Seattle’s Seward Park Thursday Night Cycling Series celebrates its 25th season this year. The series has been running since 1990 through the efforts of David Douglas.
It all started because the Seward Park Community group was looking at ways to cultivate legitimate activities at the park. A Seward Park-area cyclist named Clif Roberson visited a Gregg’s Greenlake Cycling Team meeting and asked if anyone would be interested in putting on a weekly cycling series there. David said “yes” and ran with the idea. As the cycling series became more established over the years, Seward Park has attracted other events and now hosts “legitimate” activities year-round.
The weekly series is held April through August on Thursdays from 5PM until dusk or so on the Park’s upper loop:
While chatting with David one Thursday night several weeks ago, a racer who was well off the back of the main group slowed down as he passed us, looked David in the eyes and said: “Thanks.” It was clear that it was his first Seward, and he was grateful for the opportunity to test himself.
David’s response was immediate: “That’s what this is all about…”
There are typically four events each night:
5 PM: Veteran racers periodically host a skills clinic for riders new to racing who want to learn the basics about cornering, drafting, riding in a group and to help reduce the fear of a new racer’s first race.
5:30: A “beginners” race for men and women of all ages and is a mix of new and experienced racers. This particular race is intended to be a less stressful way to learn to race than the weekend races which tend to be more competitive and aggressive.
6:00: An “intermediate” race that is plenty fast and often very competitive. The riders in this race are category 3 and 4 and have been racing on average 4 to 5 years.
7:00: Is for top-notch racers from category 3 to pro. Pros do show up every once in a while to spice it up. This race is typically very fast with speeds on the backstretch exceeding 40 mph.
Flickr Gallery from May 1, 2014:
5:30 Race
6:00 Race
7:00 Race
Tyler Farrar is the most famous rider to have raced at Seward. He started racing when he was about 12, and regularly beat racers who were in their athletic prime.
From David Douglas’ perspective, the Seward Series offers racers a great training ground to get ready for bigger races. Many folks ride to the race, race, then ride home, which adds up to a great training ride. This is also a way for those with weekend family obligations to race on a weeknight.
For context on the importance of Thursday nights at Seward, here are some thoughts from some of the Seattle-area’s top racers:
Ivy Audrain
“If all my career amounted to was racing Seward, I’d be happy with that. Seward completely embodies the Seattle racing scene: folks who have families, work nine to fives, and unleash their suppressed rage in a surprisingly welcoming, inclusive way. I’m always totally overwhelmed at the sense of community I feel at Seward, from the guys’ encouragement every time I race, to the variety of post race gatherings where people from an assortment of teams unwind together. People in Seattle live for this, and I am reminded every time I go. Racing Seward is the absolute best way for me to prepare for competition at a higher level, and I can credit most of my success to learning from racing with those guys. My experiences at Seward in terms of mentorship from those guys is completely invaluable!”
David Douglas
“The idea behind the series has always been to make it easier for riders who want to take the next step from ‘riding’ to ‘racing’ – and to try and keep racing fun.
The Thursday night series has become a great gathering place for local racers to get together once a week and see friends and get a great interval workout. I see riders who started when they were 12 and now are in their thirties with a wife and kids but they still like to race – just some are not as fast anymore.
I have fond memories of Tyler Farrar sprinting up the hill as a 100 pound 12 year old kid–beating up on the old guys. Then to see him win a tour stage along with other grand tour stages…that really warms my heart.”
David Richter
Seward is my home field. When I was still racing as a professional, one of my favorite things to do was check out the local cycling week-nighter. This is a great way to see the personality, strength and soul of a cycling scene. I’d put Seward Park at the top of the list nationally. And it always makes me proud of the NW when someone visits Seward Park on a Thursday night. Thursdays at Seward are when I know I’m going to be able to say hi to all my homies…and then throw-down like it’s a sparring session.
I love Seward Park; it’s a big reason I keep racing…it feeds my soul with…competition, friendship, and sportsmanship.
Garth Ferber
“I raced at Seward Park during my first bicycle racing career in the 1980’s. Lately, I have raced there again during my second bicycle racing career. I appreciate how it has been there all these years. I think about the people I knew there back then and the people I know there now. It is exhilarating and convenient for me, and afterwards I enjoy the ride home on a warm summer evening.”
Jennifer Wheeler
“Seward is the first place I got to race with boys. Racing with men better replicates the pro women’s scene and provides invaluable practice in riding in a pack, making smart tactical decisions…oh and heckling…gotta love any chance to practice zingers when you can!”
Joe Holmes
“I think Seward is one of the best training series I have been to anywhere in the country. Quite frankly it is often harder racing then the weekend races locally and I love that it gives an opportunity for different categories to have their own races while at the same time providing the opportunity for lower category riders to mix it up and hopefully learn something from the upper category riders.”
Kenny Williams
“Racing at Seward reminds me of “Cheers” where everyone one knows everyone. I think it has helped a lot of people understand teamwork and how racing works. It’s one of the best weekly races I have seen anywhere in the country. We are truly blessed to have Seward Park so close to the city.”
Rhae Shaw
“Racing the Seward Park crit was a definitely a large part of my training for international racing. My Thursday routine was always to do a hard morning training session and then head to Seward Park for my second session of the day. I always knew that the race was going to be hard, fast and fun.
The people are what make Thursday nights special. The local cycling community knew what I was working towards and were super supportive in the peloton. When I won my first UCI races in Europe, so many of the guys from “Thursday Night Worlds” took the time to email and send congratulations. It really meant a lot to me. After I won the Canadian National Criterium Championship, a bunch of the guys came to give me a pat on the back and said that they felt like they were a part of the win, and they were absolutely right.”
Russell Stevenson
“The Seward Park race series helped me become the athlete I am today. I can remember showing up there as a teenager, on borrowed equipment, with nowhere to go but up. Seeing the youth and beginners out there now, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic. Even today, the racing remains competitive and challenging but it’s the life long friendships I’ve made that keep me kitting up.”
Todd Herriott
I really look forward to the summertime racing at Seward. It’s the best weekday series that I’ve ever participated in and I’ve lived and raced in a lot of states. Dave does a great job with the organizing and the turnout is as good or better than a lot of the weekend races, and I’d say the racing is often harder! Long live Seward!
Other top riders who have (or continue to) race at Seward include:
Logan Owen
–Adrian Hegyvary
–Ian McKissick
–Tom Peterson
