Due to troubles finding a reliable wi-fi signal in Oakridge, I wasn’t able to post as many stories as I had hoped from Mountain Bike Oregon.

I’ve put together a special coverage page and I just finished uploading and organizing all my photos.
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A welcome sight for mountain bikers.
(File photo)

If Oakridge had an unofficial base camp for mountain biking adventurers, it would be The Trailhead.

This aptly named cafe is right at the start of Main Street in Oakridge (which is actually a highway), and I couldn’t think of a better welcome to town.[Read more…]

Camping on the banks of the
Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
(File photo)

The quality of riding in Oakridge can be illustrated in many ways. One of them is by the success of Mountain Bike Oregon.

The first MTB Oregon was held in 2005 and was attended by 38 hearty soles. Founder Randy Dreiling says there were more guides than riders. It didn’t take long for word of the event to spread. Word of mouth, propelled by popular Internet forums like MTBR.com saw the next year’s attendance balloon to a sellout crowd of 300 riders.

Riders came from 20 different states including as far away as Maine and Florida.
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On Alpine Trail.
(File photo)

Just finished my first day of riding down here at Mountain Bike Oregon in Oakridge.

The trails are out of this world and my tent is set up mere feet from the rushing of the green-blue Willamette River (and just a few yards from the beer garden).

I left Portland (very) early this morning, ate breakfast at camp, packed a lunch, then hopped on a yellow school bus full of other riders for 20 miles of some of the best singletrack I’ve ever ridden. We did a trail known as Alpine: about 20 miles, with 4,500 feet of descending on glorious, narrow, and perfectly maintained trails.
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(File photo)

Tonight I’m off to Oakridge, Oregon (“The center of Oregon recreation”) to take part in Mountain Bike Oregon.

The event promises three full days of riding on what I’ve heard are some of the best trails anywhere in the country. I’ll join about 150 other folks at a rustic camp along the Willamette River and ride till our heart’s content (then talk about it every night over cold beer).

My love affair with mountain biking began in 1995, but has been on hiatus since I moved to Portland three years ago. I can’t wait to get down there and rekindle the relationship. I hope the sparks still fly like they used to in the old days.

Stay tuned for reports and photos from the trail.