New Year Social Mini Lake Loop from Mercer Island

With the opening of the new 520 bike path, here's a sweet new option for your riding pleasure, the Mini Lake Loop. Right around 20 miles, this route has fairly low elevation gain for the areas we'll cover, and perfect for committing to a healthy 2018. As a special bonus we'll be crossing paths with several other Cascade ride groups toward the beginning, so we can cheer as we pass. This will be a social ride!

As there are no restrooms at the start (Mercer Island Park & Ride), we'll do a quick stop at Enatai Park (mile 2), before heading north through the beautiful neighborhoods of Bellevue. After passing through Medina, we'll catch the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and connect to UW in minutes.

We'll then head south through the Arboretum area, and on to Lake Washington Boulevard with its stunning views. Our main rest stop will be at Starbucks at mile 16.

The ride should take us about two hours, back at the start by noon.

Please register for this ride by creating a free Cascade Bike club (see Create a Cascade account link below) account. This will allow you to pre-sign the waiver for each posted ride by clicking on “Register Now”. Online registration closes two hours prior to ride time, and if you decide to ride after that we will have a waiver sheet for you to sign manually. Registration is not mandatory but it allows us to print the rider list beforehand and helps us save time at the ride start.

If you are a new rider, we are very happy to have you with us. Please read the New Rider link, below, and keep in mind that a helmet is required on all Cascade rides. Also, riders should be able to sustain the pace, carry nutrition/water, and have the know-how and equipment to fix a flat tire. Everyone should carry a phone to call for assistance if needed. We will regroup after climbs and at major intersections. Arrive at least 20 minutes early so that you can get yourself ready, sign the waiver, and listen to the S.M.A.R.T. briefing. This allows us to have an on-time departure.

Be considerate and have full fenders including mud flaps if roads are wet or a prediction of rain is in the forecast.

A route map and cue sheet are at the Ride With GPS link, below. If you want a cue sheet please print and bring it. The ride leader will not have extra copies.

Cancellation Policy: If needed, a weather cancellation will be posted two hours prior in the Comments section, below, and the ride leader will not be at the start. Please check here or on the Meetup site before leaving for the ride.