A Dream Ride - Mary's Peak Loop

Living in Corvallis puts some great rides at in your back yard.  One of those is the Mary's Peak Loop.  This ride has it all, and it is more like a "triangle" which starts at the end of Woods Creek road.  From there is about a 3 mile ride up the log road to the East Rim trailhead.  Then it is a 2 mile climb to the "top" parking lot.  From there it is a 5 mile decent on the North Rim trail.  This ride has it all stunning views, miles of single track, rocks, roots, drops, logs, and fast decents.  There is even a "trials" type log ride at the end.  If you like to mountain bike, this is a ride you have to do.  Once you arrive at the "top" parking lot, you can also continue on the gravel road up to the very top (about 1/2 a mile) where on a clear day you can see the Cascades and the Pacific Ocean.

If you are not such a great technical rider, then instead of going down the North Rim trail, ride back down the East Rim trail and then the road back to the car.  You can also drive up the paved Mary's Peak road and park and the mid-way parking lot at the East Rim trailhead and ride it up and down.  The North Rim trail also continues down along Woods Creek Road if your more single track.

One more point of advice, this trail is best enjoyed when it is dry.  There are a lot of root crossing and they get very slick when wet. We did this ride in 1.5 hours and the distance was 10 miles and 2,300 feet of climb. If none of this makes sense, here is a trail map (note the 2005 road is the Woods Creek Road) http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreation/tripplanning/maryspeak/index.shtml#trails

Picture Point - East Rim Trail

Among the Tall Ones - East Rim Trail

Brothers at the Top

Routine Maintenance

Do you ever have one of those visits to the bike shop? I know I should do move of my own maintenance, but right now I just don't have the time (or a decent bike stand), plus I'm a rider. Like a Formula One racer, he pulls into the pits and a team takes care of him and sends him back on the track. That's how I look at my two favorite bike shops in town. I bring it in and they send me back out. So this visit started with some play in the upper shock linkage. I was pretty sure the bearings were done, but I couldn't find the right allen wrench (I had all but the one I needed), so I took it by Jon at Peak Sports. I like Jon, he used to own his own shop and he also maintains on his own, one of my favorite rides (The Ritz). A good bike shop experience requires the right mechanic, and there are some I like better than others.

Turns out I was only finger tight, so the play improved when tightened, but the bearings did need to be replaced, as he inspected it, so did the rear shift cable, chain, sprocket, chain rings, and break pads! Unlike a "shady car mechanic", he pointed out each concern and let me get an "up close and personal" look. So the loose screw turned into about $200.

Now, I might save $50 in labor if I did it myself, but it would take me longer, and take up time that I don't have, so I'm glad the shop will do it. Plus, I like supporting my local economy and bike shops. My real point though is that you have to maintain your bike. If you ride hard and year round like the "Old Men" do, you need to take care of your bike so you'll have confidence in it, and so it will keep you safe.

I've been very surprised to hear comments from my riding partners like "I haven't replaced my chain in two or more years" or "I haven't changed my break pads in a year," or "I've never had my shock serviced." I figure if you are going to spend $4,000 (msrp) then you know you are going to spend $200 to $300 a year on parts and maintenance. It is a finely engineered piece of equipment, not a K-Mart look a like. So you need to take care of it, that way you'll know it will be there and ready to ride. That confidence will allow you be able to push your riding limits as a result.

Now go ride!

Why I Should be a Stumpjumper Trail Crew Memeber

As you know, I'm a Stumpjumper fan (I'm on #3 in Test Bike Blue), not just because it is made by Specialized, but because that bike was made for the Northwest. As the leader of the "Old Men's Bike Club" we are riding all the time, year round, night and day, and all rides in this part of the country are either up or down, rocky or roots and the Stumpy takes it all. Specialized is looking for people to be members of their 2010 Stumpjumper Trail Crew, and here are my "Top 10 Reasons" why they should select me to be a member:

1. I love to ride, I ride almost every day, which includes the 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning rides that I lead, along with the Wednesday and Thursday 9:30 p.m. night rides that I some times lead. Riding is what it is all about, with a crew, some one new, or just a solo.

2. I love to map the trails (see http://www.localhikes.com/getHikes.asp?Search=1&getreporter=ccole&getHikebyReporter=Yes) and I send these out with every Saturday ride I plan.

3. I love to plan "epics" like the Corvallis to Coast ride which is 60 miles and 7,000 feet of climb.

4. I enjoy talking about mountain biking and reporting on the conditions of the local trails as evidenced by this blog. (http://corvallismountainbiking.blogspot.com/)

5. I am a rider, not really a racer. I look for the new trails and ride the old ones, though as I near 50, I have been thinking about doing an endurance race or mini-triathlon. It is really all about just getting out there, single, XX, for 27, ridgid, hard tail, or full on, Cross, DH, etc. it doesn't matter as long you get off the couch.

