NormalGuyTri Cycling Merit Badge Resource Page!
This page is a collection of resources to be used in the completion of the Cycling Merit Badge for the Boy Scouts of America.
Cycling Merit Badge Requirements (USScouts.org)
UPDATE! The Cycling MB now includes a "mountain bike" option as well. I'll be updating my page shortly with some trail ideas in the Seattle area but it may take some time: there are SO MANY to choose from!
Recommended Road Rides
10 mile rides
Description: Ride around Lake Roesiger, starting at Camp Pigott near Monroe, WA.
Surface: 80% paved road, 20% gravel road (Camp Pigott access road)
Difficulty: Moderately easy
Highlights: Great views of the Lake Roesiger and Mount Pilchuck
Lowlights: Not entirely paved, hill near Lake Roesiger store approaches 8% in grade for 1/4 mile.
Marymoor Park to Redhook Brewery
Description: Very easy ride on the Sammamish River Trail in Redmond, WA.
Surface: 100% paved multi-use trail (Sammamish River Trail)
Difficulty: Easy (no hills, pancake flat)
Highlights: Views of the Sammamish River Slew
Lowlights: Not much variation in terrain. Can be crowded in the summer.
15 mile rides
Description: Easy ride on a gravel surface (although they are paving the trail in phases through 2015)
Surface: 100% gravel multi-use trail (former rail-road bed)
Difficulty: Easy (no hills, pancake flat)
Highlights: Views of Lake Sammamish, Cougar Mountain
Lowlights: Not much variation in terrain. Several miles riding between houses with no view.
25 mile rides
Issaquah-Preston-Snoqualmie Falls Overlook
Description: Moderately challenging ride with a great view of Snoqualmie Falls at the end. Follows a former rail-trail from Issaquah to Preston and beyond.
Surface: 50/50 split between gravel and pavement on a multi-use trail.
Difficulty: Moderate: a few hills, first half is a slight uphill incline
Highlights: Views of Lake Sammamish, Tiger Mountain, Snoqualmie Falls. Second half (return trip) is almost all down hill.
Lowlights: Climb up to Sunset Dr. can be loud due to traffic noise (next to I-90).
Snoqualmie Valley Trail - Snoqualmie Falls
Description: Easy rail-trail up to the falls from Carnation.
Surface: 100% gravel multi-use trail (former rail-road bed)
Difficulty: Easy (no hills, pancake flat)
Highlights: Views of Snoqualmie River Valley, Mount Si, and Snoqualmie Falls
Lowlights: Not much variation in riding terrain.
50 mile rides
Marymoor - North Lake Washington Loop
Description: Ride from Marymoor Park in Redmond, across the I-90 bridge, and around the north half of Lake WA. We finished it off with some laps around the Marymoor Velodrome (bike track) to make it an even 50 miles.
Surface: 100% paved road.
Difficulty: Moderate (some hills, mostly pancake flat).
Highlights: Views of Lake Washington, Seattle Arboretum, and Sammamish River.
Lowlights: Some city-street riding in Seattle in the Arboretum and around the Univ. of WA campus.
Iron Horse State Park
Description: Ride up from North Bend to Snoqualmie Pass via the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, Iron Horse State Park, including the 2.4-mile Snoqualmie Tunnel. (Closed Oct-April every year) Tunnel and east section of this route is closed in the winter.
Surface: 100% gravel multi-use trail (former rail-road bed)
Difficulty: Moderate (no hills, pancake flat). Grade is never more than 2%.
Highlights: Views of Snoqualmie River Valley, Mount Si, and other mountains near Snoqualmie Falls. Snow-shed near mile 22.
Lowlights: Not much variation in riding terrain.
My photo tour: http://bit.ly/sieU6o
Cycling Resource Links:
Cycling Skills: http://bit.ly/jeqVCF
Cycling Classes: Cascade Bicycle Club, REI
Bicycle Repair info: Sheldon Brown, Park Tool "Repair Help"