• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Cycle Oregon 2019

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
I head out tomorrow to the start of Cycle Oregon 2019. It begins in Oakridge, OR and we will check in tomorrow and start riding on Sunday. This will be my second year to ride in Cycle Oregon, with last year being the first. In 2017 I trained all summer only to have it cancelled for the first time in 30 years because of the forest fires in Central Oregon. This year is basically the same route that was planned two years ago and I am excited to ride through the Cascades and central Oregon, since we spend so much time there. Here is a link to the website which has a description of the route http://cycleoregon.com/ride/classic/

For those who do not know, Cycle Oregon is a fully supported, week long ride that takes different routes in Oregon every year. Last year was my first time and I was very impressed with the logistics behind the ride. Every day almost 2000 riders are fed and supported, sometimes staying in towns with a population of several hundred. There are plenty of rest stops, SAG wagons, motorcycle safety patrol and police, as well as medical people on the course every day. As a testament to the support my buddy had a cardiac arrest on the last day last year, was saved, and is riding again this year after heart bypass surgery and rehab!

This year is longer with more climbing than last year, which was in Eastern Oregon. I have been training all summer and have put in over 2900 miles this year, almost all of them since early April. I feel as ready as I can be. I will post up daily reports, as internet access allows as there are some places we are staying that will have very limited connectivity. If you have ever been interested in such a ride I can highly recommend Cycle Oregon!
 

slowrider

Trencher
Skier
Joined
Dec 17, 2015
Posts
4,534
Boy there are some hard pulls on that route. Crater Lake rim should be beautiful.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
00910393-BA19-47B7-9DDB-F24E864E2FE4.jpeg
Day 1 of CO is in the books and the Strava data is shown. This would be a spectacular ride if it hadn’t rained the first 37 miles to lunch and been 48*. After lunch was a long downhill that was a little cold but was dry and warmed up. By the end of the ride it was very pleasant. Now it is raining
 

slowrider

Trencher
Skier
Joined
Dec 17, 2015
Posts
4,534
Saw a number of riders in that area. Next few days look cool & damp.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
Looks wet tomorrow but hopefully when we get over to the east side of the Cascades it will dry up a little. Currently in the town of Rainbow and it is pouring rain!
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
B8D092AF-3D3A-48D2-897C-B399E8129A5F.jpeg


Today is the first day I have had cell/internet service in the past couple of days. This is a covered bridge we passed on day 1 but we road over a different one.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
93422A28-108B-4CAB-84E1-5D21852D99C0.jpeg


Today was a good day but I could feel the tired legs. Started with a climb right out of camp and then a 10 mile 5% climb up toward Bachelor before turning off with a 10 mile downhill! Whe got some rain coming into Lapine. I am ready for a dry sunny day tomorrow! I am tired of wet gear.

Tomorrow is a scheduled 90+ mile day to Diamond Lake, near Crater Lake. I may sag wagon the second half of the ride to save legs for the Crater Lake rim ride Thursday. Probably no internet for the next couple of days.
 

slowrider

Trencher
Skier
Joined
Dec 17, 2015
Posts
4,534
Dry & warm till the weekend. Love those covered bridges.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
65D07F17-0C58-4AA3-BE95-B63083C95C90.jpeg

Today started with temp around 30* and low clouds. It finally burned off and became a beautiful day. I pre planned to SAG it in today after 49 miles instead of going the full 94. I wanted to save some legs for tomorrow’s ride around Crater Lake.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
BE053B2F-B898-42A8-9629-1B7CCD157BE1.jpeg
56118AFA-307D-406C-8212-0E0FC14E2732.jpeg

Today’s ride was from camp at Diamond Lake to the rim of Crater Lake and then around the rim. As you can see they’d was a little climbing involved. The weather was near perfect and the ride spectacular! Pics to follow.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
C1780221-53D7-460A-A67A-B9C269A77981.jpeg
83D4EDAA-B74D-48F1-A6E9-36343F587CFD.jpeg

Now that I am home with internet service I thought I would finish up the trip report. Day 6 was about giving up all of the hard earned elevation. The day started with a long, fast downhill on good road. Unfortunately, we had to climb back up and over to get to the night’s stop. The uphill was tough and the downhill sketchy on rough forest service roads.
 
Thread Starter
TS
Jwrags

Jwrags

Aka pwdrhnd
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
2,003
Location
Portlandia
089E8375-DDCF-4282-9682-0869785310C2.jpeg
FA76D788-B2E4-4729-8B5B-CE7C1C608E9E.jpeg

The final day was no champagne ride down the Champs. Brutal climb with some 8,9,10% pitches. The downhill was bad for several reasons. It was interrupted by a couple of short but soul crushing climbs and the road was poorly maintained forest service road with cracks and dips and drops. Sadly there were a couple of accidents that I am aware of, including one involving a fractured pelvis.
 

Sponsor

Staff online

Top