That’s 
what I heard while ever-so-slowly spinning my way up some hill, somewhere on Bainbridge Island last February. I watched the speaker spin ever-so-slightly faster up the hill and disappear over the other side.
If you haven’t ridden Chilly Hilly, it’s a blast! Thousands of cyclists (more than 3,800 in 2009) turn out for the event each year, making it a boisterous, fun ride around Bainbridge Island every February.
Thirty-three miles may not seem like it’s far, but add some hills (2,675 feet of climbing) and cool weather to your possible laziness since the holidays, and you’ve got a challenge on your hands. And a reason to get back on your bike!
That said, there are some cut-offs (shhhhh!), but you’ll avoid those to earn your hot cider and cookies at the midpoint, right? Or maybe you’ll decide, what’s a cut-off between friends when home-baked cookies await on the other side? Either way, see you on the 28th.
Sunday, Feb. 28 marks the 37th Chilly Hilly. The course is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the roads are not closed to traffic.
The Seattle start is located downtown across from the ferry terminal, under the Alaska Way Viaduct. Ferry passage is included in your registration on the 7:55, 8:45, 9:35 and 10:35 a.m. ferries only.
Advance online registration is open until Feb. 24. After that you can register at the Seattle or Bainbridge start lines.
Hot tip: If your registration is received by Feb. 17, your rider packet will be mailed to you. Then you pin on your bib (doubles as a ferry ticket) and head straight to the ferry. If you register after Feb. 17, your packet will only be available for pickup on the day of the event at the start line you indicated on your registration form (Seattle or Winslow).
Don’t miss the Finish Line Festival with fantastic chili feed fundraiser for the Squeaky Wheels Cycling Club.
Chilly Hilly is a fundraiser for the Cascade Bicycle Club and money raised supports our education, advocacy and riding programs. It is also a major fundraiser for a variety of Bainbridge Island charities, including the Girls Scouts, Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers, Kiwanis/Help Line House and Bainbridge Youth Services. Thank you to the Bainbridge community for welcoming us to the island each February.
Join us on the 37th annual Chilly Hilly ride, Sunday, Feb. 28.
This is a great season opener. Not too hilly, and a nice mix of folk to ride with. Join us!
The Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers wishes to express our sincere thanks to the Cascade Bike Club for your continued support of our yearly fundraiser, held at Battlepoint Park during Chilly Hilly.
We are a self-supported team, that also raises funds by conducting jump roping workshops (and hosting birthday parties) throughout the school year and summer months. All proceeds from you buying a banana, baked potato, or homemade baked goods from us during Chilly Hilly, goes directly into helping our high-performance team get to competitions all over the world. These include: Regionals; the USA Nationals Championship (held in Texas), with over l,000 competitors, that is covered by ESPN and Nickelodeon; USA Junior Olympics (in California); Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (in New York, and Seattle); and, most recently, the 2010 World Rope Skipping Championship, held in London, England, last summer. At this competition, 12 members of our team were selected to partake in a 100-strong “Team USA” (comprised of the best jumpers in the United States), competing in freestyle, pairs, double-dutch, and speed events. We competed against the top athletes from 22 countries, including, North and South Korea, Belgium, South Africa, France, China, and, Australia, to only name a few. This Olympics-style event ran over the course of one week’s time, and all our jumpers put on the performances of a lifetime. To the chant of “USA! USA! USA!,” two members of the Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers literally “brought home the gold,” when they were selected as the best pairs (in their age group) in the world!
All veteran members of the Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers are amongst the top jumpers in the United States. We all participate in mentoring and teaching the junior jumpers on our team, so they, too, can excel in this sport (and, ultimately, in other areas of their lives.)
BIRS train with a personal trainer two hours a day, up to five times a week, all throughout the year. We cross-train in gymnastics, Pilates, and other core-strengthening activities. Perhaps cycling should be added to our list!
It is through your support, CASCADE BIKE COMPANY, that we are able to make our dreams come true.
We thank you for that!
THE BAINBRIDGE ISLAND ROPE SKIPPERS
[...] ride? I concur with M.J., who wrote last year of the Chilly Hilly: “It’s a blast!” Yes, there are hills. A lot of them. But they’re manageable. And if you need to, you always [...]
[...] the route are fundraisers for a wonderful group of Bainbridge Island charities. At mile 14.6, theBainbridge Island Rope Skippers will have hot food and drink for sale. Don’t miss the Finish Line Festival with fantastic [...]