2014 started as a great year for mountain bikers in Corvallis, but ended as a terrible year. A mild January through March provided great start and the trails dried a month earlier (June) than normal. Then in the summer Team Dirt (our local IMBA chapter) opened their grand effort in Alsea Falls (http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=409). Which is quickly becoming a mountain biking destination like Black Rock. It was the panicle of why I live in Corvallis, the riding was great and varied.
But then in the fall it all came crashing down, literally. First, OSU scheduled thinning and clear cutting took out four major trails (Stick n Eye, Existentia, The Secret, Ladder Bridge (Two Bridges). Then independent logging around Dunn forest took out the road to Vince's and cut three roads through Chuft (along with Tunnel Vision and Viagra). Finally OSU closed HiLo. If that wasn't bad enough, a heavy November rain followed immediately by an ice storm (rare) and wind covered every trail and road in Mac with downed trees and branches making everything unrideable.
With that said, Corvallis has a great mountain bike community. The City cleared the approved trails and the fire roads and local riders have been clearing the storm damage. But recovering from the logging will take time. Unlike some, I'm not upset over the logging (though I wish they would have made a little effort to preserve the trails) as this is a working/teaching forest and over the almost 50 years I've lived here, I've seen trails come and go. It is a blessing and a privilege to have access to it.
So with that thought, new trails will be developed and old ones rebuilt, and here is the point I would like to make. I hope they retain the magic of what riding in the Mac was all about, roots and natural obstacles. The Mac isn't about flow (that's what Alsea Falls is about) nor is it about man made structures (that's what Black Rock is about). It is about steep hills, punchy climbs and roots and it has made me a better rider because of it. But a discouraging trend I started to see before all these trails got damaged, was the idea of "sanitizing" the trail in the name of "flow."
Bombs Away is a great example. The first time I road that trail was at night after a rain and it was a scary ride, but one I wanted to do over and over. From it I learned to clear logs and land log drops in all conditions. But not it is a former image of itself because someone cut the logs and worked the drops. The result is an easier trail to ride which caused the speeds to increase which caused more smoothing and widening of the trail.
I recently read a quote about trail builders in New Zealand in Mountain Flyer Magazine (issue 39) that said "They were seeking out the gnarliest trails they could find and then, instead of modifying the trails to be easier, they were modifying their bikes (not to mention their skills) to handle the trails." I hope we don't loose what made the Mac special as the trails come back to life. We'll all be better riders for it.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
World Championships - Keeping Portland Weird II
So this isn't my normal post because it is not about mountain biking, but about being a proud father. In the past few months my married daughter sang solo in a choir concert in Wisconsin. My youngest son became a National and World Wakeboard Champion, and my oldest son competed in the World Beard Championship placing 4th in the Amish division.
Yes there are beard championships and where better to hold it than Portland (because they just like to keep it weird). There were 300 competitors from around the world in 18 categories including my brother (who took 3rd in his division) and my son. I just couldn't pass up a change to post few pictures. If it ever comes back to Portland, it is worth the price of admission. It was a lot of fun.
Yes there are beard championships and where better to hold it than Portland (because they just like to keep it weird). There were 300 competitors from around the world in 18 categories including my brother (who took 3rd in his division) and my son. I just couldn't pass up a change to post few pictures. If it ever comes back to Portland, it is worth the price of admission. It was a lot of fun.
Portland Bike Art |
Parade of Nations |
Keeping Portland Weird - Yet Fun
Thanks to shows like Portlandia and Grimm, people may wonder about Portland. There is no doubt that it has its moments, but there are some mountain bike gems. First, lets talk food. Portland is a food scene and it has everything from food trucks to great neighborhood places like Ken's Artisan Pizza. There are also dessert places like Salt n Straw, Cacao's and Blue Star Donuts (my favorite over VooDoo).
