Each year upwards of 3500 cyclists come to Bainbridge Island for the annual Chilly Hilly ride staged by Cascade Bicycle Club on the last Sunday of February. You can come any time and enjoy mostly quiet roads, great shoreline scenery and inviting places to stop for coffee. Be warned, the island is hilly but some rides avoiding the worst of the hills are possible. In 2011, Squeaky Wheels will be offering a series of Saturday social rides.

For self-navigating island roads, use the map published by the City of Bainbridge Island. http://www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/documents/Guide_Full_Island_View.pdf

Background

Bainbridge Island is located on the west side of Puget Sound, approximately six miles from Seattle. The island is 12 miles long and six miles at its widest. Currently home to some 22,000 people, Bainbridge Island was used for summer fishing camps by Native Americans. It was mapped by British explorer Captain George Vancouver and was an important center for shipbuilding until the early part of the 20th century. Today, the island is predominantly a bedroom community to Seattle but is home to a number of small businesses, including two fabulous bike stores. There are no car dealerships on the island. Bainbridge is in Kitsap County and has its own city government.

Map