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09-17-07, 11:56 AM
Hi everyone,
We just finished the 20th anniversary Cycle Oregon ride last Saturday, my little chicken legs are fried.
This is our third year in a row we attended the week long event. Weather was awesome, scenery off the charts.
www.cycleoregon.com for route details.
We were on our Calfee with triple up front and 12x25 cassette.
Like the fool I am, I did our local yearly hill climb on my single bike the day before, then off to Sisters Oregon.
Day 1- Sisters to La Pine - 64 miles/2400 ft elevation climbed of easy tail wind cruising. I vowed to take it easy as my legs were tired and I had an idea of what was ahead. For once I listened to myself and did not hammer despite my rested stokers energy.
Day 2-La Pine to Diamond Lake 92 miles/3400 ft elevation climbed. One long day, it was about 28 degrees in the morning when we left about 7:30 a.m. I foolishly did not take my warmest gloves and booties so suffered the first hour before it warmed up. They have gear drop at the first rest stop and lunch so being over dressed and then dropping off your clothes as it warms is easy. We had one wonderful stretch of rollers at about 20 miles with a tailwind and could have used an 11 tooth, as you can imagine we made some new friends on single bikes.
The ride got tough after lunch with the long gradual climb and it warming up to almost 80 degrees.
Day 3- We were at Diamond Lake for two nights. The next day was optional ride up to and around Crater Lake, 60 miles and 6400 feet elevation climbed. We were too tired so rode just the climb up to the rim for pictures and back down about 12 miles up. A little dissapointed but knew how hard the next few days were.
Day 4- Diamond Lake to Dorena Lake- 88 or 100 miles with option and 3400 ft elevation.
The first 40 miles were DOWNHILL, on smooth wide roads with little traffic, oh yeah, the greatest downhill ever. We rolled and swooped past everyone in sight (safely of course using the stoker bell). I think our average at lunch was 27mph. (could have used an 11 tooth) After lunch we paid the price, about a 15 mile climb with some 8% pitch near the top (would have used the 27 tooth). It was on a remote road they had closed to oncoming traffic. Very scenic. The downhill was a little too steep and curvy for my liking (8-10% near the top) and no fun. My rear Avid disc did not feel that helpful. We made it down and found out later there were 3-4 single bike crashes with one broken hip.
After the climb it was downhill and flat for about 30 miles, but with some head wind so not so easy. We hammered to hard and paid for it the next day.
Our rear Rolf wheel had two spokes that were lose at the finish, the on site Bike Gallery mechanics repaired them, no problem.
Day 5- Dorena Lake to Oakridge- 55 miles and 5500 feet of elevation- woe are we-
This stage crushed us, the scenery was fantastic but the climb near the top had more 8-9 % pitches with a double summit top. Once again I vowed to never ride again. The downhill was steep at the top but not as scary as the previous day, so some fun after getting off the top section.
That night the Bike Gallery mechanic put in a new longer rear disc cable and housing at his suggestion.
It made a big difference in braking power!
Day 6- Oakridge to Rainbow 65 miles 3300ft- Another hard climb to lunch and me not eating enough the previous night made for a mini melt down rest stop prior to the big climb. Glad no one but my wife witnessed this. After lunch- the second greatest downhill ever 25-27 miles of swooping fast turns thru the old growth forrest making us want to keep the bike and not buy ATV's.
Day 7- Rainbow to Sisters- 43 miles and 4100 ft- Started off with 30 miles of uphill but manageble 5-6 % pitches over the pass and then another fun downhill finish into Sisters. We felt better than the previous day or just numb from the week.
We had a hotel in Bend for the night thanks to the smart stoker!
Although we had trained the ride was still pretty grueling. We would guess 20-25 tandems but not really sure.
Some of the tandem teams cruised past us on the climbs inspiring us.
I will have to wait a few weeks before considering next years Cycle Oregon.
Rob
We just finished the 20th anniversary Cycle Oregon ride last Saturday, my little chicken legs are fried.
This is our third year in a row we attended the week long event. Weather was awesome, scenery off the charts.
www.cycleoregon.com for route details.
We were on our Calfee with triple up front and 12x25 cassette.
Like the fool I am, I did our local yearly hill climb on my single bike the day before, then off to Sisters Oregon.
Day 1- Sisters to La Pine - 64 miles/2400 ft elevation climbed of easy tail wind cruising. I vowed to take it easy as my legs were tired and I had an idea of what was ahead. For once I listened to myself and did not hammer despite my rested stokers energy.
Day 2-La Pine to Diamond Lake 92 miles/3400 ft elevation climbed. One long day, it was about 28 degrees in the morning when we left about 7:30 a.m. I foolishly did not take my warmest gloves and booties so suffered the first hour before it warmed up. They have gear drop at the first rest stop and lunch so being over dressed and then dropping off your clothes as it warms is easy. We had one wonderful stretch of rollers at about 20 miles with a tailwind and could have used an 11 tooth, as you can imagine we made some new friends on single bikes.
The ride got tough after lunch with the long gradual climb and it warming up to almost 80 degrees.
Day 3- We were at Diamond Lake for two nights. The next day was optional ride up to and around Crater Lake, 60 miles and 6400 feet elevation climbed. We were too tired so rode just the climb up to the rim for pictures and back down about 12 miles up. A little dissapointed but knew how hard the next few days were.
Day 4- Diamond Lake to Dorena Lake- 88 or 100 miles with option and 3400 ft elevation.
The first 40 miles were DOWNHILL, on smooth wide roads with little traffic, oh yeah, the greatest downhill ever. We rolled and swooped past everyone in sight (safely of course using the stoker bell). I think our average at lunch was 27mph. (could have used an 11 tooth) After lunch we paid the price, about a 15 mile climb with some 8% pitch near the top (would have used the 27 tooth). It was on a remote road they had closed to oncoming traffic. Very scenic. The downhill was a little too steep and curvy for my liking (8-10% near the top) and no fun. My rear Avid disc did not feel that helpful. We made it down and found out later there were 3-4 single bike crashes with one broken hip.
After the climb it was downhill and flat for about 30 miles, but with some head wind so not so easy. We hammered to hard and paid for it the next day.
Our rear Rolf wheel had two spokes that were lose at the finish, the on site Bike Gallery mechanics repaired them, no problem.
Day 5- Dorena Lake to Oakridge- 55 miles and 5500 feet of elevation- woe are we-
This stage crushed us, the scenery was fantastic but the climb near the top had more 8-9 % pitches with a double summit top. Once again I vowed to never ride again. The downhill was steep at the top but not as scary as the previous day, so some fun after getting off the top section.
That night the Bike Gallery mechanic put in a new longer rear disc cable and housing at his suggestion.
It made a big difference in braking power!
Day 6- Oakridge to Rainbow 65 miles 3300ft- Another hard climb to lunch and me not eating enough the previous night made for a mini melt down rest stop prior to the big climb. Glad no one but my wife witnessed this. After lunch- the second greatest downhill ever 25-27 miles of swooping fast turns thru the old growth forrest making us want to keep the bike and not buy ATV's.
Day 7- Rainbow to Sisters- 43 miles and 4100 ft- Started off with 30 miles of uphill but manageble 5-6 % pitches over the pass and then another fun downhill finish into Sisters. We felt better than the previous day or just numb from the week.
We had a hotel in Bend for the night thanks to the smart stoker!
Although we had trained the ride was still pretty grueling. We would guess 20-25 tandems but not really sure.
Some of the tandem teams cruised past us on the climbs inspiring us.
I will have to wait a few weeks before considering next years Cycle Oregon.
Rob