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Mountain Bike
Oregon Aug 2010
words
and photos by Sharon Bader and Lee Lau unless otherwise noted. |
Just south east of Portland is a small town along the Willamette river called Oakridge. Home to 3720 people with an economy based on logging it is suffering from the economic crisis like most American towns. Also due to its location and logging history it has many roads that access many great single track trails. Thus its new life as " The Mountain Bike Capital of the Northwest " was born. With its relationship with IMBA, creation of the Greater Oakridge Area Trail Stewards ( GOATS) it has been able to create a large and diverse trail network.
Mountain
Bike Oregon was started in 2005 as a
festival to bring mountain bikers into this area to experience a great single
track network within a festival environment. All rides are guided and shuttled
to allow the festival goers to maximize their single track experience. With
great support from the community and bike industry many bike companies come
to offer demo's, everyone is camped in one area, there is a beer garden for
people to finish off their day with one of Oregon's fine micro brew offerings.
Pitching tents in Greenwater park along the Willamette
River.
Dinner was served under the tents and cooked by Kiwanis.
Breakfast was served by the Moose Lodge. Two local groups that raise money
for community benefit.
End of the day ended at the beer garden which was
stumbling distance to the tents.
Our tent between the beer garden and river. Here
I am with my bike toss trophy!
Each morning started with the shuttle pick up. Bikes
were loaded into a cargo van, people were loaded into the busses and off we
went!
Back of the bus!
The first ride we did was the Middle Fork of the Willamette.
Riding along the Middle Fork Trail. 25mile
ride.
Middle Fork.
Riding through the burn area of the Mid Fork Trail.
One of the marked trail intersections.
Back at the Shuttle that will take us home.
MBO - Middle Fork of the Williamette from Lee Lau on Vimeo.
Next day we rode 'Epic' - Alpine, Tire Mountain,
Winberry ride. 22miles of singletrack!
Alpine Section - home of the Oakridge SuperD.
Climbing up Tire Mt. We didn't get a lot of pictures
of the Tire descent cause it was FAST and SWEET!
Tire climb
Bottom of the Tire Mt. descent.
Winberry descent.
Chillin' at the resevoir waiting for the shuttle
home. Or you could do the 20mile road ride!
Mountain Bike Oregon - Epic Ride from Lee Lau on Vimeo.
Sat night was party time! Pixxy bike races sponsored
by GT.
Mountain Bike Oregon - Kiddie bike race - August 21, 2010 from Lee Lau on Vimeo.
Next day we did a short 14 mile shuttle on the more
technical trail in the area - Heckletooth. Lots of tight, dusty switchbacks
adds to the tech of this trail!
Top of Heckletooth and the view!
Our last descent.
We stopped by the fish hatchery to check out some
huge sturgeon.
Mountain Bike Oregon, Oakridge at EveryTrail
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