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.

Wed I drove over to Oakridge after a 9:00 AM massage treatment for my back. My back wasn’t freed up as much as I hoped but way better and better movement. 3 different masseurs w/ 3 different results. Perhaps the time spent not playing while shoulder was healing is haunting me.

Arrived in Oakridge, picked up where I left off greeting people I have met. Catrina. Derrick at the Merchantile. Randy of MBO, Ted, the head man at the Brewers Union pub, etc. Cask conditioned beer. Conversation w/ Jim, the mayor of Oakridge. Drove up Salmon creek for camp spot.

Thursday I rode Larison rock above town. Big uphill pavement ride to the top of the trail: 2219′ in 11.16 round trip. Classic case of long road climb for short single track downhill. Trail is old legacy hiking trail. Good test for my ability and what my body could withstand. I made it, I pedaled the entire uphill nonstop and stayed on top of the rubber on the downhill. The road was pretty steep and long w/ many turns as it climbed. For every corner or bend I turned another stretch of uphill became visible. Umph, I made it. Tight single track. At some speed the wind blows across my eyes causing them to tear up blurring my vision which distorts my image of what I would be riding over. Keeps my speed manageable. Formula brake pads on the front make a loud squealing sound when pressed to engage, my early warning sound, don’t need to stinking bells. I checked the pads to make sure they weren’t worn down to metal, just semi metallic pads for better stopping power but louder. I am a nuisance. Seat dropper is key. Get one and use it over and over, repeat often.

At the Pub, which is a social hub, Mtn bikers hang out some dressed in street clothes, others wearing riding attire. 2 women took seats at the bar. They started talking about mtn biking which opened the door for conversation. Women on a break away from home. They were talking about taking the shuttle for ATCA ride on Friday. I was thinking the same.

Fri the shuttle was to go @ 8:45. The women and a bunch of men and me waited for the driver to show. Maybe 10 of us loaded into the van as well as bikes on the back and on the roof. Shuttle drops off at Kate’s Cut In. Trail starts w/ a climb, no warm up. Derrick and I made this piece o0f trail several years ago. Turn left to join Alpine climbing more on a cold body. Work. I stayed close to the faster riders.

ATCA is Alpine, Tire Mtn, Cloverpatch, and Alpine trails is a new classic here. I sing praise of these trails as to me this is what mtn biking is all about: Riding on old hand built hiking trails way back in the woods. Oakridge riding is special, way different than new purpose built right outside of town. Ride was 22.37 miles climbing 3592′ and descending 7013′. Pedal time was 3 hrs 10 mins. Cloverpatch tie is a newer trail that connects the bottom of Cloverpatch to Alpine. Mixture of closed logging road and newly purpose built trail. Steep mountain sides  that are obscured by tree cover: big trees. Narrow bench cut trail: eyes focused on anticipated line. Seat dropper, wide handlebar and short stem. Riding in attack position w/ elbows out and bent, squatted down, and leaning forward. Carve the turns, float the drops, decrease speed for the corners. My shuttle ride was comped but I am willing to pay the $30 for the ride to ride this again….. if I stay long enough. Deep conifer tree cover shades the trail which is dark which hides tread details. Look where you want to go and let the bike and you negotiate what’s under your wheels.

Really, really great challenging riding here. Maybe no lift front wheel stuff.

My back allowed me to ride the entire ride. My sit bones took a beating during the long uphills. The callouses on my baby and ring finger are starting back. My shoulder just hurts. Oh, I did not get a cortisone shot as the DR did not offer it.

Back in town I took a shower @ shuttle place.

Oregon on 10/1 allowed selling rec pot from medical dispensaries. A dispensary is located several doors away from the bike shop. Shop marked by a green cross. I walked in to check it out. I shopped for pot w/ the highest THC content of 29% and bought a gram for $10. I want to learn what a strong pot high is like. Well, I’m writing this under its influence. A label w/ your name on it is created and attached to the plastic tube container. It’s placed in a brown paper bag. Customers enter front door passing scrutiny and exit out a back door between 2 buildings. Kind of like a speak easy.

Spent chunk of evening at the Pub. A guy approached me wearing a WSU Cougar shirt. Go Cougs. He introduced himself saying he follows my blog. Hi Dave(?). Another conversation w/ the mayor and Ben of Goats about the future of Oakridge and how it is going to get there. Emphasis is on green tourism money. Mountain biking. How are trails being considered to support a strategy.

Back up the creek for sleep. Forecast called for slight chance of showers. Before sunrise I heard rain pattering on my roof. Didn’t last long.

Taking a rest day today. recuperation is just as important as riding. The ride yesterday was the hardest I have done in months. Sunny.

Fall colors. Big leaf maple leaves are golden color and litter the forest floor.

Come ride Oakridge!!!!