6. I represent the "older" group of riders, as I turn 50 at the start of 2010.

7. I always carry a camera to document the rides, trails, and the great views (see facebook http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php?success=1#/album.php?aid=51563&id=651351107)

8. I live in a town of about 50,000 (20,000 of which are college students) and we have 7 bike shops.

9. I live within a few hours of the McKenzie Trail, Oak Ridge, North Umpqua Trail, Hood River, Ashland, Black Rock, and Mary's Peak.

10. I'm a Specialized Club member, and I read Mountain Bike Action, Mountain Bike, Bike, and Outside magazines cover to cover.

I've got the time, desire, and will. I think it would be a great opportunity to spread the joys of owning and riding a (Specialized) mountain bike.

Pain II

In my past "Pain" post (see March 1, 2009) I talked about how Mountain Bikers are the true pain masters, as riding a mountain bike in the Northwest at least is all about painful workouts known as climbs (no shuttles here). This time I would like to talk about the physical injury side of mountain biking.

"Look at the scenery, become the scenery" has been a true statement lately. I joined Jim "the plumber" by getting "marbled" (like riding on a pool table covered in marbles). Jim lead with his wrist on a night ride on his cross bike, I was done with the ride and was on the flats when the front end washed out and I led with my hip. The resulting bruise covered my hip, ran down the inside of my leg and finished below the back side of my knee. I could still ride, but it made sleeping difficult. A few years back I had to have my left hip drained three times after a similar hard bruise, so I didn't wait this time, and had it drained after a week.

After our Saturday ride this past week, we a few "blackberry bites" which are common during this time of the year and that night the "Mossman" showed me his hip bruise from a crash in Bend.

So why am I talking about all this? I read an article in a mountain bike magazine that summed it up, the article talked about the new bike park the City of Seattle had built under a highway over pass. Their concern was liability, and they said, "It took some getting used to, that mountain bikers when they crash don't sue, but take pictures." That about sums it up, and it is a credit to the type of people who enjoy this kind of "pain." So, here are a few pictures...(now if I could only get some sympathy when I come home looking like this)

Let the Riding Continue...

I finally have time to catch up on the events of the last 6 weeks. The week after the C2C '09 event, a number of us took about fifty 16-18 year old young men on a three day camping adventure along the McKenzie. The first day is hiking, the second is mountain biking, and the third is floating the McKenzie.

I arrived Wednesday night and road from Trailbridge up to the Blue Pool as a night ride. That was wild and fun. The next day was a hike up to Tam McArther Rim (a recommend hike for anyone). That afternoon I went on a ride half-way down the lower McKenzie Trail section and back up. Then that night we shuttled up to the Clear Lake camp ground and did the top section as a night ride. The next morning I road the lower section with Todd and Eric to put up signs for the boys (just to make sure) and then hammered the road back to Trailbridge, just in time to grab a quick bite and then lead out the the first group of five 10 boy teams on the lower half again.

I've never spent that much time riding this trail, but doing it over and over like that made me appreciate even more and realize why it was Bike Magazine 2009 Trail of the Year. Even better that it is 1.5 hours from my house!

The following week another adventure started when my brother's wife called on Thursday and said that for his birthday, my brother wanted to ride to the coast again just the two of us! So the next morning at 5:48 a.m. we rolled out of Bald Hill parking lot hammered out the C2C again. Our goal was to set the record for saddle time and total time. We clipped along the first 30 miles with hardly a rest, but I started to feel it after that (maybe not enough food or liquid), and my pace slowed for the next 15 miles. I got my legs back at "picture point" and we cruised for the final 15 miles. We arrived at 1:17 p.m. with a total time of 7 hours 29 minutes and saddle time of 6:26 minutes, both new records. We almost made it without a flat, but as Darin washed off his bike, the tire was flat.

I normally feel fine after the C2C, but this time I was spent. I ate and drank everything I could get my hands on. Then that night we went to Izzy's and I again ate everything in sight. Then next morning after a 10 mile ride up McCulloch and back we had a big breakfast and I finally then felt recovered!

