Night Rides

If you live in Corvallis and want to ride year round, you have to invest in some good lights (see my "Things I Use" tab for some great cheap lights). With good lights you are not limited by the sun and you can see the trails by a "whole new light." (I know, I couldn't resist). Two recent events have brought this home even more to me.  The first was the first annual (I hope) "Phantom of the Woods" ride at Halloween.  The was an even put on by some of the riders from Peak Sports. You showed up at the ride (many in costume) and were given a map and the check points you needed to find.  At each check point, there were glowing pumpkins, strange decorations, and a task you had to perform before you could go to the next stop. There was also a large bag of candy at each stop to provide "fuel." There were about 15 riders who showed up, and the rest of you missed out! Stops included getting a tattoo and picking a bloody finger for a prize number!

The second event happened last Thursday on our weekly night ride. We left about 9:15 from the Oak Creek gate and climbed to the "Dan's" junction (where the roads meet on top). As we came to the top, Maggie the trail dog started parking at what seemed like a bear.  There were 6 of us, and you should have laughed at the conversations.  No one turned to leave, nor did we want to change our route (which required us to go by the "bear" who run and hunkered down about 10 yards off the road that we wanted to go on), because in reality we all wanted to see it. So we decided to go as a group and then the "bear" jumped up and charged on two legs! Again that split second of "fear" before two other riders came out of the woods and the bear took his head off.  It was just some of the other regular riders waiting for us with a gorilla suit. Well done and had us all laughing!

Night riding (with good lights) opens up a whole new avenue of adventure and experiences. We've climbed by a full moon to the top of McCullough without lights, startled deer, heard the coyotes, seen owls, and trapped rabbits in our headlight beam. Things you just doing get to do in the daytime.  And with good lights the riding is just as good and as fast (you drive your car 65 mph at night don't you?). Especially with bears in the woods and goblins in the trees.

Mary's Peak in the fall

It has been a good October for mountain biking. The rain has helped the trails be tacky, but not muddied out. Plus the rain hasn't come and knocked the leaves down. On the peak, going up the East Rim trail was awash in yellows. We started about 7:30 a.m. and it was about 50 degrees. As we climbed to the parking lot, the clouds rolled in and it wasn't really raining, as much as just being in a storm cloud. The 4 of us surprised the group of workers who were all bundled up standing by their cars as we punched through the trees.


All the downed trees (but one new one) have been removed from trail and it is fast and flowery. Some of the roots were moist, which made for a few slip outs. A few bumps, bruises, and bent finger, but most of all there was a lot of smiles and whoops. One of the best rides around and the sun broke out as reach the suburban. Perfect.

James climbing into the color on the East Rim trail

Ofer at the 2nd switchback on the East Rim climbing into the clouds



Ofer at the 3rd switchback "the Stairs" on the East Rim trail

Ofer on the North Rim trail



Corvallis to Coast (C2C) 2011

This year's C2C was on Friday, July 8th and was one of the best ever. While it has been raining almost all of June, the skies were clear and not to hot.  6 of us left the Bald Hill parking lot at 5:45 a.m. with a temp of 42 degrees (it was 65 when we arrived in South Beach).  The late rain made everything green, so there was lots of over growth on all the trails.  This was particularly true as we road down The Nettles trail.  It was very soft and muddy in parts and very over grown.  The Tunnel and the Tank Trap trails were also close in with some great mud bogs (especially The Tunnel).  At Harlen, we met up with Darin who had road in from Burnt Woods (because of a work emergency), so 7 of us climbed the Randall Saddle and dropped into the coast side.  The first few years we did this we had all full-suspension bikes, now we have 29's, 1x9, hardtails, and even one crazy impressive rider (Frank) who did it on a single speed full rigid (amazing). We took all the right turns this time and only had one flat. Stats are:

Time: 5:45 to 2:45 (9 hours)
Miles: 60
Saddle Time: 6 hours
Elevation Gain: 6000
Ave Speed: 10 mph
Bike Specs:
3- 29r
4- Hard Tails
1- 1x9
1- Single Speed

At the finish, time for a BBQ

Enjoying the flowers before the "Tunnel"

The Nettles Trail

Picture Point - looking at Yaquina Bay - all most there

Just a nice moring ride

All kinds this year - single speed front and center

Mary's Peak - Another reason to live and ride in Corvallis

I have mentioned several times what a perfect place Corvallis is for mountain bikers.  There is year around riding and within about an hour, even more of the best riding in the country. But the best part is the variety, from Black Rock groomed obstacles to the high desert riding in Bend, to the forests of the McKenzie Trial or Oak Ridge.  One of those gems close to us in Mary's Peak.

