What to expect
What to expect :
Is this your first time riding in the Snoqualmie Valley? Or are you a regular QOM in the area? Regardless of your experience, we are so stoked to have you join us for one of our COTM rides!
Whether you’re interested in our muy picante Monday group, one of our Femmes Fridays adventures, our beginner-friendly and super popular Wednesday Arête Rides, or any of the monthly routes we explore, there’s a good chance we have a ride where you’ll fit right in.
Our Strava Club is the best way to stay up to date on what rides are happening and (usually) what the route will be. For some of our smaller rides, like Mondays, there’s more on-the-spot spontaneity and discussion about the route once the coffee kicks in.
Signed Waiver : Everyone MUST complete the Event Participant Waiver & Media Release waiver before participating in any Case of the Mondays rides. The waiver only needs to be signed once. This waiver helps protect both you and the organizers in the event of unforeseen incidents during our rides, allowing us to continue offering these events. The waiver can be found here: www.bit.ly/COTMwaiver
Recreation Access Permit : Routes often take us into the Campbell Global recreational area north of town. A Recreation Access Permit is required to access this area. You MUST have a permit if you plan to ride with us. Step-by-step instructions for purchasing an annual permit can be found here: www.bit.ly/cgpermit
What you need :
When you show up :
Most COTM rides meet at our favorite spot, Arête Coffee inside Pro Ski. If you drive, please do not park in the spaces directly across from Arête / Pro Ski. We want to save those spots for their customers to easily come and go. Please park in the gravel parking lot behind the bank or on a side street. We recommend showing up 20-30 minutes before the ride departs, to make sure your bike and gear are dialed in, you have the route downloaded, and we have the necessary waiver and land permit from you. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to get some pre-ride food and coffee!
Our ride leaders (look for pink armbands and COTM Rapha kits) will be walking around ready to help anyone get sorted out. Don’t hesitate to grab us if you have a question before the ride.
Before we head out, expect a short pre-ride announcement from the ride leadership team, discussing the route, rider etiquette, any post-ride plans and other updates. For our larger rides, look for these ride leaders (remember, pink armbands) at the front, middle, and back of each pace group.
Rides & pace groups :
Monday Ride : This is our namesake ride and the one that started it all. What began as a few friends determined to explore gravel and singletrack, usually with a heavy pour of under-biking, is still basically just that. Except now we have matching kits.
The pace is brisk, and the choice of terrain and route can be questionable. With this small group (10-15 riders), we still regroup at key points, but expect intermediate attacks and solo breakaways. This is the way.
Wednesday Arête Ride : This is it. The party. We’re not kidding. There can be upwards of 60+ folks who travel from around Western Washington to rip some gravel and clink glasses with the squad, and we love it.
With bigger numbers like these, there are two pace groups and two slightly different routes, to help all riders get back to Arête around the same time. Because what is cycling if you’re not hanging out in your Lycra after a ride? #chamoistimeistrainingtime
A Group : Speeds will vary but expect to sweat. A lot. For this group, you should be comfortable riding in a tighter group, can maintain a good pace up climbs, and comfortable on trails (e.g., descending Deep Creek). If you've joined a Monday morning ride, expect to see glimpses of that flavor in this group. Although the group leaders will regroup at key points, if the pace proves unsustainable, there will be options for riders to drop back to the B group to finish out the ride.
B Group : This is the group for everyone, especially beginner riders. We do our best to keep everyone together, and make a point to regroup several times throughout the ride. Ride leaders will be at the front of the group, zipping (riding around the middle), and sweeping (no rider left behind!). If you are a newer rider, this is a great way to learn riding etiquette, how to ride safely and comfortably with a group, and identify skills to improve on. We ride in beautiful places, so expect some photo-snapping in this group as well!
Note : If you’re not sure what pace group to join, start with our B Group, so you can get a feel for the COTM vibe.
Femmes Fridays Ride : This is a social, intermediate-paced, no-drop ride designed for women (“femmes" in French) and anyone who identifies as such! We bring together female cyclists from around the Snoqualmie Valley for a fun morning on two wheels. We're not afraid to push it up a climb but we like to chat, regroup regularly, and make sure everyone is included.
COTM Monthly Rides : Can’t make the mid-week ride? Looking for a weekend mini-adventure? Wanting the Wednesday ride feel but with more miles? Well, look no further. Our monthly Saturday rides have a similar flavor to Wednesday night rides with extra miles and the potential to be a little bit spicier. This is a great opportunity to ride longer and further without the pressure to get home on a school night (it’s also a chance to grab a post-ride beer and lunch at Arête or Volition)!
Note : For any rides with 25-30 riders or less, we will roll as one group, with a ride leader, zipper and sweep. If the rides exceed 25-30 riders, we will split into two groups and follow the COTM A and B Pace Group protocol.
