Pacific Northwest - Chilly Hill what's that ride like?

I"m considering the Chlly Hilly Group Ride Feb 24th. What's that ride like? Intermediate or advance? How many hills, what sort of % grade etc. How many scheduled stops for this ride (if any).

Any other women going that would like a companion rider? I haven't ridden in about a month due to storms, snow and ice. Otherwise, I commute about 125mi/week on an intermediate route (translated, I won't be racing, just enjoying the ride).

A month ago I would have volunteered my slow butt to ride with you (even though I know you are faster), but with the change in my days off, I would have to take the night off, darn it!

East Hill

If you look at the Cascade bicycle club website you can view the course map and elevation profile.

That would have been great. I don't care about speed just going social. Now on a commute it's a different story.

A month ago I would have volunteered my slow butt to ride with you (even though I know you are faster), but with the change in my days off, I would have to take the night off, darn it!

East Hill

I did the Chilly Hilly route last August just to see what it was like. It was a beautiful ride -- though, of course, the weather at this time of year could play a big variable.

Don't let the "Hilly" part of the name intimidate you. If you're used to riding around here, I don't think you'll find anything that unusual on the ride. There are a fair number of small to moderate rolling hills, and two climbs that made me sit up and take notice -- one was the hill headed to the Battle Park Rest Stop, which wasn't that long but was kinda steep. The biggest hill is the climb up Baker Hill...longer, not as steep. Other than that, there wasn't anything on the route that I don't run into almost every day around here.

One nice thing about the ride is that if you study the map carefully you could actually cut off either one of these hills and make the ride a bit shorter for yourself and avoid these hills....though I'd hate to cut Baker Hill off because that takes you to some particularly nice riding.

I'm definitely doing the ride, BTW...even if the weather is miserable I'm going to head over w/my "rain bike" and at least ride a few miles.

I'm interested vrkelley. I'm pretty slow, though.

That sounds GREAT! I'll PM you both.

Also there is still space available for this ride if anyone else is thinking about registering. However, on the registration ticket is says the first ferry leaves Seattle at 7:55...it doesn't look like the first Ferry will arrive in time for the 8AM start time. That could be a problem

However, on the registration ticket is says the first ferry leaves Seattle at 7:55...it doesn't look like the first Ferry will arrive in time for the 8AM start time. That could be a problem

No, I don't think it's a problem. People take whatever ferry they want and then start whenever they get to Bainbridge. I think the point of the "start time" is just to let you know that they won't be there *before* 8 am, but it's certainly possibly to start later...

We have relatives on Bainbridge, so Ms. MillCreek and I are thinking of staying there the night before and then a bunch of us go on the ride for at least some of the route. A lot of the Bainbridge residents do the ride without benefit of registration.

In case anyone else is considering, here is the map and cue sheet.

http://cascade.org/EandR/chilly/CH_details.cfm


If you look at the Cascade bicycle club website you can view the course map and elevation profile.

It's hilly, and usually chilly. I'm not in the kind of shape I was last year, but I plan to do it.

From viewing the ride profile, it doesn't seem to be much more difficult than any other hilly ride around the area. Doesn't look like there's anything as rough as Union Hill from Avondale to Redmond Ridge, or Novelty Hill (either side), and those are all my commute routes home.

I'll be there. I was planning to make it a century and ride from Bella Bottega to the ferry, but we moved earlier than we had planned, and I'm probably just driving to someplace like Kenmore Plaza or Magnuson Park and riding from there to get some extra miles in. I'm just not up for century rides yet.

There are only two 'hillies' that would reallyget anyone, the rest are really rollers. the ride is nice, but
you don;t get as much of the water views as you might think you would...

There are only two 'hillies' that would reallyget anyone, the rest are really rollers. the ride is nice, but
you don;t get as much of the water views as you might think you would...

Are you going to be there?

