Chilly Hilly

[jesvetmed]

Has anyone ever done this "Chilly Hilly" bike ride? It's scheduled for Mar 24th. My question is how hilly?? And I see they mention a ferry ride... how long of a day is this? I have an afternoon commitment, and wondering if I could make both? Is it fun and worth the effort? Or should I sleep in and do a ride near home for FREE!?

[MM_QFC!]

Yep, I've done this ride a bunch of times...
Alert though!! it's the opening ride of the cycling season, put on by the Seattle-area Cascade cycling club and it's always the last Sunday in February, so it's on 2/24 NOT March 24th - wouldn't want you to roll in a month late!

The weather is always the biggest question - per the time of year, it's often very appropriately named: chilly (often wet too) ...and, as it's around the perimeter of Bainbridge Island, it's hilly. It's a very well-attended event - lots of veteran riders, along with families and folks who are participating in their first supported ride, so it's good if you have group-riding skills and can keep an alert eye for those who wobble quite a bit trying to get up some of the climbs and may drift left or right.

Yes, the ferry ride is from Sea > Winslow, where the ride start is located. Oftentimes, Cascade has arranged for a bike-only ferry as there are thousands of bikes/riders lined up to take the boats during the 7:30-10AM range...the ferry fare is included in the rider registration, so your bib # is your ticket...
This ride has also been recognized as a classic in Bicycling magazine and is kind of a rite of passage for Seattle area cyclists - fun and very well-supported, with a well-located pub at the finish, plus a chili feed too.
Tailwinds!

[mimitabby]

what Mary said.
I've ridden it, and it IS hilly. make no mistake. There are some grinders, some shorter and some longer.
And there are tons of people who have never ridden before (or act like it)

so depending on the weather, i'll be there again!

[Eden]

Has anyone ever done this "Chilly Hilly" bike ride? It's scheduled for Mar 24th. My question is how hilly?? And I see they mention a ferry ride... how long of a day is this? I have an afternoon commitment, and wondering if I could make both? Is it fun and worth the effort? Or should I sleep in and do a ride near home for FREE!?

hmmmm depends, depends, depends...

It's 33 miles, so if you are pretty quick you can finish it in a 2 - 3 hours as long as you don't stop for a long time at all the rest stops. It is relatively hilly - I don't recall any stretches that I would call flat - so I'd say its rolling to hilly. The ferry ride is (I think - check the WA state Ferry schedules) 30 minutes.

I'd say go if - you want to get the experience of riding on a big group ride, before say the STP
Don't go if you've been there done that and are concerned about getting home in time.

[jesvetmed]

Thanks everyone! I'm still debating but it sounds fun and a good test of how the "Uphill Grind" has helped through the winter months. Ahhh.. the pub at the end could be the downfall for my schedule! Hmmm... baby shower or pub at the end with good food. The pub could win out easily for me! If any of you see me at the pub past noon, send me on my way!

[jesvetmed]

Also, thanks for the correction ... FEB not MAR.... I guess that doesn't give me another month to be ready!

[Susan126]

The chilly hilly is CHILLY, HILLY, CROWDED, AND FUN! I enjoyed it both times I did it.

[Starfish]

I've never wanted to do Chilly Hilly because I dislike really crowded, organized rides. But, I would like to try this route, and would be up for a TE ride on this route another time, if anyone is interested.

I'd be coming from the west, so would not be on the ferry, but could meet there.

[jesvetmed]

What a great idea... I'm so busy the weekend of the actual event, but it sounds like a cool ride. maybe we could do our own Chilly Hilly sometime!? Then, I wouldn't have to rush off and NOT enjoy the cool pub mentioned! And we could wait for it to be, well, LESS CHILLY!

[MM_QFC!]

The Chilly Hilly route is very popular with area cyclists throughout the year and, actually may be better if done later than February, especially if you haven't been riding all winter (hard on the knees so early in the year and all). It's 33 hilly miles and I agree: having done it on both the day of the actual event 5+ times with the thousands of other bikes and riders on the ferry and crowding the island roads, as well as many other times over the years, I much prefer to ride other times than on the actual day of Chilly Hilly.
Besides, the Dan Henrys stay visible for a long time, and there are usually plenty of other cyclists following the route any/every weekend, the cue sheet and map are easily available too...and the pub doesn't move either!