One significant yet often overlooked component of Oregon’s bicycle industry are the hundreds of annual rides, races and events that take place throughout the state.
Enduro racing — a mix between cross-country and downhill mountain biking that favors all-around riders — is something that has come on strong in recent years. Now there’s a new event out of Oakridge, the Trans-Cascadia Enduro Stage Race, that promises to bring even more attention to both this racing discipline and to Oakridge itself — a former logging town that continues to transform itself with mountain biking as its economic engine.
This new Trans-Cascadia race also caught my eye because organizers have combined a challenging race course (16 stages with 32,000 feet of descending) with four days of camping and gourmet food provided by Chris DiMinno, the event chef at Chris King Precision Components. And did I mention it’s organized through a non-profit and all proceeds (registration is $1,000 and its capped at 100 riders) go toward trail development in the Oakridge area? Awesome.
Learn more in the promo video and official press release below…
Trans-Cascadia 2015 Scouting from Paris Gore on Vimeo.
Trans-Cascadia – www.Trans-Cascadia.com
September 24 – 27, 2015
Oakridge, Oregon
The Event
Would you like to race your mountain bike in the deep loam and backcountry of Oregon? Do you enjoy great food, beer and wine? Are you a fan of camping out under the stars? If you answered yes to all of these questions then you won’t want to miss the inaugural Trans-Cascadia this September 24-27th! Spend four days racing your way through Oregon’s best trails, near Oakridge and each night you camp, where your only job is to feast upon a healthy dose of gourmet food and drink before falling asleep to dreams of loamy trails. Trans-Cascadia takes the multi-day race/ride format pioneered and proven by the world renowned Trans-Provence and applies it to Oregon’s rugged, wooded, and down right wonderful terrain. The only Trans Style Race in the USA in 2015. We’re focused on culture, camaraderie and creating a great riding experience.The Riding
Over four days riders will be treated to roughly 32,000 feet of descending on trails scattered throughout the Oakridge area. Our route is a mix of this mountain bike meccas fan favorites and some little known gems that are sure to leave you with wide dusty grin! The racing will be a blind racing format,Trans-Cascadia will not have any practice runs, and maps of the race courses will not be published ahead of time. Riding will be accessed by a mix of uplift service and pedal powered climbing. While the race is focused on descending, in this kind of backcountry terrain climbing unavoidable, so come prepared to ride. Participation is limited to 100 riders, ensuring maximum riding pleasure while limiting impact on these beautiful trails.Advertisement
Feasting and Sleeping
Once the day’s riding is done, participants will return to camp where all you need to do is rest and recharge before feasting in preparation for the next day’s ride. Chris King Gourmet Century chef Chris DiMinno has created a daily gourmet menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner that seeks to highlight the farm-to-table taste that has made Pacific Northwest cuisine famous. He has taken steps to make sure that each meal has the right balance of flavor and nutrients to keep shredding day after day.Non-Profit
All proceeds from the Trans-Cascadia will go to supporting trail development in the Oakridge area, proceeds will specifically help fund the necessary environmental studies that need to be completed before any new trail can be developed. This is an important primary step for trail organizations and one that is critical for the development of new trails.Registration: https://ccnbikes.com/#!/events/trans-cascadia-enduro-stage-race
NOTE – Registration is limited to 100 riders. Please be sure to register early to secure your place in the race.
Race Details
Riders will be divided into four different categories.
Elite Men
Elite Women
Amateur Men
Amateur WomenCASH PRIZES
Elite Men and Women will be vying for over $16,000 dollars in cash prizes!
$5,000 for 1st place Man and Woman
$2,000 for 2nd place Man and Woman
$1,000 for 3rd place Man and WomanSponsors
Shimano, PRO, Chris King, Pearl Izumi, SMITH, Travel Oregon, Modus Sport Group, Clif Bar, Stiegl, Clif Family Winery, Defender, One-Left.com,The U.S. Forest Service, OBRA, KickStand Coffee & Kitchen, and Oregon Adventures.About the Promoters
Modus Sport Group – Modus Sport Group understands that mountain biking is not just a sport, it’s a way to grow an appreciation for the world that we live in, we feel that this is critically important and we understand that it takes effort and work to insure this experience for the generations of riders to come. As Trails Stewards we hope our work will open up new areas of riding and contribute to maintaining current trials in order to create lasting and sustainable riding areas that will be ridden and enjoyed for years to come. For more information on the Modus Sport Group visit www.modussportgroup.comFor more information or further questions please email – transcascadiamtb@gmail.com
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Oakridge trails are amazing. Good to hear all of the proceeds go to the trails.
