Hills of Mercer Island and Newcastle

Please note: During COVID-19 Phases 1.5 and 2, all Free Group Rides are limited to six total participants: the Ride Leader and five others. Registration for the ride (using the red “Register Now” button above) is REQUIRED to participate. If you decide not to ride, please unregister for this ride so that an additional spot will be made available to another.

Face coverings (for mouth and nose) are required when the group makes extended stops. Face coverings are recommended for the duration of the ride. Please bring personal hand sanitizer,  disinfecting wipes and tissues for use at rest stops.

Join us for a ride around Mercer Island and Newcastle tackling a variety of short and longer climbs, starting from Enatai Beach Park on a 48 mile route at brisk pace of 17mph (on flats with no wind)!

Starting from Enatai, we'll make our way to Mercer Island and go around it, but rather than follow the traditional West Mercer and East Mercer Way, we'll tackle some of the hills: Gallagher Hill, Mercerwood, SE24th, SE 70th. After this initial workout, we'll stop for a coffee break at Shawn's Coffee and Pastry and then head back to "mainland". We'll make our way up to the Newcastle Golf Club and return to start via Forest Drive. We'll limit our speed on any multi-use paths to the legal maximum (usually 15 MPH).

Main climbs on the route:

Mercer Island

• Mercerwood
• Merrimount
• SE 70th
• Gallagher Hill
• SE 28th

Mainland

• SE 77th
• 79th

Let's meet at the Enatai Beach Park, lower parking lot, at 7:45am for our pre-ride safety briefing, with a departure at 8am.

Climbing: Occurs at your own pace.  If you want to go ahead of the Ride Leader, confirm with the Ride Leader where the safe climb regrouping point is. The regroup points are marked on the RWGPS route, linked below.

Regroup/Togetherness Criteria: This is a "Stay Together" ride.  That means we will stay together.  However, you should have a way back should you or your bike fail due any of the following (but not all-inclusive) things to consider:

• Significant or unserviceable mechanical issues.
• Not being able to maintain the advertised pace (speed and effort).

Restrooms are available at the start and then again when we pass by the start location at mile 28. We will stop along the way for coffee/snacks at Shawns' Cafe and Bakery at mile 25.

Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Please have full fenders if the roads are wet, or you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions, the Ride Leader will post a ride-canceled note in the Comments section below at least two hours prior to the start and Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location.

We hope you can join us!