bike from Kirkland to Edmonds, take the 11:05 Edmonds-Kingston ferry, bike across the top of the Kitsap Peninsula over to Bainbridge Island, take the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry to downtown Seattle, then bike back to Kirkland via the I-90 bridge.  We'll target the 2:10 ferry back to Seattle, but that could change depending on our pace. It should be fun!

Please bring money for ferry fare.  The Edmonds-Kingston ferry costs $11.25 for a bike and rider.  The Bainbridge-Seattle ferry is free.

Let's meet at the Kirkland Transit Center between the library and the baseball field at 9 AM.   We will start with a required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done. All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Restrooms and water are available at the start. We'll have one planned stop for a food/water/bathroom break at the Bainbridge Safeway.  There is also food and water available on the boats.

For this ride I suggest parking at the Kirkland Wester Parking Lot on 3rd Avenue, about 4 blocks away.  Public parking is available at the Kirkland library, but that is limited to 4 hours.  People who park at the library are likely to have tickets by the time we return.

As always, you can ride the hills at your own pace and we'll regroup at the top, so strong riders can zoom up and others won't be left behind. Ride leaders will do their best to accommodate riders with a range of abilities, but riders who fall substantially behind the group pace may have to continue the ride on their own.

In the event of separation due to flats or other problems, riders should download the route file into a GPS device or have a cue sheet. Cue sheets are not available at the start. Routes may include a local trail with speed limits, typically 15 MPH. Riders must stay within the speed limits. 

Bring a spare tube (or two) and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Riders should know how to change a flat, or deal with other minor mechanical issues and carry 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 other means to find their way home. Please have long fenders if the roads are wet or you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

If there is steady rain, unhealthy air quality, other hazardous riding conditions or unexpected events before the start of the ride, 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!