greggargubby
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**Note: this is a work in progress.**
After being in Oregon (again) for some time now, I can't help but conclude the riding here is far better than California. That's not to say the weather is, nor do I think the riding here is for all types of riders. But if it is the type of riding you enjoy, yes, it is that good.
I'm not sure I can accurately convey the experience of riding here in the Pacific Northwest. I can't say I know it all, not by any means. But to me, the riding here is big. The distances between towns and gas stations are big (more on that in a bit). The landscapes are enormous and breathtaking, the river valleys deeply carved and sinuous. I've lived in Montana, and I have to say the sky there is no bigger than here. This place is big on remote; just about every ride will give you your USRDA of 'out there.' Some of the PNW is so far from population centers that you are almost never stuck behind cars. This complete lack of traffic means LEO is also quite scarce. We've got big volcanoes, some exploded, some intact, one filled with a beautiful lake. The ocean is big. We have big mountains with high alpine roads that rival the likes of those in Rocky Mountain and Glacier National Parks. If we are to equate this area to a track, it's Nurburgring. If you are a skier or snowboarder, this is the equivalent of big mountain riding.
My goal with this is to provide enough local information to inspire BARFers to make the trek up here. Or maybe just to throw out some pixels to fuel some dreams. That said, I hope to not spoil the fun of discovery by cataloging too much. I've had thoughts of waiting to post this until I have a good deal of content, but I don't think that will really work. I say this because every weekend ride makes me think, 'I have to share this too, but not until after I've ridden it a few times and know it better.' But that would take years. It's time to just start throwing spaghetti at the wall. I have more to edit and add, and I'll have more after next weekend. And the next weekend.
The plan is for this thread to be a teaser of pics with links to other threads with specific ride information. If anybody has content appropriate for either, by all means, please add it. If it turns out well, maybe we can ask to have it stickied. I'm going to stick to just one or a few related pictures per post to keep loading times short and so they're easier to quote if people have questions. One other note about the pics I post, they are all taken from the side of the road. Actually, I don't even take my helmet off. The point is, you don't have to hike to get good views.
Some caveats about the riding here:
- Fuel is hard to find in some parts of the PNW, plan carefully
- Some of the riding here is incredibly remote, make sure your bike is up to the task
- The more east you go, the less rain there is
- August is your best bet to stay dry
- Benchmark makes the best maps I know of (they denote paved vs. dirt)
Again, this is a work in progress and I will continue to add images and information as I ride more. Hopefully I'll see some of you out there riding!
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