Have you wanted to take your bike out onto the beautiful Willapa Hills Trail but didn’t want to go alone? Now you don’t have to. Join the Monday Night Rides or Thursday Night Rides and you’ll never be alone.
Last year a group from Bethel Church started riding the Willapa Hills Trail on Monday evenings. Dave and Patty Smith, along with Chris Brewer, help lead the group and talk about how it got started and what you can expect.
“We have a large congregation and we wanted to get together outside of church, creating even more community,” explains Patty. The rides weren’t really advertised, but people found out through various means. Some people came into the Hub City Bike Shop, another outreach project of Bethel Church. “A lot of people want to ride, but are just worried about being out there along. Safety and security are very important,” explains Dave.
Chris is president of the Lewis County Community Trails. “We promote physical fitness, being together and using the Willapa Trail. So this was a good fit for a number of reasons.”
It was popular very quickly, with the largest group made up of 37 riders. “After that ride, I emailed the state parks planners, so they could know how well used the trail is. Who knows, it could lead to more significant support and funding down the road,” says Chris.
“It’s a super family-friendly ride,” explains Patty. “The emphasis is on safety. We all meet at the trail head in Chehalis. No one gets left in the dust. There is support all along the way.” If someone needs to go back, someone will go with them. “No one ever goes back alone,” says Dave.
The group encourages the use of helmets and following the rules of trail etiquette. “Many people are afraid to cross Highway 6 where the trail goes towards Adna,” says Patty. But they cross as a group. The leader will wait for everyone to get there, then there are spotters in bright vests who watch for traffic and keep everyone safe crossing. “People stop for us now, they’re getting used to seeing us,” says Chris.
“The rides are an informal partnership with the Ride the Willapa event on June 24 and 25,” explains Chris. Riders can simply ride for exercise, camaraderie or use the rides as training for the event.
There is a wide variety of participants in the group, from a 9-year old riding with his grandmother to a 72-year-old rider. There are people from all over the community and all fitness levels. “Last year we started at a slow pace,” explains Dave. “All summer long we rode and by the end everyone was naturally faster, we rode further west, and fitness levels increased.”
Last year the group started riding on May 5 and went as long as they could into the fall, until it just started getting dark too early. “People were really bummed we had to quit riding,” says Chris. “They really enjoyed it.”
This year, the rides started in the first week of April. “But we’ve been fighting the weather,” laughs Dave, so they haven’t been very regular yet. However, even in the rain, they have had 16 riders show up in rain gear.
“We try to make it as frustration-free and stress-free as possible, especially with kids along,” smiles Dave. “We’ll sometimes have little picnics. It’s another part of connecting.”
The Thursday night group is for those comfortable riding a little faster pace or who are more advanced. “It’s more of a road bike group,” explains Chris. “We have thinner tires and naturally go a little faster, about 12 to 13 miles an hour.” However, that group has also been fighting the weather. “Two out of the four Thursday s we’ve had massive rain and thunder,” he laughs.
If you are interested in joining the rides, you can just show up at the trailhead on Hillberger Road on Monday or Thursday nights by 6:00 p.m. A Discover Pass is required. Rides finish between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. There are restrooms at the trailhead and out at Adna, but there is no running water, so you might want to bring hand sanitizer. “We don’t really have a Facebook page, but if people want to follow the Ride the Willapa page, we put the events and status of the rides on there,” says Chris.
If you aren’t sure if your bike is in good enough shape to complete the ride, Dave encourages you to bring it by the Hub City Bike Shop at 500 Pearl Street before attempting a ride so that he and the other volunteers can get it ready to go. Shop hours are Tuesdays and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. You can also call the shop at 360-523-3992.
“It’s just a great time to be out and get a little exercise,” smiles Patty.
