Road Cycling - The path to Boring, Oregon

Took a nice little ride out to Boring this weekend. Despite the name of the town, it is a beautiful ride....

Here's me before taking off:

http://img22.photobucket.com/albums/v66/gonesh9/bikeforums/smallcasey.jpg

Here's the path which leaves pretty much right outside my door, straight towards Mt. Hood - You might be able to see it in the distance:

http://img22.photobucket.com/albums/v66/gonesh9/bikeforums/smallspringwater1.jpg

I took a short detour and climbed up a small ~675ft hill called Powell Butte on singletrack dirt (gotta love the steel touring bike). Some nice views from the meadow on top:

http://img22.photobucket.com/albums/v66/gonesh9/bikeforums/smallpowell.jpg

Once you get a few miles away from town, the path clears for miles and miles of open path all to yourself:

http://img22.photobucket.com/albums/v66/gonesh9/bikeforums/smallspringwater2.jpg

It follows some beautiful riparian wildlife areas, wetlands, and generally peaceful Oregon scenery...

http://img22.photobucket.com/albums/v66/gonesh9/bikeforums/smalljohnson1.jpg

Amazing, what the simple act of taking a bike ride can do for one's well being. :)

Enjoy your rides, y'alls!

whats the trip mileage from your house to boring then back? ive ridden the springwater cooridor before but only to like 200th and something....id like to do a out and back of the entire thing though...nice pics!!!

Thanks for capturing a bit of what cycling in Oregon is all about....nice pics.

55/Rad

Yeah, that's what I like about biking here too. Thanks, Gonesh9, for the pics.

whats the trip mileage from your house to boring then back? ive ridden the springwater cooridor before but only to like 200th and something....id like to do a out and back of the entire thing though...nice pics!!!

I live in Sellwood, and I think it ended up to be about 50 miles round trip. Not too long, not too short. Just right! :)

I live in Sellwood, and I think it ended up to be about 50 miles round trip. Not too long, not too short. Just right! :)
You live in Sellwood? I live in Sellwood! Wait, I live in SHERWOOD. It's confusing when you're new to the state. :)

55/Rad

I wish there were bike paths in this state.....

whats the trip mileage from your house to boring then back? ive ridden the springwater cooridor before but only to like 200th and something....id like to do a out and back of the entire thing though...nice pics!!!
From Oak Grove (Milwaukie) it was 50-55 miles. Just to let you know the last 1-2 miles is a dirt trail with some gravel thrown in.

Nice pictures, thanks. By the way, what kind of tires/size are you running?

From Oak Grove (Milwaukie) it was 50-55 miles. Just to let you know the last 1-2 miles is a dirt trail with some gravel thrown in.

You're telling me that path goes for about 50 miles? No cars? :eek:

That's it, I'm moving.

Personally, my favorite recreational ride in Portland is several trips up and down Hawthorne Blvd from SE 27th to SE 50th, taking the lane the whole way... :D

Nice pictures, thanks. By the way, what kind of tires/size are you running?

I'm riding with the conti tourers, I think they are 32's(x700)



Personally, my favorite recreational ride in Portland is several trips up and down Hawthorne Blvd from SE 27th to SE 50th, taking the lane the whole way...

Yeah, usually when I take off for a ride I just end up cruising around the streets on the east side, making sure to stop for a pint at the Lucky Lab. :)

The Lucky Lab is a highly recommended stop, and it's right on my way home from work. :)

Great pics! I wish there were paths like that around here. We do have greenways which are similar to that but the longest is about 8 miles from one end to the other and they have been working on it's bridges for the past 7 or 8 months and it has been closed.

I still can't get over 50 miles with no cars. That must be an amazing ride, not to mention completely relaxing for the mind.

I like to take the springwater from the start of the pavement east of gresham, to the i-205 path north, take marine path/blvd to the interstate bridge, come back over the 205 bridge, and back home. Although the springwater is kinda rough from sellwood to about 200th or so...so after a long ride it can be a pain to have to ride on it...

The I-205 path runs from vancouver to Oregon City...

Great pics! I wish there were paths like that around here. We do have greenways which are similar to that but the longest is about 8 miles from one end to the other and they have been working on it's bridges for the past 7 or 8 months and it has been closed.

I still can't get over 50 miles with no cars. That must be an amazing ride, not to mention completely relaxing for the mind.


Yeah its very nice to have... Its an old railroad throughway thats been paved. They are putting in a bridge that will allow you to go from the Willamette river in downtown portland to troutdale (~30-40 miles east) with no cars (occasional crossings..)

Hey Im from Roseburg! So you really like the umpqua trail foremost?
Im originally from Michigan, and I do have to admit that Oregon is fantastic bike country. The only thing I dont like about touring the area are the double hitch log trucks. The only thing you need to watch out for are cougars, and so some of the most zealots I know carry a handgun on the bike for protection. Depending how far out you get to Glide area. I once road my bike from Roseburg to Medford in 103 degree weather in about 12 hours. I haven't done anything that tough in 12 years. The area between Tiller and Drew was incredible and extremely fast ride on the way down the mountain road. Tears were coming down side of the face.

more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics, more pics,

that's one of my fave rides. it's 20 miles one way from end-to-end on the corridor, but, if you start a bit outside of it, you can turn it into a 50 mile round trip affair. combine the 205 trail or go across 26 and head into the hills in boring, and you've got yourself a sweet ride.

there's a straight 4 mile shot at the end (near the city) that i love using as a last gasp sprint (when it's not crowded). it's a great time to test one's cadence on the flats -- especially after running full-tilt for 40some miles.

great pix!

oh yeah... before i forget... when you get to the end and you're looking at the unpaved portion of the trail ahead of you...

hop on the road that runs parallel to the trail and keep going forward. it'll cross 26, and then you're in a good place.

on the way back, stay on that road (don't get back on the trail there). it's a smoother ride on the road, and it hooks back up with the trail in a few miles. i think that the road is called 'telford'.

enjoy!

best,
t