Mercer Island - May Valley - 164th Ave

This ride is 50 miles long and has a 2870 foot total elevation gain. We'll ride at the high end of moderate pace at 16 mph on flat terrain, self pace while riding up hills, and regroup at the top of each hill. We'll meet at the south end of Aubrey Davis Park on Mercer Island, immediately south of the tennis courts, specifically at the corner of SE 22nd Street and 71st Avenue SE. Free parking is available there. There is a rest room at the baseball fields, very close to the start location, and easily accessed by bicycling west on the trail. On this route we ride around Mercer Island, across bucolic May Valley and up one of the Issaquah Alps. There are a few challenging hills on this route, some with short sections of 8-10% grade.  We'll make a rest room stop at McDonald's at mile 16, and a nutrition/rest room stop at the Issaquah Coffee House at mile 31. Please print a cue sheet from the link if you use one, and bring a spare tube and equipment to fix a flat if needed. Steady rain cancels. The ride leader will not be at the ride start should weather meet the definition for cancellation (steady rain). Ride cancellation will be announced in the Comments Section at least two (2) hours prior to the ride start.

This ride is available as a RIDE LEADER MENTORING OPPORTUNITY. Link for route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10663342