You also have bike shops everywhere along with Columbia, REI, Mountain Hardware, GoLite, etc. The issue with Portland for a mountain biker is just that, it is Portland. It is a big city and nothing is close. When I go to Portland, I ride two places - Sandy Ridge and The Lumber Yard. The Lumber Yard is a smaller version of "Ray's Indoor Parks" and lets you ride indoors even when it is raining. Now I know what you are thinking, I don't ride "knees around your ears" trick bikes anymore, and that was my feeling the first time I went there. But after riding 5 miles worth of fun on a full-suspension mountain bike my mind was changed. There are the trick ramps, but woven all through is a series of mountain bike obstacles including rollers, skinnies, drops, rocks and wall rides. You'll work up a sweat and a smile. Here is a link to my YouTube channel that has two Lumber Yard videos on it (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMkKHTWdQnSsgbMFFIckIDQ)
The Lumber Yard also has an agreement with a local hotel (including breakfast) which gives you the perfect setup for a great weekend. Leave work on Friday and drive to the Lumber Yard and ride until they close (or you are tired), then spend the night. The next morning you are about 30 minutes from Sandy Oregon and another 10 minutes to Sandy Ridge.
To say Sandy is part of Portland, is like saying Bethlehem is part of Jerusalem, but if you are not from Oregon, it is easier to say Portland. With that said, Sandy Ridge is mountain bike destination. Designed by mountain bikers for mountain bikers and approved by the State. It has a paved 4 miles climb and then many ways down for all skill levels. Similar to Hood River and Alsea Falls, it is a must on any list.
For such a bike friendly place, what Portland needs is something similar to the Colonnade in Seattle (https://www.evergreenmtb.org/trails/i-5-colonnade) which provide great fun right in town (like the Lumber Yard, only outdoors). There is also some great riding round Mount Hood (really, you ride all the way around it and say it huts along the way) and St. Helens. But again, nothing close to the City other than Forest Park, which for such a friendly bike place, is not very friendly to mountain bikers. Which is again why I live and ride in Corvallis and visit Portland.
You also have bike shops everywhere along with Columbia, REI, Mountain Hardware, GoLite, etc. The issue with Portland for a mountain biker is just that, it is Portland. It is a big city and nothing is close. When I go to Portland, I ride two places - Sandy Ridge and The Lumber Yard. The Lumber Yard is a smaller version of "Ray's Indoor Parks" and lets you ride indoors even when it is raining. Now I know what you are thinking, I don't ride "knees around your ears" trick bikes anymore, and that was my feeling the first time I went there. But after riding 5 miles worth of fun on a full-suspension mountain bike my mind was changed. There are the trick ramps, but woven all through is a series of mountain bike obstacles including rollers, skinnies, drops, rocks and wall rides. You'll work up a sweat and a smile. Here is a link to my YouTube channel that has two Lumber Yard videos on it (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMkKHTWdQnSsgbMFFIckIDQ)
The Lumber Yard also has an agreement with a local hotel (including breakfast) which gives you the perfect setup for a great weekend. Leave work on Friday and drive to the Lumber Yard and ride until they close (or you are tired), then spend the night. The next morning you are about 30 minutes from Sandy Oregon and another 10 minutes to Sandy Ridge.
To say Sandy is part of Portland, is like saying Bethlehem is part of Jerusalem, but if you are not from Oregon, it is easier to say Portland. With that said, Sandy Ridge is mountain bike destination. Designed by mountain bikers for mountain bikers and approved by the State. It has a paved 4 miles climb and then many ways down for all skill levels. Similar to Hood River and Alsea Falls, it is a must on any list.
For such a bike friendly place, what Portland needs is something similar to the Colonnade in Seattle (https://www.evergreenmtb.org/trails/i-5-colonnade) which provide great fun right in town (like the Lumber Yard, only outdoors). There is also some great riding round Mount Hood (really, you ride all the way around it and say it huts along the way) and St. Helens. But again, nothing close to the City other than Forest Park, which for such a friendly bike place, is not very friendly to mountain bikers. Which is again why I live and ride in Corvallis and visit Portland.
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