What and when?

Next Willy Nilly: v17 - Sunday, February 23, 2025

The Willy Nilly is a free-form version of an annual season-opening bicycling spin that happens on beautifully weird Vashon Island.


Willy Nilly Basics

> Registration/fees: None (for the record: this is not a ride that is "organized" for, or by, anyone...)
> "Ride your ride": Willy Nilly riders choose their ride details...start time, route, distance, pace...lycra, wool, or denim...maybe some road, gravel, or single track (there are trails on Vashon)...
> Number of riders: People frequently ask about this...basically the numbers are unknown, as riders start/finish in different locations, at different times...and ride different routes...plus weather factors year over year, etc...we've estimated hundreds some years, and dozens other years...
> One of many Vashon routes (a "standard"): map

Scroll down to view hastily-scribed blurb posts about past Willy Nillys...

Click here to sign up for Willy Nilly ride news (Willy Nilly season-opening, Sunride summer solstice, Ogriteride gravel celebration of/thanks to Fred Hutch)

Willy Nilly Gear

> Willy Nilly t-shirts ($0 profit): view/purchase

Willy Nilly History

> In January 2009, a handful of cycling friends were discussing options for a wintery road bike ride to kick off a new season. None of us were game for the iconic Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island. While the Chilly Hilly (CBC) does an amazing job of inspiring thousands of riders to register and ride the designated route, a structured ride of this ilk just wasn't our particular cup of tea (loose analogy: we feel more aligned with backpackers vs cruise ship passengers). To each their own, right? We decided to ride a more personalized and free-form ride on the same day as the Chilly Hilly, in solidarity with the herd to the north of us. Thus the present-day Willy Nilly was born.


Click here to sign up for reminders about upcoming Willy Nilly rides

v14: 2022: WAnon

Willy Nilly
February 27, 2022

It's no secret that Willy Nilly is, by definition, a Conspiracy among participants to pursue an alternative to the status quo of season-opening bicycle rides. But there's more to this wicked story. 

We have it on good authority - that is, from some very fine random people on social media - that this dangerous Cabal of bicyclists includes Seitan-worshiping foodies, as well as a disturbing variety of PedalStyles...and beware, they're very cold-blooded  (especially while they're bicycling in damp, 30-40 degree weather).

Now, we've come to learn about some damning new details. Apparently, due to a late night of worshiping live music and whiskey on the eve of Willy Nilly v14, one of these dastardly agents got off to a much later start to their Willy Nilly ride than they'd originally planned...inadvertently resulting in their first solo Willy Nilly.

Upon arriving on Vashon Island, this threat to established world order pedaled directly to one of their Cabal's secret Pizzeria field operation meeting places (Snapdragon Bakery & Cafe, in the town of Vashon).