Chilly Hilly Bike Ride 2-28-10

Sunday the Annual Chilly Hilly bicycle ride was held on Bainbridge Island. This is a ride sponsored by Cascade Bicycle Club of Seattle. In it's early days in the late 70's, it was started by some diehard cyclists that thought a ride in the winter(the "Chilly" part) on a challenging (the "Hilly" part) course would be fun. The ride is now advertised as the opening day for the bicycling season. I don't understand that part as some of us ride all year. But it is the first of the NW rides to be held. It is a social event that starts and finishes in downtown Winslow. Most of the riders come from Seattle with the ferry fare paid out of their registration fee. This year, the traditional Seattle ferry filled up with 1800 riders and the remaining riders had to catch the next ferry. It attracts cyclists of all ages, genders, abilities, sizes and shapes. Total registered participants this year was 6,028, a new record. The actual course is 32.7 miles with about 3000ft of climbing.

Since I live on the same side of Puget Sound as Bainbridge Island, I drove to Bainbridge Island in the truck and found parking in the Town and Country Store parking lot with a bunch of other local cyclists. I paid my late fee of $30, received my ride packet and started the course at 0845. My start time corresponded with the arrival of the ferry and the roads were clogged with cyclists. Even though the ride is considered a social event, some of us riders treat it like a race and can't help passing slower riders. After about 10miles the traffic thinned out.

The route headed out of town and circled the island on mostly back roads. And the hills are constantly showing up every couple of miles and most of them are steep but not too long. Rest stops are set up at a couple of locations. My favorite one is at the American Legion Hall about 2/3 of the way around the island. The Girl Scouts set up tables of treats that are included in the registration fee, but donations are appreciated.

After the long climb over Baker Hill, the southern half of the island is the best part as the road runs along the shoreline with views of the Olympic Mountains on the western side and Seattle on the eastern side. The sun was out most of the day and the temps got into the mid 50's making for a very pleasant ride.

I found this year to be relatively easy for me. It has been several years since the last time I rode the Chilly Hilly. I felt so good afterward, that the next day I went for another very fast ride of 22miles.

My crumpled and sweaty number bib.

The route of Chilly Hilly 2010. 32.7 miles with about 3000 ft of climbing. We went counterclockwise.




Baker Hill


Short, steep hill.

American Legion Hall with the table of treats.