Classic & Vintage - Crater Lake Century

I rode the Crater Lake Century on Saturday with some good friends.
http://craterlakecentury.com/rideinfo/index.html
The weather was awful when we started in Ft. Klamath.
Wind driven rain, it felt more like April than August..
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050438.jpg
We got soaked but we hunkered down and rode on hoping for better weather and by the time we reached the park entrance the sun began to show itself.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050440.jpg
By the time we reached the rim, we had dried out and our spirits were lifted.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050453.jpg
Imagine yourself riding around this!
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050456.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050472.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050474.jpg
One of the best features of this ride is the BBQ at the end of the ride where you served home made ice cream and cobbler for dessert!
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050478.jpg
This was the 3rd year I have ridden this event. There are numerous reasons why I will come back. The ride is limited to 300 riders. No one I saw treats this like a race, it's very refreshing to have no frantic pacelines filled with riders who don't know each other… People were spread out along the route out enjoying the climbs and descents around the rim at their own pace while surrounded by breathtaking scenery. You will want to stop along the way just to admire the views
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050449.jpg
The food at the rest stops are some of the best I've seen anywhere: Fruit, fresh bagels, home made cookies, and subway sandwiches served to you by friendly enthusiastic volunteers. Something else I really enjoy is how this ride finishes.. After you circle the rim you ride back down to the start line some 20 or so miles away all on a gentle downhill. You fly along feeling like a pro, anticipating that BBQ dinner at the finish. It takes some effort to get here from the Seattle area where I live but it was well worth it.

i'd be tempted to walk down and dip a toe in the ultra clear and cold lake after a ride like that.

nice work.

Fantastic pics.

Thanks for sharing.

Pretty!

I spent 3 days at Crater Lake earlier this summer while on vacation and kept wishing I had my bike, although I did a lot of hiking. That looks like a great ride, despite the rain. Incredible scenery at Crater Lake and southern Oregon in general.

Great photos as usual, Northbend!

Well done!

As we talked - that one's definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for posting.

Nice ride. Nice bike.

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I miss the Pacific NW.

Wow. Great pics. Sure is some striking scenery out West.

Thanks for the comments. The photos do not do justice to this place. I love riding in the mountains and this is one of my favorite places. Scott, I was thinking this would strike a chord with you. This area would make a great family vacation destination....

I love this lake my Grandfather owned a cabin there and I spent a lot of time there as kid. Just one of the prettiest lakes to spend time at.

That is breathtaking scenery! What a fantastic event, thanks for sharing your great rides.

Thanks for the shots, Northbend. I've backpacked around Crater Lake (using it as start/finish spot) but this September, my wife and I plan on cruising up to do the 39 mile rim ride. If all goes well, I would seriously consider doing the Crater Lake Century especially since I have in-laws living in Medford.

Oh and gorgeous looking Merckx, assuming that is yours.

Beautiful spot. I've fond memories of riding in Oregon. Thanks for re-kindling them. Nice report.

If all goes well, I would seriously consider doing the Crater Lake Century especially since I have in-laws living in Medford.
Oh and gorgeous looking Merckx, assuming that is yours.

Yes, it is my MXL, It would be nice to see more vintage bikes next year. Please come
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/P1050442.jpg

I'd like to do it sometime, but I'll have to get my Super Course Mark II put together first (been sitting in pieces for 6 months now).

I've now Lived in Oregon for 20 years now and haven't made the trip to Crater Lake yet.

Yes, it is my MXL, It would be nice to see more vintage bikes next year. Please come

I was there last year - we had better weather :):

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2011%20rides/Crater%20Lake/DeRosa-1.jpg

This area would make a great family vacation destination....

That's my ticket to ride this right there! Thanks;)


As we talked - that one's definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for posting.

I vote you (we) upgrade this to the "to do list"!

-Andy

Did that a few years back: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/sets/72157625219749853/with/5159807363/

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1126/5159807225_5d47be74c4_b.jpg

And I got to try an entirely new type of "riding". (Not Crater Lake- this was at a rest stop at Lake of the Woods the day before.)

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4042/5160410274_2648d9d841_b.jpg

Beautiful . I just added that to my list of places to go while on the west coast.

Wow. That is one of the bluest bodies of water I have ever seen. Beautiful! It's hard to tell, but the gearing on your Merckx looks pretty hardcore for riding in the mountains. I'll take the 28t granny and a 34t rear please!

i'd be tempted to walk down and dip a toe in the ultra clear and cold lake after a ride like that.

nice work.

That would be a big walk.

That would be a big walk.

At least the water isn't green like in some volcanic lakes :eek:.

I searched crater lake in wikipedia. The article says that it is the deepest lake in the US, fed entirely by rain and snow and also one of the cleanest bodies of water.

I was there last year - we had better weather :):

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2011%20rides/Crater%20Lake/DeRosa-1.jpg

Still lovin' that Primato of yours.

That color just knocks me out.

I forget, but what's the drivetrain again?

I have a Giro d' Italia (ELOS) that I am slowly building and that triple looks mighty tempting, that's for sure.