A group of us said good bye to the rain, the snow, and June by hitting Mary's peak.  We started at the Woods Creek parking lot and road the watershed road to the East Rim trail head, then climbed the East Rim to the parking lot and up to the top.  We finished by coming down the North Rim trail, which was in perfect condition, except for 15 large trees that were down across the trail (most in the top half).  This was a week before the 4th of July weekend, so I hope they get cleared soon. 

This ride has it all, spectacular views, great climbing, technical descents, even a log ride at the bottom.  It is a special place that is shared by hikers and bikers (and no horses).

Climbing the East Rim

Near the East Rim Bench

What a view

On Top

Riding the Roots on North Rim

Black Rock - One more reason to love riding in the Valley

Corvallis Mountain Bikers are lucky and they know it.  Where else can you ride out your back door right onto the trails (with elevation) and do it year round.  Or in a few hours each way ride more great stuff in Bend, Roseburg, Hood River, or the Coast.  But the best part is that in about 35 minutes we can be riding on Mary's Peak or Black Rock (Falls City, OR). 

Last Saturday a group of us (six to be exact) visited Black Rock on a perfect day.  It was 50 degrees, a little over cast, and the trails were perfect (thanks to all the trail keepers out there).  We went to the practise area and played around, then climbed to the top where we did the top section of Banzai Downhill twice, then did the next section twice, then took the third section down to the practise area where we played some more, then finished out with the forth or lower section to the gate and back to the cars.  We just got out before the 2nd "Flow" downhill race got started. 

There was nothing but big smiles all around.  We finished off the day with a "must stop" at the Bread Board for sticky buns and the best hot chocolate around. That's why we love to ride, and love to ride here in the Willamette Valley.

Group Rides, Dry (er) Trails, and Trail Side Maintenance

May is finally bring around some dry(er) days, but at least they are warmer.  I have actually been able to for a ride with nothing but shorts and a riding jersey. Lately we have had a number of people start coming out the the Thursday and Saturday rides, not sure why, warmer weather, drier trails, or improved priorities :-).  Whatever the reason, having a number of riders along is what group rides are all about.  2 or 3 riders, doesn't really feel like a "group ride."  Now, it is true that rides with larger numbers can take longer, but I don't mind that because it provides opportunities to catch up with various riders.  It is fun with a larger group to be in the back on a night ride and watch the lights weave down through the switch back like fireflies. Riding is always fun, but hitting single track with your friends, in warmer weather makes it all the better.

One of the topics on this last ride was trail maintenance around tubeless tires, while we watched Todd put a tube in his tubeless 29'r after pinch flatting after a session of riding across Scout creek instead of using the log crossing.  He made it coming down the trail and riding across, then he tried to ride back the opposite way.  Not sure what he hit, but it put a hole in the sidewall, which was fixed with a tube (the hole didn't need the Cliff Bar wrapper/dollar bill/or plastic 7-up 2 L bottle patch).

It was also fun having Maggie along for the ride, she is a great trail dog.  She also chased a deer and a Turkey which took off in flight (something you don't see much). Even with the phone loss (which was returned in a few hours by three OSU Forestry students who just happened to be on Forest Peak for a class and walked down Tunnel Vision and found my phone), which is another story on why by zipper was open on my pack.

Climbing the 130 - Todd, Maggie, Jason, Ray, and Wayne

Ryan on Tunnel Vision

Trail maintenance after Scout Trail creek crossing session

The Long Ride

Riding in Corvallis is special because of MacDonald and Dunn forests.  The riding is close to town, varied with fire road and single track, and requires a lot of climbing (there are not a lot of cross country trails).  As a result you can get a work-out in 8 to 10 miles in about 1 to 1.5 hours.  But there are times when you need the "long" ride, something in the 20 miles range.  Starting in January 2011 the Old Men have been doing one of these type of rides each month in preparation for the C2C and to just have more fun riding.

The have names like "The Mean 18" and "The Love Ride."  For April, the ride was "April Showers" because it was going to make you cry.  It was 21 miles long with 3600 feet of climb.  That is 1/3 the distance of the C2C with 1/2 the climb.  A very good prep ride.

Six brave souls showed up at 6:15 a.m. last Saturday to take on the challenge.  We started at the 200 gate in 32 degree weather, went down to the 100 and climbed the 130 route up to the top of Forest Peak. On the last climb of the day (back up the 400) the temp was 54 degrees.  We finished at 10:00 a.m. with 2 hrs and 45 mins of saddle time.

