Still in Oakridge, small town built in a river valley butting right to USFS land. It’s up or back down, little flat land riding. Fun and socializing at Brewers Union after riding. I have been sleeping just outside of town on Salmon Creek. I drive lass distance for my daily needs than at Bend however my shower access is more unpredictable at Bike Oregon, Randy’s place.
Derrick counted the local mountain bikers, he tallied 8. Trail work here is performed by a few people for the benefit of all the riders who ride here, tough load.
One of the Locals, Jim, is 63 who started riding 3 years ago. He rides a 29er full suspension bike. He recently celebrated the 100th ride of Heckletooth mtn. We have chatted many times at the Merch but never ridden together. I made one of my objectives while here was to ride Heckletooth with him. I harbored no illusions as to our abilities. Ride meet was Sunday at 8:00 right where I camp. Another local, Bob, joined, also on a hardtail 29er. We pedaled up the paved Salmon Creek road for almost 4 miles. From the get go both guys gapped me beyond serious, I couldn’t keep up. Leaving the pavement we headed up closed FS logging road 2408. Part way up a culvert washed out which caused the closure. On Sunday the contractor was excavating dirt. Jim sweet talked the guy into letting us hike a bike around the wash out. More climbing. Jim just rockected off uphill. The road lead us to the Heckletooth crossing. I rode here after being shuttled up w/ Bruce several years ago. Trail is legacy hiking trail under deep conifer tree cover. It climbed up Heckletooth mountain where a fire lookout stood until the first heavy snow. I added another lookout site visited. Just a hump of a ride: narrow bench cut trails into steep mountain side. Note Oakridge is all about steep exposed slopes. treacherous, catch a pedal or a wheel and you instantly loose elevation. Jim rode the downhill like he rode the uphill: just smoked. 104 rides gains familiarity.
Ride was 19.41miles in 2 hrs 39 min of pedaling climbing 3049′. Computer read 1226 cals burned.
My front brake pads squealed while lacking normal big time braking. Legacy hand built trail riding: to me, the BEST.
back in town I installed a new pair of pads and seated them enjoying the great power. Showered then socially exhausted at the Pub I drove out to Salmon Creek spot and made dinner and went to bed early. I was hammered.
I camp at the foot of the Dead Mtn trail, so named because it has burned so many times. It’s very green at present. The trail is a mix of legacy trail and newer machine built. The town mayor says to save this ride for your last ride as it is the cherry on the desert. For years I had been hearing about the trail work going on. Yesterday I set off to experience it. Paved road them climbing logging road. This time I had no rabbit to see and I fell back to walking some of the steep road.
I finally pedaled to the top of the mountain
The first part of the trail is newly machine built which is formularly built to spill water. Switchback across the mountain side using big banked berm turns w/ lots of rollers and kickers. Different kind of riding that I do not embrace. The new trail joined the legacy handbuilt stuff and a smile turned my mouth corners up. Back to crazy sketchy steep stuff. New brake pads regained assured control. Down towards the bottom the trail had been reworked, lots of effort for sustainability.
Ride was 14.56 miles in 2 hrs 7 mins of pedaling climbing 2726′, burned only 891 cals. Actual dirt was only 4.56 miles. The road passed an old rock quarry viewpoint where I plan on spending the night. The temp yesterday almost reached 90 degrees. I felt the temp increase as I dropped down the mountain.
I lucked out at Randy’s by catching a returning driver who allowed me to shower. I made the Pub for a beer. Plan was for 1 then go to Big Mountain Pizza to watch the Seahawks but plans change.
I waited for my beer when a young man said that we rode together years ago near Phoenix. I couldn’t place his name but I recalled some of our conversation: He is a smoke jumper jumping out of the Twisp jumper base. He just moved to Bend. Great visit w/ him, his GF and another jumper. I left for the football game. On my seat was this:
I caught part of the 3rd quarter of the game. Real local people drinking less expensive beer, lots of adipose tissue being carried around. Seahawks won on a disputed call.
Another night on Salmon creek. Warm.
This AM Jim drove up and visited. He is planning on riding tomorrow and asked me to go. Another beat down.
In today’s email I received one from Brandon, the publisher of Freehub enlisting me to write a column for an upcoming issue. I accepted telling him I will make a concession to avoiding work to write it.
So, I have been riding for 30 years. I have read magazines, listened to bike shop people and other riders. I balked at changes, some I came to accept that have improved my performance enough for me to be a believer. I share what I have learned but few have accepted the wisdom. Take wide handlebar for one: the rider has a narrow bar because he rides between tight trees while willing to give up control a wider bar gives for the one place where the trees are tight. I ride a 30 1/2″ wide bar and I fit thru all the trees w/ just a few inches to spare. It’s part of control while not scraping a tree. I suppose I should be quiet and let the rider go on in old way. OK, I am still riding a 26″ wheel.
I will return to Bend friday to help at COTA’s Bikeoctober trail day on Sat. I have a PT session on Monday, a massage on Wed and a draining of a painful sebaceous cyst on my neck. Less severe climbs at Bend.