I think that’s 32k feet of descending not climbing. Typically with enduro races there may be some climbing between the timed sections, but I’m thinking there is going to be a good amount of shuttling.
Thanks Matt. I had that wrong in the article. Fixed it. Seems like such a neat event. If I wasn’t already committed to Cycle Oregon I would sign up! Maybe next year.
What about the elk and salmon?
All the mountain bike contaminated runoff upstream near Riverview killed them all.
Your wit will easily be misconstrued by the Friends of River View, and then used against mountain biking. Please do not perpetuate that tired argument even if its sarcasm.
If the Friends of Riverview believe mountain bike contaminated runoff kills Elk then they have bigger problems to worry about than an inability to decipher sarcasm.
“…Your wit will easily be misconstrued…” spencer
Probably wouldn’t be misconstrued. Impression I got from reading what the Friends of Riverview posted to their site, is the people having put that site together, sought to present information that, despite the opinion about their intent on the part of some mountain bike enthusiasts…will withstand questions as to its accuracy.
But the lack of seriousness of some people commenting to this story’s comment section, with regards to a serious issue, and the lack of respect for people’s viewpoints about it, different from their own, are in themselves, damaging enough. Save the immature wisecracks for when you’re sitting around by yourselves in the bar or whatever. This is the internet, not even private emails, but a weblog open to the public.
About Oakridge, the location and conditions there, I don’t know much about it, other than what’s on wikipedia’s page on the town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakridge,_Oregon
I am aware though, as many Oregonians are, that parts of the state that have drawn a big part of their income from logging, badly need other sources of revenue. If tourism, and mountain biking as part of tourism, can develop into a significant source of revenue, they could be a good fit for rural Oregon.
I think there likely will be questions asked about what effect various types of mountain biking could have on the ecology out there. Race organizers pitching their event by mentioning “…loamy trails…” naturally will prompt questions about what the effects of biking in that kind of soil will be. Given the negative effects that logging has on rural forestland, the comparatively minimal effects of mountain biking upon it will likely be easily recognized and accepted. Different situation entirely, in, or close to urban settings.
“I don’t know much about it”
That’s about it, regardless of the length of your posts.
What is really funny about your post is that the “friends” of River View felt it pertinent to take down their ridiculous page on mountain biking. It wasn’t factual, but it was horribly written and completely biased.
I still wonder how your posts such as this get through – sure I was being a bit snarky and could have easily been modded out, but even through the snark I was making a valid observation.
” the lack of respect for people’s viewpoints about it, different from their own, are in themselves, damaging enough” — wsbob
I am all for hearing opinions, but often times it is just all opinion and no fact. What has been happening is that you keep showing up, saying the same thing over and over, trying to spread FUD and also changing history to suit your need. That isn’t about tolerating someone else’s opinion, it is having a rationale conversation about a subject and one side completely ignoring the facts.
“I don’t know much about it…” – wsbob
That doesn’t stop you from talking like you do, though. And the problem just continues…
“This is the internet…” – wsbob
Yes it is. Good point. The internet is serious business.
Snark much?
I’m not say’n that the trails are killing salmon or harassing wildlife, but for the most vocal proponents of mountain biking to mock advocates for the protection of endangered species and habitat is counter productive.
The only thing they’re realky advocating for is less people parking in their neighborhood. The environmental concerns they site are just a neat little vehicle they’re using to that end. Hence, the snark.
OK, but this article is regarding Oakridge, so the snark just sounds dismissive and arrogant regarding issues that are important, and that environmentalists, many of whom are mt. bikers, care about. The snark disrespects the value system and thereby the persons who share many of your concerns.
And yet, there are mountain bike trails all over Oakridge and the wildlife flourishes and the salmon still spawn. I’m all for conservation but I’m dismissive of using it as a means to a selfish end.
And how successful is that strategy?
How successful has working within the system been for us? About the same, I’d say.
I am not being dismissive of the environmental concerns at all. I am very concerned about them. I am laughing that people are trying to tie them to mountain biking. That is a complete farce and I think we should laugh at it.
Yes, sometimes I snark. Sometimes the hikers do too. It really has little detriment to either side in my opinion.
I am simply pointing out how unscientific the arguments that the most vocal proponents use and you are right, I don’t take face science seriously. I am also a proponent of protecting the environment, but let’s actually do it instead of using fake science to close down trails.
Sounds awesome…anyone want to “sponsor” me. I won’t make the podium, but I would have a great time. While riding I will be looking out for salmon AT ALL TIMES!