After a few more weeks of excellent night rides and Saturday rides, I finished off the six weeks of riding fun with one more trip down the McKenzie Trail. This time there where 8 of us, and it was one of the best large group trips I have ever been on. The rule of thumb is you add 5 mins to your expected time for every rider in your party. But not this time, we left Corvallis at 5:45 a.m. and picked Frank up at 6:00 at I-5. We arrived and the trail head and finished all the shuttling so that we were riding at 8:30. We rolled into Belnap Hot Springs 21.5 miles later at 11:45 with 2 hours and 22 minutes of saddle time. Everyone road fast and tight and there wasn't a mechanical problem. We were in Sweet Home by 1:30 eating A&W Burgers and home by 2:30 p.m. A perfect trip.

What have I learned in the last 6 weeks? That I have a great circle of riding buddies and as James Sharp says, only a Mountain Bike makes you 14 again.

At Sahalie Falls

Frank, Craig, Geoff, Ryan, James, Chad, James, Zack on the McKenzie

Geoff on "the Gap"

Chad on "the ladder"

James, Zack, Chad, and Ryan on the McKenzie

Mile 10 on the C2C

Darin at "Picture Point" mile 50 on the C2C

Epic Rides - C2C 2009

What started out as a question from my brother Darin (think we can ride to Mom and Dad's house?), has turned into an annual "adventure" of epic proportions. Now that sounds impressive, but the C2C is not so much about "great" mountain bike riding and more about coming together and having fun and testing yourself.

The 2009 C2C Invitational Ride was no different. It was full of fun, challenge, and beautiful views of the coast range. This year was also full of new things like flats (and more flats), a lost rider, and many lessons learned. The course winds through a lot of gravel fire roads, some pavement, a little single track with lots of climbing. It requires about 6.5 hours of saddle time, 64 miles, and a little over 6,000 feet of climbing or as I like to say, "30 miles up and 30 miles down."

The weather was perfect as we left Corvallis at 5:45 a.m. with a sunny sky and a temperature of 51 degrees. We avoided the traditional "event" in the first mile of past years (lost cleat screw, broken chain, etc), which gave us a false sense of security. In three past years there has never been a flat, but this year changed that as was a record (never to be broken we hope) of 10 flats! And not just in one area, but all along the route by different riders

Another change this year was a record 12 bikes and 14 riders. The two extra riders resulted from one of our members riding the coolest mountain tandem. He road the first 30 with one of his sons (I think he was about 6) and the second 30 with one of his other sons (who I think is about 8). Amazing.

The C2C is an invitational, but that is loose definition. Our only requirement is that a person be in shape (we have test rides leading up to the C2C to check on that) and that you fit into the "spirit" of the ride. This isn't a race, but a test of "team" and "endurance" and it is not a place for egos. This year was no different. Even with 12 adults and a number of delays (including our lost rider), there was nothing but support, encouragement, humor, laughter, and some great riding. It always amazes me (or I've been lucky in choosing my riding companions) the special people mountain bike riders are (I guess I would have to say in my case, cross country riders). I just don't see the egos, but I'm sure they are out there.

The "lost" rider lesson came when the group got ahead of one of the riders, then didn't do a head count at a major intersection and headed off. There was a buddy system, but it more out of fun, and we learned a few things about large group rides and what to do if you are the lost one.

All the flats and delay from the "lost" incident and regular rest stops pushed us past our goal of making South Beach by 2:00 p.m. as we rolled in at 4:15 p.m, not as slow as the first year, but not as fast as our best year. But who cares, it isn't a race remember.

Lessons Learned 2009
1. When you assign buddies, make sure people know each other by their face, especially when you two or three with the same names.
2. If you are going to assign buddies then use them
3. With a large group, always to head counts at each major intersection
4. If you get lost, stay put, and let the rest of the group come to you.
5. Tubeless tires and Stan's is the only way to go.


Harris Covered Bridge 10 miles


Starker Forest Park 20 miles


I hate "Stinging Nettles" 25 miles

Stinging Nettle Lane 25 miles

Riding "The Nettles" mile 26

Lunch on top of the Randall Saddle mile 35


The "Crew" South Beach, Oregon mile 64

Trail Animals

Went to the Zoo last week and it got me thinking about all the animals that I have seen on the trails around Corvallis. Of course just about every ride I see deer. One night on a ride through Chip Ross Park I saw 14. I have also seen rabbits, mice, squirrels, turkeys, a skunk, and a porcupine. Two weeks ago we chased a pair of coyotes down the trail and about 4 weeks ago while I was climbing Dan's I had stare down with a bobcat for about a minute from 10 yards. I haven't seen the mountain line, and I'm pretty sure I saw a black bear. Biggest scare was on the Coast ride when James and I surprised an elk (or he surprised us) as we came around the corner on a downhill. Lots of bugs, salamanders, snakes, etc. Of course there are always dogs, a cat or two, cows and a lots of horses (but do they count as "wild" animals). Just one more reasons why riding in Corvallis the best.