Cancellation Considerations:
Rain / Temps < 40°F / Lightning / Wind > 25 mph / Air Quality (AQI) > 100
RESPECT THE ROLL
Be geared up and bike-ready 10 minutes early. We start the briefing then, so we can roll on time. Don't keep the group waiting!
Ride Description
This Friday route is a VBC classic! There are usually 4-5 different pace groups, so you can pick the group that works best for you.
The ride starts at the Salmon Creek Starbucks (in the Safeway shopping center) on NE 20th Ave. We start on NE 139th St. then jog over to NE Salmon Creek St. via NE 29th St. Ride single-file down Salmon Creek, before taking a right to tackle a very short, but rather steep climb up NE 50th past the Pleasant Valley Middle School. Most ride leaders soft-pedal down 50th to allow slower climbers to regroup before heading east on NE 139th St.
After crossing the very busy intersection at NE 72nd Ave. the ride begins a short, gentle climb. At the top of the climb you turn right into an exhilarating downhill along NE 87th Ave. With a little effort you can maintain your downhill momentum all the way to the traffic light at NE 119th St. which serves as a natural regroup point.
From NE 87th the ride traverses over to NE 99th St. for 4-mile straight all the way out to NE 172nd Ave (a.k.a. China Ditch). NE 99th has a decent bike lane, but there's a fair amount of traffic (and occasional debris) near the intersection with NE 117th (a.k.a. WA-503). Occasional traffic lights and stop signs mean that you'll want to pay attention to the riders in front of you rather than staring at your front wheel.
China Ditch is a 3-mile straight that often has the ride heading directly into the wind. Some pace groups arrange to switch the rider at the front of the group at regular intervals ("half-mile pulls") to spread the work around. Traffic on China Ditch moves very quickly, so having a rearview mirror (or radar) helps prevent surprises.
Once "The Ditch" is over, the ride turns west again and meanders along country roads into the town of Brush Prairie. Heading north from Brush Prairie you encounter a quick downhill followed by a climb that always seems to take a bit more effort than you're expecting!
Once out of Brush Prairie, the ride heads west again on lightly-traveled roads and neighborhood streets. If you have extra energy, a sprint south on NE 92nd Ave. with the wind at your back makes a great last effort for this ride! At the end of the sprint you're only a few short miles away from the starting point of the ride.
Enjoy a beverage at Starbucks post-ride.
Note: For this Pace Group, we usually ride the above route description in reverse as reflected in the attached RWGPS link for the Reverse Salmon Creek to Brush Prairie Via China Ditch route.
Route Map
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18710115
Preview Route Map
Rider Guidelines
- Arrive early: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and pre-ride briefing.
- Know the club policies: Read the Safe Riding Policy and be familiar with the Ride Style Definitions.
- Required: Helmets Recommended: Lights (front and rear), RoadIDs, and cell phones.
- ABC Quick Check: Check air, brakes, chain/crank, quick releases before leaving for the ride and again at start.
- Maintain pace: Be able to maintain the stated pace. Tell leader if leaving route or turning back.
- Represent cycling: Be an awesome representative of cycling by obeying traffic laws, riding safely, and being courteous.