I'm another one agreeing w/mimitabby about Chilly Hilly. It's the opening ride (for Seattle's Cascade Bicycle Club) event for the cycling season each year and has become hugely popular aka - crowded. I rode it on the actual event day for about 5 yrs and since then have opted to volunteer and help with registration etc over in Winslow, on Bainbridge Island at the start. I always have my bike along in my car so that, if I feel like riding it well after the hordes of people have already gotten out on the route, and after I finish volunteering...I can enjoy the route by myself or with some friends. This is a VERY popular route for cyclists in the Puget Sound region, so it's a regular on the training calendar year-round and the Dan Henry markings are visible for long after the last Sunday in February. I've also had fun riding the usual Chilly Hilly route backwards (clockwise around Bainbridge Island), just to mix it up. fyi - my P.T. who is a RAAM veteran, has ridden the STP in sub-10 hrs (so would she be considered a 1/2 day STP rider??!), etc., etc. does NOT recommend riding this on the last Sunday in February when it is traditionally held, as it's too early in the year and it's too hilly for so early in the year, so consider what kind of shape you are in - especially your knees as well as whether you want to take your chances with your bike bunched with thousands of others on the ferry ride (all it takes is one person stumbling while stepping thru and between all the bikes lying down on the ferry deck and putting their foot through your spokes) and negotiating around all of the first-time riders, kids, families on tandems w/trailers on the hills. They do tend to wobble and stray out into the middle/left side of the road and it makes it difficult to keep your tempo and ride around them while not obstructing oncoming car traffic on the winding roads of the island. Not wanting to sound negative - just realistic and sharing from my own multiple experiences and observations of the ride. One year, while I was rehab-ing from knee surgery, I arranged a "chilly, non-hilly" ride for the same day on the bike trail and was met by an almost crowd at my designated starting point! Just my $.02, as usual...have fun, whatever you do!
Mary