East Hill

point83 has a race on the same day. with a chili feed and prizes for everyone
http://point83.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5191

What grade is the Baker Hill. It looks pretty steep. I guessed the length to be 1.5 miles and came up with a 3% grade??
http://cascade.org/EandR/chilly/img/ch_elevation_05.jpg

Millcreek, I'll be there on my Redline. I'll keep an eye out for you.

i dunno. baker is like a mile or so but its more like a 8% grade. lots of folks had to walk half of it last year. i made it up on a 52/27 gear but it was a long climb. of course some young gun fixies fly past you. but hey, i'm 53. and fat. i live over here, there are a lot harder climbs.

i dunno. baker is like a mile or so but its more like a 8% grade. lots of folks had to walk half of it last year. i made it up on a 52/27 gear but it was a long climb. of course some young gun fixies fly past you. but hey, i'm 53. and fat. i live over here, there are a lot harder climbs.

Interesting. Just curious, why the 52 front ring? (Actually that gearing is really close to the 40/21 I used my first time up the hill. I had just started riding again and I rode my old Univega 6 speed. The 40/21 was my lowest gear so I had to stand on the pedals most of the way.) :eek:

I wanna go!! but my kidney is killing meeeeeeeee!!

i dunno. baker is like a mile or so but its more like a 8% grade. lots of folks had to walk half of it last year. i made it up on a 52/27 gear but it was a long climb. of course some young gun fixies fly past you. but hey, i'm 53. and fat. i live over here, there are a lot harder climbs.

Hey, brillodelsol, come on over to C & V and bring photos of some of those nice bikes you've got :) .

Welcome to BikeForums, too!

East Hill

http://www.quickservekids.com/var/www/vhosts/quickservekids.com/httpdocs/pink_star.jpg

BTW, as I mentioned above, you can cut a couple miles off the route and skip Baker Hill if you want.

But when I rode the course last year I didn't think it was so bad...I guess I had heard that it was the "big, bad hill," and it didn't quite live up to its reputation (just for saying that, it will probably smack me next time I ride it).

The biggest thing is, it leads to a particularly nice stretch of riding along the water. Worth doing.

I'm planning on riding alone so far...unless the weather is as it is now. Send me a pm.

:eek:

... (Actually that gearing is really close to the 40/21 I used my first time up the hill. I had just started riding again and I rode my old Univega 6 speed. The 40/21 was my lowest gear so I had to stand on the pedals most of the way.) :eek:

Glad you'll be riding with us woodstock. And East Hill if your schedule changes, feel free to join us.

I'm planning on riding alone so far...unless the weather is as it is now. Send me a pm.

The Chilly Hilly has a great course with volunteers at the main intersections & lots of homemade snacks for sale along the way. Half dozen good hills - helpful to have a bike with some easier gearing and that shifts well. I have had good luck leaving later in the morning - less crowded. The exit off the ferry is steep - so down shift into desired gear as you get on & when exiting watch for the gap in ramp.

the 53 is for the flats, rolls and downhill, get into a 53/11 (plus the 175m cranks) and you can just fly...i really don't think i use more than 5 gears anyway, a couple for the flats and a couple more for climbs and a granny just in case...(the 27)...which i used yesterday going up baker hill.

ok, will post some pics.

anyone ride this fixed? doable? i am going to do it with a co-worker who professes to be "slow" and thought it might be a challenging ride on my fixed gear. i run 42/16, have taken some hills downtown pretty well, but nothing of great length. just curious. its a newer bike and i have been itching to get it out on a real ride. if the weather is questionable i would go with the geared commuter.

if you're strong and confident on your fixed gear, you'll do fine... if you occasionally ride it and can barely manage going up pine to capitol hill, you might want to bring your geared bike.

plenty of people ride chilly hilly on fixed or single speeds, but i wouldnt consider those the type of people that jump on their fixies every couple of months. a few really steep and longer hills on that ride.

One thing to be careful of on the hills, like brillodelsol mentioned: some folks decide to bail and walk their bikes up. This can happen without them looking behind to see if anyone is close, so watch out for a leg suddenly appearing in your lane.

I do it with my family each year. This will be our 4th. My kids are now 8 and 10, but the first year they were 5 and 7--it took 7 1/2 hours that year. Last year my youngest (7 at that time) completed baker hill without stopping and next to him was an 80 year old man who was also completing it for the first time without stopping. It is a great ride for getting all ages and ability levels together.