In the Fall and Winter, the club meets during the week and on weekends for group rides. Saturday and Sunday rides usually meet at 10:00 am at the North end of the Husky Union Building and will vary in length and intensity. Often, rides will start out as one large group and break into smaller segments that vary in difficulty or length. For weekday rides led by officers, please use the calendar feature–you’ll find a link to it on the menu above. In addition, rides are posted by individuals on the club’s email list.
Fall quarter is devoted to new rider orientation and recovery for our racers from the competitive season. Rides are shorter and easier, so that new riders can learn the many training routes available around Seattle. During this time more experienced members of the team have the opportunity to teach good riding techniques (paceline riding, etc) to anyone new wanting to improve their skills. We will also help new people work on bike fit and equipment suitability.
During the Winter, we ramp up both the length and intensity of our training excursions, especially on weekends – the high-volume winter training culminates in a series of “Winter Epic Rides” from late January through early March. After racing in the Spring, there are no official group rides on the weekends until Fall quarter. However, many members use the UWracing email list to call out rides during the Spring and Summer.
Preparation
Clothing: If it is below 50F, make sure that you have heavy gloves, tights, polypro, booties, AND raingear–you’d rather be too warm!
Food: Please bring plenty of food and water. Keeping warm burns calories in addition to the exercise!
Equipment: You must wear a helmet. No exceptions! Also, it is prudent to carry a spare tube, pump/CO2 cartridge and a multi-tool. Full wrap around fenders w/buddy flap are highly recommended as well.
List of Local Rides
Short Rides
• Burke Gilman Trail:
Distance: +- 40 miles
Directions: The Burke Gilman trail is reserved for non-motorized vehicles and peds and skirts the perimeter of UW. Join the trail and follow it north, around the top of Lake Washington and all the way to Marymoor Park in Redmond. It follows a contour line and so is basically dead flat. Some terminology: the first restrooms that you encounter along the trail (in Kenmore) are commonly referred to as the “Logboom” and people sometimes arrange to meet there.
• Seward Park:
Distance: +- 20 miles
Directions: Cross the Montlake drawbridge traveling south of the U. Turn left onto Lake Washington Blvd. At the first T-junction turn right and continue through the Arboretum. Stay on this road all the way down to and along the lakefront till the road ends at the Seward Park roundabout. Note: proceed with caution through the Arboretum which is busy and narrow. There is an alternate route through the backstreets but involves too many turns to describe. Come on a club ride to learn the way!
• Mercer Island:
Distance: +- 30 miles
Directions: Follow the Seward Park directions above to get onto Lake Washington Blvd. Once down along the lakefront and in the Leschi neighborhood you’ll see a small shopping/restaurant complex on the water. Here Lake Washington Blvd splits – take the right hand fork which goes steeply up the hill. Continue up until you are above the I-90 freeway. Here you’ll see a bike path leading down to and across the bridge. Continue across the bridge and turn right onto the first road you encounter. Remain on this road which circles the island. On the far side of the island you will encounter a traffic light. Continue straight across the intersection, over the I-90 and turn left onto the bike path. Follow the path all the way back to – and over – the I-90 Bridge.
Long Rides
There are many good, longer rides. Here is a list of a few of them, however, the directions are too complicated to list here. If any of these look interesting to you, come along on the team rides to learn the route.
• North End (35 miles/55km loop around north end of Lake Washington – 1 moderate climb)
• Hollywood Hill / Norway Hill / Juanita loop (45 miles / 70km, a few steep hills)
• Snohomish (60 miles / 100km, rolling hills)
• Monroe (85 miles / 135km to Monroe via Snohomish, rolling hills)
• Snoqualmie Falls (100 miles / 160km, strenuous, plenty of climbing)
• Beacon Hill (25 miles / 40km, several short hills depending on route)
• South End (35 miles / 55km, loop around south end of lake Washington, flat)
• May Valley (55 miles / 90km, a few climbs – one major climb if you include Cougar Mt.)
• Lake Washington (60 miles /100km, south end + north end)
Epic Rides
Michael Armfield’s “Spirit Quest” (100+ miles — Travel North and complete Juanita Hill, Norway Hill, and Hollywood Hill. Travel along the Sammamish River trail until you reach Redmond, where you’ll travel through Marymoor Park and get onto East Lake Sammamish. Before you reach Issaquah, hammer up the East Lake Sammamish Hill. Proceed through Issaquah and ride up Cougar Mountain, Montruex, Lakemont Blvd–starting with Cougar. Top off the ride with a brisk ride through May Valley and several sprints through the South End, all the way back to the UW. At the conclusion of this ride, you will understand the true nature and meaning of a “Spirit Quest”.)