Getting Ready to Ride Series #6 - South End

Is this the year you are finally going to ride in that big bike event? The STP (http://www.cascade.org/node/6801), RSVP (http://www.cascade.org/node/6812), a century? Are you contemplating signing up for the Cascade Training Series (http://www.cascade.org/node/6821) (CTS) this April to get ready for those big rides but even this scares you a bit? Then start early with our Getting Ready to Ride Series! This series begins in February and will end just before the beginning of CTS. It will be a nice transition from a weekend rider out for a spin on the local bike path to a cyclist who can, by the end of the series, ride 30 miles on the roads with ease. By the end of the Getting Ready to Ride Series you will have the confidence and stamina to begin the CTS series.

This year CBC is offering three Getting Ready to Ride Series; East Side, Seattle, and South End. This is The South End Series (http://files.meetup.com/3386582/2014%20GR2R-South%20End.pdf) and the rides will be held on 7 weekends, beginning on February 9th and ending with our final ride on March 29th. The Five Sunday rides will begin at 1:30 and the two Saturday rides will begin at 11:30.

This week’s ride is number 6 in The South End Series (http://files.meetup.com/3386582/2014%20GR2R-South%20End.pdf). It is on Sunday, March 16, 2014 and will start in Tukwila at Bi-centennial Park. This is a flat ride which starts in Tukwila, continues through South Park, and on to Alki. These rides will be conducted at two paces and you can select the pace that best fits you – A Leisurely paced group (10-12 mph on the flats, aka The “Red” group in CTS) and a Steady paced group (12-14 mph on the flats, aka The “Yellow” group in CTS).

Please plan to arrive by 1:15 so we can process the ride waiver, do equipment checks, and discuss the route (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2921141). We anticipate the ride will last 2.5 – 3 hours depending on how the day goes. Please consult the Cascade Bicycle Club Daily Rides web page for information for new riders ( http://www.cascade.org/welcome-newcomers ) as helmets and so forth are required for the ride.

Remaining scheduled ride date for the South End Getting Ready to Ride Series is 29 Mar (https://www.meetup.com/cascaderides/events/157220042/). Please visit Cascade Daily Rides calendar page ( http://www.cascade.org/EandR/Activities_Calendar.cfm?query=cascadefreedailyride ) and under the Cascade Free Daily Rides subgroup of meetup.com ( https://www.meetup.com/cascaderides/ ).

DIRECTIONS TO START: Take Exit 1 from I-405; go south on W. Valley Hwy and turn right at Strander Blvd; go over the small bridge and immediately turn right again into the park.

Distance - 32 miles
Terrain – mostly flat
Pace – Steady (12-14mph on the flats); leisurely (10-12mph on the flats)
Regroup - frequent
Weather Cancellation – steady rain cancels (also ice/snow)
Map and Cue Sheet available – Yes

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3824417

Steady pace ride leader: Sue Krezelak/Ida Chiu

Leisurely pace ride leaders: Wang Yeung