If you’re in Seattle and looking for a truly unique ride, consider Cascade Bicycle Studio’s Angle Lake ride on Saturday mornings for a 50-ish mile cruise that starts… on a train?
Fifty miles may not sound like a lot for an epic ride, but this one’s a half-day tour that’s more about the scenery along Puget Sound, riding through downtown, and a delicious snack stop. Here’s how to do it right…
Fuel up before arriving at the shop, then tag along for a short rollout to the Link Light Rail. Board the train at UW Station - make sure to bring a little cash for the ticket - then catch up with friends and make new ones on the 45-minute trip south to Angle Lake.
The first 20-ish miles loops south along the Green River Trail, a car-free greenway, before shooting west toward Puget Sound.
Our snack stop is the legendary Three Tree Point General Store for excellent coffee, snacks, and vibes. It’s a local favorite and won’t disappoint, but the approach is one of the highlights of the ride.
Coming into the Three Tree Point neighborhood “is a half-a-mile piece of road right along the beach, with the Puget Sound 10 feet to your left, and charming beach-front homes directly to the right,” says Cascade’s Kempton Baker. “Gorgeous panoramic views of the water and mountains greet you as you coast into the neighborhood. It truly is breathtaking and elicits loud exclamations from the riders every time.”
“The whole route is notable for its changing terrain and different communities,” Kempton adds. “You get the train ride to socialize and build relationships with people you normally only get to chat with during a ride. Then a nice cruise on the bike path along the Green River before we go up and over a ridge that deposits us on the shore of the Sound.”
The bulk of the route travels north along the shoreline, winding up and down as you leave the waterfront and then return multiple times. There are a number of short steep climbs to test the legs, perfect for newbies to build confidence.
“Another reason we love it is that the roads aren't ridden very often by Seattlites because, without the train, there really isn't a good route down to the Kent Valley. The traffic is moderate
to light which is another draw for the city dwellers. There are sections of almost no traffic, and good bike lanes/shoulders pretty much the whole way.”
If the group’s moving slow and time’s stretching out, make an extra stop in Dub Sea (that’s West Seattle for the non-locals) to top off the tank before cruising through the downtown waterfront and wrapping things up back in Fremont.
The ride finishes back at The Studio for beers and ride stories. Bonus points if you swing by the taco truck for a burrito or taco plate to fuel the post-ride debrief—and, of course, more beers.
If you’re still around on Sunday, come back down by the shop for the Fremont Sunday Market, it’s full of local treats, arts, and crafts.
The route itself isn’t the most technical or grueling, it’s the scenery that makes it special, and we recommend a more casual pace to soak it all in.
If you’re joining the group, it’s a no-drop affair, with feet down at the top of all the big climbs to re-group. Just be sure to check with the shop in advance, it’s an occasional thing, not a weekly occurrence.
Download the GPX file from RideWithGPS to tackle it on your own schedule. We recommend riding it on the weekends to avoid traffic.
About the Shop
Cascade Bicycle Studio carries a lot of high end brands, including Parlee Cycles, with intentional inventory of the best components and gear, ID Match Bike FItting, and white glove service and tuning. Check out their Instagram and Facebook page for themed events, wine nights, tech talks, and more.
