Have you done a “perimeter” bike ride yet? You know, it’s one of those bike rides that follow the border of a city—like the well known El Tour de Tuscon. You don’t have to make the trip to Tuscon to do a perimeter ride. We have one right here in the Evergreen State: PROS!
The Perimeter Ride of Seattle—or PROS—is a Labor Day (September 1) ride organized by the Cyclists of Greater Seattle (COGS) that literally follows the perimeter of Seattle. PROS circumscribes the city, following a counter-clockwise route from its start at Discovery Park. Seattle’s hilly and ravine-divided landscape makes for a challenging but very rewarding ride. You will see Seattle from all sides, including spectacular city, mountain, Puget Sound and Lake Washington views.
The full PROS route entails 80 miles and 4,200 feet of elevation gain. PROS Lite is a shorter option of 60 miles and 2,700 feet of elevation gain, which eliminates the challenges of Seattle’s northern border. Both routes include snack stops (2 for PROS and 1 for PROS Lite) and lunch.
Unlike other rides that hand you a map/cue sheet and send you on your way, PROS divides riders into groups based on their distance and riding pace, and provides ride leaders who pedal with you. And yes, you still get a cue sheet or you can use GPS. Learn more here.
Ready to sign up? Registration is $35 ($40 after August 25), includes lunch, and supports bicycle advocacy in Washington State. COGS donates all proceeds from PROS to Washington Bikes to further our work to get more folks on bikes.
You can register online. Sign up by August 25 and you will be eligible for prize drawings for a WA Bikes jersey made by Castelli and a custom bike sketch by Seattle artist Andy Goulding.
Banner photo credit: Don Willott.