I need your help! I’m heading to Seattle next week (Aug 16 - 21) to visit my aunt/uncle and cousins. My uncle lives on Vashon island in the Sound to be exact. Anyway, I’m going to be bringing my bike and wondered if anyone could recommend any group rides, local cycling websites, trails in the seattle area that I could find info about. I noticed there is a sprint tri in Samamach (sp?) on Sat., Aug 18, that wouldn’t be too far of a drive to get to. Has anyone done that one before? If so, would you recommend it? (ie- is it a well organized race, nice course, etc…)
Seattle area bike touring club maps
Seattle Tri Club
City of Seattle bike maps
Cascade Bicycle Club
Shops:
Speedy Reedy
Triumph Multisport
A nice ride to get a good taste of Seattle would be to take the Vashon ferry to West Seattle, around Alki Point, into Downtown Seattle, through Myrtle Edwards Park, then around magnolia and back. Great views of the sound, city, mountains and the majority of the ride you’ll be on a bike path. Check the City of Seattle link for the map that will include this ride. Let me know if you need more pointers.
Sammamish is 18 miles east of Seattle (Exit 18 off of I-90 east), and Beaver Lake is about 4 miles north of the freeway, up on the Issaquah / Sammmamish Plateau. The race has been going on for some time now so it’s pretty well run. Short swim in a warm lake. The bike leg has 1 big downhill (I’ve hit 48 mph), and a series of climbs that go for about 2 miles, max grade about 9%. A pretty ride, and the view of the Snoqualmie Valley just before going down Duthie Hill (the big downhill) is very scenic. The run is rolling, and the last 1/2 mile or so is slightly downhill. I’d recommend it.
I love taking my bike to seattle. I’ve gone ther several times when my husband drives up there on business & do my own thing all day while he works. There are bike routes all over the place & lots of useful functional trails with no cars as well. I’ve easily done 50-80 mile days in the area & ride in the down town area along the seakhawks area. I did a nice loop on the i-90 path to Mercer Island. It had a long, long bicycle tunnel through a huge hill.
I wrote ahead but you may need to wait till you get there & get the king county bicycle map & the seattle bicycle map. They are very helpful for finding nice routes. i also carry a seattle map since sometimes the major roads are nor very distinct.
Have fun,Barb