Book Review : "75 Classic Rides - Washington," by Mike McQuaide

Mike McQuaide's "75 Classic Rides - Washington" is a must have for every cyclist who wants to explore the scenic northwest country in the state of Washington. Filled with gorgeous photographs, valuable local information and a superbly organized list of rides spanning the spectrum from "easy" to "very streneous," this book is a delightful resource begging to be used*.

The rides are organized in 7 sections (with one appendix tacked to the end) according to the geographical boundaries of the state - North Sound and Islands, Seattle Metro, Mount Rainier and Southern Washington, North Cascades, Central Cascades, Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas, and Eastern Washington. The "appendix" collects two cross-state routes going West-to-East (Anacortes to Spokane) and North-to-South (Blaine to Vancouver, WA). Some of the routes were pretty well-known (Hurricane Ridge, Mt Baker, Snohomish-Sultan-Monroe etc.) to moi, most were unknown gems, but surprisingly, a few were training rides that we had supposedly "designed" for the Team Asha program :).

Each ride is described in terms of difficulty, estimated time to complete, the distance and elevation covered. The estimated time is computed using a spectrum of riders abilities - for most rides, the shortest time assumed an average speed of 20-21 mph and the longest time assumed a rider riding leisurely at an average pace of 10-12 mph. This is followed by a brief description of the route, with important landmarks and pointers stated explicitly. For rides that are a little way off the metro area, the author also provides tips on road conditions through the seasons and concise directions for reaching the start point of the ride. An elevation profile and the mileage log rounds up the rest of the ride details.

The author's style of writing is not very formal. Having ridden the rides himself, the descriptions read like a travelogue combined with relevant information. (For e.g. in the description for Washington Pass route, the author suggests riding this road in March/April when it is only open from the western side, thereby avoiding traffic!) There are also instances of witty observations by the way of image captions or route description. The photos accompanying the ride details are gorgeously shot to showcase important landmarks on the route. The author also stresses a "safety-first" approach when riding outside the metro areas, something I personally subscribe to as well.

A unique feature of the book is that it also suggests variations on the prescribed route. In the process of writing this book, Mike had solicited ride suggestions from all over, and he includes such variants in this section. 

This is a very good reference to have in your bag (or on your phone if you prefer an e-book) if you are serious about exploring the beautiful northwest! Get your copy today :)

Mt Baker hill climb - awesome views!!

* Team Asha riders can expect to see a few of these rides to show up in the training program next year :).