The 2016 brevet series kicks off with the Spring Populaire on Saturday, March 5th, and a new 200km brevet on Saturday, March 12. You can get more information, pre-register and view the courses on the SIR website, by clicking the links above, or read more below:
Woodinville’s Chateau St Michelle isn’t in France, but we can pretend…
Spring Populaire, March 5th
The Populaire begins by heading south around much of the perimeter of Mercer Island and turning onto the trail. Before you know it you will be heading east going thru Newcastle and hooking onto May Valley Rd. This will take you all the way over to Issaquah-Hobart Rd. Heading south then west weaving your way over to the Cedar River Trail, where volunteers will be happily waiting to sign your cards.
From there you head into Renton, over to Seward Park, and loop around the scenic park. Follow Seward Park Blvd. before meeting up with the bike path to go over the I-90 bridge to the finish at Roanoke Tavern, which is just past the parking lot you parked at the start (about ½ mile). If you’ve never been to the historic Roanoke Tavern now is your chance. Good burgers and beer. Hope to see a great turn out. Shooting to beat Andy’s turn-out last year. Let the games begin!
Pre-register for the Spring Populaire.
Spring 200K, March 12th
The 200K departs at 7:30 am from Sixty Acres Park in Woodinville. We’ve pushed back the start to 7:30am in order to enable riders from Seattle, if they choose, to take the first ST 545 bus to Redmond (arriving around 6:50AM) and ride up the trail to the start.
This year we finish at Mark and Chris Thomas’ house in Redmond (thanks for your hospitality, Mark and Chris).
As mentioned on the website, it will help immensely if you pre-register (and prepay) before the day of ride to reduce the congestion at the start and to give us a sense of what supplies we need. If you are a returning randonneur, please try to submit and pay your RUSA and SIR memberships well before March 10. SIR membership is not required, but is encouraged, and it does offer you a discount on all SIR brevets. Membership in Randonneurs USA (RUSA) is also encouraged if you are not already a member (and is requirement for SIR membership). We will have SIR and RUSA membership forms at the start for those new or renewing riders who need them.
Your bicycle should be equipped with a taillight and headlight, as the days are still short in early March.