Get on Your Bike & Let's Go to Diagon Alley!

Been off the bike for a while? Bought a bike and not yet confident riding? Time to get riding for health, fitness or just fun! Here is your opportunity to develop riding skills, become more familiar with your bike and feel confident riding in a group.

Let's check out Diagon Alley before too late! We will ride South Ship Canal Trail to avoid chaos of Fremont and Ballard Sunday Markets (mostly). We will ride through Fisherman's Terminal and Ballard Locks (we will dismount the bike and walk where needed). We will then head up (direction-wise and elevation-wise) to Sunset Hill for a nice water view. We take a bicyclist-friendly streets back to the start.

1:30pm is a roll out time. Please give yourself plenty of time to be ready at the start to listen to SMART safety briefing and introduction to others. The start location has a restroom and way to fill your water bottle. While I would love to encourage a Harry Potter related costume, a cloak, long scarf, and/or broom seem to be going against safe riding. Maybe we can all sport a lightning scar on our forehead. 

This is a social ride with experienced ride leaders to grow your confidence with group riding. It is free and open to everyone. The route consists of trails and bike-friendly streets with easy climbs so you can practice shifting gears. Everyone will ride the hills at their own pace and we always regroup at the top and before any turns so you need not be concerned about being left behind.

"Leisurely Pace" is 10-12 mph on flat surface without any headwind. We will go slower on hills and with a headwind and faster going downhill. Average walking speed is around 3 mph, so we be 3-4 times faster!. If you aren't sure about your pace, please join us anyway, but study the route and bring a printed the cue sheet with you. We can help you read the cue sheet if you need to return to the start early. Carrying ORCA card is another good option.

You should dress appropriately for the weather, but you do not need spandex or other specialized bike gear. All you need is a working bike and a helmet. If you haven't ridden your bike for quite some time, please do a ABC Check (link below) or take it to your local bike shop a few days prior to the ride date.

Please arrive 20 minutes before the published start time to ready your bike, check in and participate in the safety and ride briefing. We will go over hand signals and what we say during the ride to keep ourselves safe.

Register - Please sign an e-waiver by clicking on the “Register Now” button at the top of this page (right below the ride title) and enter your information. If you cannot make the ride, you do not need to unregister.

Weather - Showers or more severe weather will cancel the ride.  Ride cancellation will be announced in the comments section at least two hours before start time and the ride leaders will not be at the start.

If you have questions, please contact the Ride Leader.