Category: Ride

Ride With Richard

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Please join GEARs President, Richard Hughes, this Saturday for a 10 to 12mph pace ride, leaving Cafe du Hall, 5th & Willamette, at 9am. We’ll head out the South Bank Path to Orchard Point and return the Fern Ridge Path for a total of 28 miles(see attached map). The ride is relatively flat at 267 feet of elevation gain. This is a great spring ride for those beginner-novice riders wanting something pretty mellow but with a bit of distance.

We’re starting at Cafe du Hall to remind you that they are a supporter of GEARs and offer a discount to members. See LINK for other retailers offering discounts. Also we will pass by Bagel Sphere on this ride, which is also a supporter.

Tree Planting by Bike

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Celebrate Oregon Arbor Week on bikes! Join Friends of Trees Eugene and plant native trees in Jefferson Park along the bike path through the Lane County Fairgrounds, and street and yard trees in nearby neighborhoods. Join us this Saturday, April 7, 10am-1pm, Amazon Path, near the Fairgrounds.

Event begins at 10am with a speech by Mayor Piercy and the City of Eugene receiving it’s Tree City USA award. Then we will break into teams and plant 25 trees in the park and another 40-60 street and yard trees in adjoining neighborhoods. We will have one or two teams planting neighborhood trees by bike, so let us know if you have bike trailers to bring and ride if you can. There will be a barbeque hosted by Northwest Natural with food and drinks for all after the trees are planted.

For more information, contact Erik Burke at ErikB@FriendsofTrees.org or 541-632-3683

A Portland Tree Planting by Bike- photo: Greg Raisman

 

Bike Tour Japan with a GEARs Member

Posted on by RideCoordinator

If you’ve ever wanted to tour Japan by bicycle, but didn’t know how, here’s your chance:

October 10-20, 2012: Kyoto & the Inland Sea Islands of Japan

Explore ancient Kyoto’s World Heritage temples, shrines and gardens on 2-wheels and ride the premier cycling route in western Japan – the Seto Inland Sea Islands. Fall is an ideal time to visit Japan and you’ll see first hand how bicycle-friendly a country it is. Experience the old and new, urban and rural settings – including citrus farms and fishing villages on 10 islands linked by a series of spectacular bridges. Ride the bullet train with your bike, take a hot spring bath, and stay in a traditional inn.
Tour begins and ends in Osaka, 500km west of Tokyo.

Your Personal Guide: Ruthy Kanagy, GEARS member and owner of Japan Cycle Tour LLC.
For details, email info@japancycletour.com

For more inspiration see this series of photos on Picasa of the tour.

 

Over the Top!

Posted on by RideCoordinator

“Over the Top” is a 2 day fully supported road cycling event between Oakridge, Oregon and Blue River, Oregon.  Cyclists will ride  the low traffic scenic Aufderheide Drive, (FS Rd 19), past majestic old growth forests and cascading waterfalls.  This is a challenging ride with over 3000 feet of elevation gain.  Riders will cycle in one direction on the first day, then back to their respective starting points on the second day.   Great food… Good friends and a weekend of cycling memories  awaits you.  Mark your calendar for October 1st & 2nd or better yet sign up today.  Registration is limited to 100 riders.

All meals, Friday and Saturday night lodging, aid stations, snacks, baggage transfer, sag wagon, mechanical support, and route maps are included in the registration fee.  Riders check in on Friday afternoon, September 30, settle in to comfortable lodging and hospitality.

Registration (http://rideoverthetop.eventbrite.com/) closes on 9/27/2011 or when 100 riders are confirmed.  Please select your starting point in Oakridge or Blue River by clicking on the “ticket type.”  Riders will be about equally split between the starting points.

Lodging:  Friday and Saturday night lodging is included in the registration fee.  The primary lodging and check-in point in Oakridge is the Oakridge Hostel, with space for 25 guests.  Additional lodging will be arranged through local motels a short distance away.  Likewise in Blue River, the primary lodging and gathering place for the ride is the McKenzie River Mountain Resort.  Additional lodging will be arranged with nearby motels as needed.

Safety:  Cyclists must wear safety rated (CSPC) helmets while underway on the ride.  Cyclists must observe all applicable laws and must ride in a safe and courteous manner.  Multiple aid stops along the route will provide fresh snacks, hydration, comfort stations, and friendly greeters.

SAG:  The course will close at 5 PM.  Riders still out will be given an opportunity to ride the sag to their destination.  If they decline, they will be on their own.

 

Register for the Blackberry bRamble!

Posted on by RideCoordinator

The sun is shining, blackberry vines are growing several feet each day–and momentum is  building toward the

Blackberry bRamble on Sunday, August 7!

For this year’s Blackbery bRamble, we’ve kept everything you loved last year: the scenic routes, spectacular food, friendly volunteers and dependable service.  But this year, after  you finish your ride, you can relax in our beer garden, soak those weary muscles in a hot tub, or watch your kids at the Bike Rodeo!

That’s right!   Besides the Full Century (100 mile), Metric Century (100 kilometer/62-mile) and “Who Needs a” Century (39 mile) rides, we’ve added the following:

  • A 10-15 mile Family Ride through the neighborhoods of Eugene
  • A Bike Celebration in Amazon Park, featuring bike-powered music, a beer garden, bike stunt competitions, and more
  • Post-ride swimming (and showers) at Amazon Pool
  • A pre-ride dinner on Saturday night at Hilyard Community Center, to benefit Eugene’s Adaptive Cycling Program
  • Overnight camping the night before the ride, including  a free pancake breakfast
  • Shakespeare-in-the-Park performances on Saturday and Sunday night

This year’s ride starts/finishes at Hilyard Community Center in Amazon Park, 2580 Hilyard.   For more information, see http://edu.eugenegears.org/bramble

By pre-registering, you’ll save money–and on the day of the ride, you’ll sign in and be on your way in less than a minute!

Registration is open NOW at www.orbike.com.  Registration is limited to the first 500 riders.  Save your spot by registering today!  And pass the word on to your friends!

McKenzie Pass Open!

Posted on by RideCoordinator

ODOT has given the official word. Hwy 242, McKenzie Pass is open to bikes and pedestrians (would be great for longboards too I think).  I rode it last week before it was open and it was great! The first time I’d ridden it. Parked at the ranger station, rode 24 miles (about to milepost 77), then turned back for an amazing downhill. Only one car near the very end, going the other direction. Seven foot tall snowbanks, peaceful road, great views….definitely one of the stellar rides in our area!

 

From my ride last week- near the summit.

Here’s the info from ODOT:

Snow removed from one lane across McKenzie Pass Highway

Highway open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic only

BEND— Snow removal on a single lane of The Old McKenzie Pass Highway (OR 242) has been completed, giving pedestrians and bicyclists an opportunity to enjoy the highway before motor vehicle traffic is allowed. The highway is open only to pedestrians and bicyclists and remains closed to motor vehicles.

Pedestrians and bicyclists are urged to travel the single lane with caution and be alert for ODOT trucks or heavy machinery still working along the road.

The highway will not be opened to motor vehicle traffic until all the snow melts off the roadway. There is no firm date for reopening but it’s anticipated it will be in July.

ODOT maintenance crews report that 20-foot snow drifts can still be found along the edge of the cleared lane.

To learn more about the highway, visit:

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/McKenzie_Pass_Project/McKenzie_Pass_Project.shtml