Ride Report – South Lake Washington Loop

 
The gray sky (as well as the weather report) threatened rain, but we assembled at the Mercer Island Park and Ride anyway for Saturday’s ride around the South Lake Washington loop. After all, around here, when are you going to ride if you wait until there’s no chance of rain?

There was a noticeable difference in this Saturday’s mix of riders – a definite shot in the arm of estrogen. Thanks, Susan, Melanie, Phebe, Gail, and Heather for making this ride co-ed even without Team Ed present (hint, hint, Phebe).

Phebe was one of the early riders to show up. She initially acted like she didn’t know me and gave me the line, “I can’t recognize you in all the cycling gear!” I’ve been doing this for a while, so I know that’s code for “You look absolutely ridiculous in spandex and I refuse to acknowledge that I know you in public.” Thanks, Phebe, for being so diplomatic, but it’s okay because Mary has already been brutally honest with me. I can handle it.

New riders meant new bikes. Susan and Melanie unloaded some of the cleanest bikes I’ve seen, freshly tuned up by the bike shop and ready for some road time. Phebe was riding a custom Rodriguez with aero bars, a Nakamura classic. But Richard brought the true classic – a Nishiki with down tube shifters! It looks like a bike, but it’s really a storybook on wheels. We’re waiting to hear more about it.

We headed east out of the park and ride, across the north end of Mercer Island, over the East Channel Bridge, and through the Mercer Slough. Coming out of the east end of the slough we turned right, headed south on East Lake Washington Boulevard and hopped onto the bike trail.

When we hit Exit 12, Melanie and Susan decided to head back – a 10-mile round trip. Not bad for a first outing. William and Richard accompanied them back to the Mercer Island Park and Ride. The remainder of us continued down the east side of the lake to Coulon Park. After a few minutes rest we continued past The Landing, around the south end of the airfield and onto Rainier Avenue.

There we a lot of cyclists out today and we passed many groups of 10+ riders. Some were decked out in their team jerseys. Can’t wait until our Team IJM jerseys arrive (which should be sometime in early May).

When we hit Rainier Beach we headed north and then down Seward Park Avenue, where we met up with William and Richard! There were several Cascade Bicycle Club groups at the entrance to Seward Park. It appeared they were conducting group rides up and down West Lake Washington Boulevard. Doug and William broke off early in order to get back for their previous engagements.

The rest of us hung out at the park for a few more minutes and then took off.  The weather had cleared up quite a bit, giving the ride up the boulevard a real feel of Spring. The cherry blossoms were out in full bloom and the boats in the marina looked ready to get out onto the lake. There were more groups of cyclists riding down the boulevard and joggers and pedestrians walking with their toddlers and dogs on the lakeside path.

As we turned left to go up the switchback road leading to the top of the bridge, Victor took off. He wasn’t going to drop a chain this week. Shucks! That’s the only way I was going to catch him. Kary and Gail looked strong up the hill. I couldn’t see it, but Gail must have had the whip out because they didn’t let up at all.

Took a few pictures at the top of the bridge, then Richard led us down onto the bridge deck, across the floating bridge, and back to the park and ride. Got back about 12:30 pm.

Thanks for a fun ride everyone!