Ride Celebration – Newberry Caldera / Crater Rim Trail

I tried Ride Reports, but it is too stuffy.

I rode the Crater Rim Trail: Trailforks, Bend Trails

Relive ‘Newberry Caldera Loop’

I am a bit stiff tonight, a day after the ride.

When you link sections together, and anticipate hills, the trail becomes so much more than the section you are on, it is hard to explain to me what others already get, that “flow” is so much smoother, a greater experience, more fun and worth working at. And it requires work.

I found in the attack position I always lead with the same foot and so I am beginning to practice with the other foot. Should be a hoot while this takes place.

I think rides that are “FIRSTS” should be celebrated but this part I simply don’t know how to do. So I will sit on my back porch and recount trail sections to myself. Would make a great trip report, but then, I probably have spent too long on this in any event. The silly trail mistake, followed by the monstrous ego shortcut, and the steep drop to start just makes it a ride. The gravel scree, downhills, uphills, the flow, switchbacks and endless obstacles and “features” manmade, bike made, nature made, or simply boom were pretty cool. The bike turns on a dime and climbs anything, goes down easily and it and I do struggle in really loose dusty soil with slippage, could be air pressure but I am too new to know.

What I do know. The bike on my car is not for show anymore, it is getting out there, and getting it done! Every bit of an adventure. I know there are more coming, but this one, all alone, was pretty damn cool. So it is appropriate that it is celebrated all alone, or at least OK.

Oh, that last three miles was pounding hard! Glad I went the route direction. I had no idea one could jump so many times.

Proud of myself for going and completing this ride!

Bike Shelter in Oregon State Parks

by OSPF on April 15, 2015

Bike Shelter Build Day - Setting the FrameworkFollowing a successful 2014 pilot project to construct new bike shelters for cyclists in state park campgrounds and day-use areas, the Oregon State Parks Foundation is currently working with state park managers, local companies and community volunteers to expand the state park bike shelter network and help build Oregon’s reputation as a premier cycling destination.

Last fall the Foundation, in partnership with Wilsonville high-tech company TE Connectivity, constructed two bike shelters in the hiker/biker camping area at Champoeg State Heritage Area, one of 31 designated hiker/biker camping areas in Oregon state park campgrounds. Through a generous grant from the TE Connectivity Foundation and the tremendous efforts of 35 motivated volunteers who participated in TE Connectivity’s Employee Work Day, we were able to complete two bike shelters — one designed to host a family or small camping group and a second to serve as a gathering place for cyclists seeking cover from rain and wind. These rustic shelters are already popular and frequently used by park visitors, and new amenities including bike racks, secure storage lockers and solar-powered USB ports are planned once the weather improves and camping season is in full swing.Bike Shelter Build Day - Completed Shelter

The Foundation now has an agreement with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to move beyond our prototype project at Champoeg to build bike shelters at other state parks across Oregon. Our initial program emphasis will be on the Oregon Coast, in the Columbia River Gorge, and along the TransAmerica Bike Trail through Central Oregon. The Foundation continues to meet with state park managers in these areas, and we’re hard at work planning projects at Ainsworth and Viento State Parks. In conjunction with the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Historic Columbia River Highway, these new bike shelters will welcome modern adventurists who pedal this scenic corridor under their own power.

Recreational cycling is a key factor in Oregon’s growing tourism industry, and creating a statewide network of covered bike facilities in Oregon State Parks will help take bicycle tourism to the next level. The Oregon State Parks Foundation is currently seeking volunteers and corporate partners to help us enrich the state park experience by expanding bicycle recreation opportunities for day-use and long-distance touring cyclists. If your community group would like to volunteer to help construct bike shelters, or if you know of a local business or corporation that would be willing to provide funding for materials, please contact the Foundation’s executive director, John Hoffnagle, at 503-802-5750.

More than 35 employees from TE Connectivity joined the Oregon State Parks Foundation to help construct new bike shelters for park visitors at Champoeg State Heritage Area.

More than 35 employees from TE Connectivity joined the Oregon State Parks Foundation and OPRD staff to help construct new bike shelters for park visitors at Champoeg State Heritage Area.

Oregon Scenic Bikeways

The best of Oregon riding

Explore Oregon’s most scenic regions by bike! Our unique Scenic Bikeways program features routes suggested by locals – so you know you’re getting the best of the best when you ride an Oregon Scenic Bikeway. These routes have been officially reviewed, ridden and adopted, and each one provides inspiration for planning a two-wheeled vacation in Oregon – for visitors and residents, riding here for the first time or the fiftieth. Read more about Oregon Scenic Bikeways.

The routes are diverse, accommodating everyone from beginning to advanced riders, for day trips or extended multi-day adventures. Some Bikeways are linear, some are loops, some are short and some are long.  Explore descriptions and detailed maps on the route pages below.

Check out all six Oregon Scenic Bikeways – and then go experience them for yourself!

Scenic Bikeway Itineraries

Itinerary Duration Length Location

Metolius Loops Scenic Bikeway

1 day or less 29.5 miles Sisters, Camp Sherman

Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway

1 day or less 36.9 miles Terrebonne, Sisters, Redmond

McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway

1 day or less 36.1 miles McKenzie Bridge, Blue River, Sisters

Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway

1 day or less 37.8 miles Cottage Grove, Culp Creek, Dorena

Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway

1 day or less 36.3 miles Bend, Culver, Madras, Sisters, Warm Springs

Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway

2 days 109.4 miles Ukiah, Pilot Rock, Heppner

Old West Scenic Bikeway

3 days 174.7 miles Prairie City, Monument, Long Creek, Kimberly, John Day, Dayville

Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway

3 days 134.5 miles Baker City, Cove, Haines, La Grande, North Powder, Union

Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway

4 days 132 miles Salem, Independence, Eugene, Brownsville, Albany

Summertime and the Oregon State Bike Map

It is finally summer and although I have no specific bike plans this year, having crossed the US last year during the summer I am finally looking at the Oregon State Bike Map.  @DaveNPetePart2 is out there in the NW quadrant of Oregon on Motorcycles this year, having done their share of pedal powered trips across the US as well.  Fun to try something different.  They still look like bikers, pack like it, camp like it, cook like it, and of course, use the same maps.  If anyone has a link to the Washington version of this let me know.  Look for me out and about, I think I might take a car and launch myself from various points this year on short loops.