Pumped to pedal 65 miles around Lake Washington

Pedaling a loop around Lake Washington is a Puget Sound bicycling tradition, up there with finishing the Seattle-to-Portland (STP) and braving February weather on the Chilly Hilly ride around Bainbridge Island. The lake's actual shoreline measures 58 miles, but the biking circuit is in the 65-mile range — sometimes well away from the lakefront — depending on how you choose to avoid the traffic-clogged bits of the Eastside.

To a small group of friends enjoying a beer and barbecue, lapping the state's second-largest body of fresh water seemed like a splendid idea, one that should be accomplished this very year. And soon, while the warm weather prevailed.

That's how I ended up riding the lakeshore alone a couple of weeks later, the others' plans derailed by family and work schedules. Or maybe it was my insistence that to truly enjoy circling Lake Washington you have to ride on a weekday. Otherwise, your bicycling becomes an exercise in fast navigation, sudden braking and near-misses to avoid strollers, dogs, skaters and wobbly bicyclists of all ages out enjoying the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Sure enough, on my Friday ride last month there was chance aplenty to admire the tony homes along the lake's edge in Seattle and Lake Forest Park, and pedal blithely without thinking too much about anticipating escape routes to avoid wayward Labradors.

Of course, the Burke-Gilman Trail, bedded on an old railroad right of way from Ballard, is never more than a few paces from residences. Even so, it occasionally takes on the ambience of a country path meandering through a country copse, a sinuous strip of vegetation far from the maddening snarl of traffic. Then you reach Kenmore, which is a jarring return to the universe of strip malls, six-lane streets and the business of commerce. Handily, it's where a restroom is located.

A rider named Susan was enjoying a break. She happily shared details of her twice-weekly rides on the Burke-Gilman from her home in Bothell.

"There are no hills and no cars," she said. "I don't like riding roads. I don't ride weekends (on the trail). It is too dangerous. People ignore the rules."

By the time you reach Bothell Landing, you're officially on the Sammamish River Trail, owned by King County Parks. This takes riders along the canalized banks of the river all the way into Redmond, where work is under way on a salmon-habitat-restoration project. Watch for construction vehicles on the trail.

Redmond is also the best bet for a lunch stop; Little Tokyo Teriyaki serves up a heaped plate of your choice for around $6. This also marks the approximate halfway stop of the loop.

By tradition I should have followed the West Lake Sammamish Parkway but I was intrigued by the new bike path paralleling Highway 520. I hopped on it where the Redmond exit slides into town.

Bellevue, no matter which way you approach from, is the trickiest part of completing any ride around the lake. My route was through Crossroads and Bellevue Community College; there are several reasonable alternatives using quiet city streets to get you to the trail on Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast, heading south from Newcastle Beach Park, about a mile south of Interstate 90.

Heading down the east side of Lake Washington on quiet roads, you get glimpses of the lake and Mercer Island. It's mostly bike trail and bike lane along Lake Washington Boulevard.

This section leading into Renton is pleasant: Tree-lined streets give way to a wide boulevard where condos are rising on a hillside overlooking the lake.

Past Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, head south and west around the Boeing facilities, picking up a short stretch of the Cedar River Trail and crossing the Cedar on a Boeing access road. Follow a little-traveled side road at the south end of the Renton Airport that is marked as a bike path. It takes you to the west side of the airport and onto Rainier Avenue.

By this point the least-pleasant four miles of the ride lie ahead: northbound on Rainier Avenue to Rainier Beach. If sharing this four-lane road with fast-moving traffic isn't your cup of fun, hop a 107 bus at the Renton Transit Center back into downtown Seattle. You will already have clocked 50 miles, a respectable distance.

For the more experienced rider, head north on Rainier Avenue through Rainier Beach, turn onto Seward Park Avenue South and continue through an area of manicured lawns and big houses leading to Seward Park. Pick up Lake Washington Boulevard South at the park.

My journey took me up onto the I-90 bike path from Lake Washington Boulevard at the Mount Baker Tunnel and back toward downtown via Dearborn Street.

Or give yourself a reward: Keep heading north to enjoy a well-earned ice cream in Madison Valley.

IF YOU GO

Maps and more information: City of Bellevue bike maps (recommended) are available free by calling 425-452-2894. For online maps, see www.ci.bellevue.wa.us and click on "departments," then "transportation," then "bicycling."

City of Seattle bike maps are available free by calling 206-684-7583, or request a map online at www.cityofseattle.net/td/brmform.asp. To view maps online, see www.cityofseattle.net/td/bikemaps.asp.

Maps are also available at many bicycle and outdoor-equipment retailers, including REI.

Gordon Black is a free-lance writer who lives on Bainbridge Island.