The Brave Riders

Scout Trail



On the Ritz trail system



March Riding in Corvallis

I've said this before, that Corvallis is a perfect place for Mountain Bikers.  You can ride year round, get lots of elevation, and your are surrounded by great rides.  But even for hard core riders, this March has been a tough one.  March is the start of Spring, but in Corvallis it is the "transition" month. There are hints that it is going to get dry (notice I didn't say sunny - yet), then your hopes get dashed. As an Oregonian there are signs you look for in March to make sure that Summer is coming (like Punxsutawney Phil back east). They are, how many days did it rain in March and did it get into the 60's. Well this has been a tough Winter for even hardcore rain lovers. As of today, March 26 and it has rained every day this month and it it reached 63 degrees once on 3/13. It has also rained 5 inches, with a YTD total of 11.2. But don't cry for us (we already have enough water), they are predicting 63 and only a 50% chance of rain on Wednesday 3/30 (but I won't hold my breath, unless the water is up to my nose)!

But the riding is year round

Beating the Winter Riding Blues

Sometimes you just have to get away. Corvallis is a great place for mountain bikers, because you can ride year round. But, even in Corvallis you get tired of "road" rides when the trails are like pudding. So, what is the answer? A road trip to St. George, Utah!


As the snow was starting to fall last week, we took off for Las Vegas where my son picked me up for 6 days of fun in the sun. There are trails all over the St. George area, some are hiking, biking, horses, quads, motorcycles and off-roaders, but they all seem to get along.

It was great fun to ride some different terrain, see the sites, and eat way to much good food. Then the fun ended as we landed back in Portland, to a record setting day of rain (2" in Corvallis), but I still have the pictures as a way to escape again.

No snow here

Green Valley Trail System

Having Fun

Miles and Miles of Trails

The Tail of Two Hangers (and $12.99)

You know that old saying "Never talk about something you don't want to happen because it will?"  Well I believe it (at least a little bit).  A few weeks ago during the climb on a regular Saturday morning ride the subject of what to keep in your saddle pack came up.  As some of you know, I'm the "boy scout" of mountain biking.  I carry everything because I always want to be prepared.  And through the years I've used just about everything in my pack (I am no weight weenie).  I mentioned to the ride group while climbing, that one thing I didn't carry was a spare hanger, we talked about that for awhile then moved on to a new topic. On the way down, just as we finished "Stair Step," right as I was popping back onto the road, I caught a stick or something in the derailleur and with a loud snap, my hanger did its job and broke in half.  I then zip tied my derailleur to the frame and coasted down the road to cars at the Sulfur Springs bridge.

Peak Sports had a replacement for $12.99 and I got to experience replacing it. Not as easy as I thought, but now I think I could do it on the trail.  Moral of the story, don't talk about bad things happening and if you do, make sure you are prepared to fix the results!  Now go ride.

Before

After

Stop Trail Sanitizing

There is a growing trend in MacDonald Forest that is very disturbing, that of "trail sanitizing."  It started last year when someone destroyed the jump on Endo, but in the last few months Bombs Away, The Tower Trail, and Poison Ivy have all had long time log crossing obstacles removed from the trail.  These are "unofficial" trails that are not maintained by OSU, so it must be someone from the Mountain Bike community.  These are logs that be came part of the trail, and for years riders have gotten better learning to clear them.  Now it is not a trail with character, but just something you fly through (which isn't always the best).  Who ever it is, please ask before doing something that drastic.

11 Days of Fun

One of the things I like about mountain biking in and around Corvallis is that you can do it all year long.  I have friends and family in other parts of the country who have to put their bikes away in the winter, but not here.  So over the Christmas holidays I had 11 days off and went riding every day but Sunday.  I still kept my same schedule of 7:00 a.m. rides and Thursday night ride.  The weather was very cold for Corvallis, in the 20's which resulted in getting "frost nip" on one toe, which was interesting because I wasn't out more than two hours at a time (swelled and turned red like a blood blister, but didn't turn black, and felt like some one had stepped on it).

I was able to ride Christmas morning and New Year's morning, in snow, rain, clear nights and cold mornings. Sometimes with great friends and sometimes by myself, and all of it fun.  Some rides were long, some short, and some were on the Single Speed, but it was worth it for the views and getting outside. I even found a few new trails. The result was over 75 miles of riding and 10,000 feet of climbing.  Another great thing about mountain biking in Corvallis are the great views you have, the hard thing is trying to capture them. Here are a few shots, it was a great way to end and start the new year.

From the Saddle to Dimple



Top of Dan's



Perfect

Are we in Corvallis?