Pacific Northwest - Portland to Oxbow Park

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View Full Version : Portland to Oxbow Park

flapdoodle64
06-30-09, 12:56 PM
On 6-28-09 I rode from my house in NE Portland to Oxbow Regional Park, which is near Troutdale, Oregon. My GPS device recorded about 57 miles total, but I have no idea of the elevation change. Of particular interest is the climb coming out of the park, for which there is only one paved road. The wickedest hills I ever took a rode bike up! Especially riding a 38 lb. '72 Schwinn Varsity. Anyone else ever done this route? Anyone know where one can look at topos of a region to guesstimate?

Spokebreaker
07-01-09, 11:59 AM
The climb out of Oxbow is a 520' climb (80' to 600' elevation). The first 120' or so is a 17% grade, after that it settles in to about 10%, and eases off a bit more before the final climb up to 600' elevation.

It's pretty strenuous - I did it loaded this year for the first time, and got halfway up the 17% segment before having to walk the remainder.
(Mind you, when I say loaded, I mean 240lb rider, 40lb bike, 60lbs of gear - it was brutal at that weight)
flapdoodle64
07-01-09, 10:11 PM
The climb out of Oxbow is a 520' climb (80' to 600' elevation). The first 120' or so is a 17% grade, after that it settles in to about 10%, and eases off a bit more before the final climb up to 600' elevation.

It's pretty strenuous - I did it loaded this year for the first time, and got halfway up the 17% segment before having to walk the remainder.
(Mind you, when I say loaded, I mean 240lb rider, 40lb bike, 60lbs of gear - it was brutal at that weight)

Dang Spokebreaker! Just thinking about all the weight you hefted makes me tired! If I were in your shoes I mighta made it 1/4 way packing THAT much wieght!

The info is awesome. My primary project now is conditioning for the Tour De Cure, 7-25-09, benefitting American Diabetes Association, and I will do 65 miles. I now can compare the elevation from Sunday's ride with the Tour De Cure. Thanks for all the info!