Run-In With Three Amigos

While out on a solo-ride (well it started out being solo) I ran into two amigos (John & Al) who I hadn't seen in over a year on Fort Lewis trails. They were indoctrinating a new amigo, Doug from the Puyallup area.  Doug just retired and has lots of new free time to go ride now so be sure to say "hi" should you see him.

 

I got to ride with the amigos for half of "Race Track" before I doubled back and they took off for other duties.  One of them had even managed to volunteer hosting 100+ Rotarians at his home and acreage (i.e., ranch), left his wife at home preparing for the event, and was able to finagle getting a ride in!  I've got to get his recipe for finessing that!

Sometimes I enjoy the solitude of a solo ride yet by far enjoy the camaraderie and fun engagement with other riders so this ride was a treat.  Another highlight of the past two weeks was a text-message starting off with one rider, who then invited another and they invited others -- ending up with five (5) highly charged guys all pushing the fun-factor on the trails.  The ride included a very painful wrong turn downhill peppered with 4'-5' thistles and stinging nettles.  All you could hear coming down the hill were shouts of pain, much yelling, and I thought perhaps a few expletives aimed at the trail lead.  I must say I left that ride and had warm and fuzzy feeling for the rest of the day and evening on the legs and arms after that!  What a memory!

By the way, Race Track is becoming far "racier," now that the ferns and grass on the sides of the trail are beginning to wither and die out.  This amazing trail goes through a few notable seasonal changes throughout the year and near August and September is a time I always look forward to.

Helpful hint:  If you have spare jingle bells or a cow bell, put it on your bike.  The equestrians who help punch in much single-track will love you for it.  "Adopt a bell and they'll love you for it!"

Getting Bend Dialed In

Three months into living in Bend proper (after 8 months in Sunriver) I feel like I am getting my "local" trails dialed in.  We landed in NW Bend, a stone's throw from Shevlin Park.  What does this mean?  Well, Mrazek is out my front door - great for a steady climb and fast down-hill out-and-back ride of however long I want to make it.  Two weeks ago I made a bucket list ride - up Mrazek, down Farewell, Skyliners into the Phil's network and back home for a monster 5 hour, 35 mile ride.

I've recently figured out the route from the house over to Phil's - about three miles of single amd double track to get there.  And now have three good loop rides I've dubbed "Local 1, 2, & 3" which run around 16, 18, and 20 miles respectively.  Rode Local 3 tonight which includes VooDoo that has nice technical rock sections.  These are now my go-to after work rides.

Am also starting to get introduced to the real "local" trails outside of the famous Phil's network.  Proud to have joined the Central Oregon Trail Association (COTA) and joined a work crew last weekend building "Tyler's Traverse" which I plan to ride this weekend.

Great ride this last Sunday up Sector 16 and down South Fork with my new riding partner Tony.  The South Fork descent was fast and furious, leaving me with two of four chain ring bolts gone and the other two like Leon Spinks' front teeth after a couple of rounds with George Foreman - loose.

So happy to be riding here in Central Oregon and missing my Olympia riding partner John.

Happy to host a "local" ride for anyone keyed into this blog who visits Bend - give a ring to 360-870-5053.  Jeff.