Winter Training Series (WTS) 8: Carol's Greater Seattle Century

NOTE EARLY START! This is the last and longest ride in our eight-part Winter Training Series Rides hosted jointly by CBC and the Seattle Randonneurs. WTS is a great way to do some early season training, with a natural buildup of miles, while enjoying the company of other riders. Winter riding is tough enough - this gives you a chance to do it with friends. 

The Greater Seattle Century (GSC) takes you on a wide clockwise circle around the greater Seattle area with a variety of terrain having many flat stretches interrupted by a few steep hills. We start by heading north along the Burke-Gilman Trail to Bothell, then along mostly quiet backcountry roads through Woodinville, Maltby, Carnation, Fall City, Issaquah and Maple Valley. The GSC then follows the Cedar River Trail to Renton and returns to Magnuson Park via Seward Park, Lake Washington Blvd. and the Burke-Gilman Trail There is a total of approximately 3,400 feet elevation gain from beginning to end.

Please be at the start early enough to sign in, pump up your tires, adjust your fenders, and put all your warm clothes on. Sign-in starts at 7:30 AM, ride announcements are at 7:50 AM, and we start promptly at 8:00 AM - no waiting for those still arriving. Though there will usually be a number of ride leaders on the course, these are self-paced and self-guided rides with friendly encouragement and lots of camaraderie. THERE ARE NO REGROUPS IN THIS SERIES. For more general information about this series, please follow the link below to Introduction to WTS.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you want a cue sheet, please go to the RideWithGPS link below and print one out for yourself.  There won't be any available from the ride leaders.

All rides are rain or shine. We might shorten a route to a Metric Century (64 miles/3240 ft) for really foul weather, but the only outright cancellation will be for snow or ice. CHECK THIS WEBPAGE BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.

To save time and to make the sign-in process much easier, please register for this ride. If you already have a Cascade account make sure you are logged in and click the <Register> button at the top of the ride description, then make sure to check the box indicating you have read the Waiver & Release, add your emergency phone number and click <Save Registration> button. Don’t worry if you can’t make the ride, you don't need to unregister. If you don’t have a Cascade account, consider setting one up! It only takes a couple of minutes and won't cost you anything. If you’ve pre-registered all you need to do is check off your name at the start of the ride – no lengthy sign-in procedure.

DIRECTIONS TO START: from I-5 take the NE 45th St exit; head east on NE 45th St about 4.5 miles to where 45th becomes Sand Point Way NE; continue north along Sand Point Way NE to the 7400 block traffic light; take a right at the light into Warren G. Magnuson Park; go staight to the third right at the stop sign; turn right into the large parking lot. From Hwy 520, take the Montlake exit; head north on Montlake Blvd past the UW following the arterial to the right; Montlake becomes 45th and then becomes Sand Point Way; turn right at the 74th Street light into Warren G. Magnuson Park; continue straight to the 3nd right at the stop sign; park in the large parking lot nearest the port-a-potty.