RoboCheme

I need to kill 2-3 hours in Eugene while my wife attends a knitting party. Fortunately, I'll have my road bike so I'd appreciate some recommendations for a 25-30 mile ride. I prefer riding up hills (<15%).

Strava shows some nice climbs up Fox Hollow Rd and McBeth Rd. Are they safe on a Sunday afternoon? How about Lorane Highway?

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,

Cliff

toolbear

One of the more scenic rides in the Eugene area is the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System - paved trails on both sides of the river and a nice collection of bridges. You can do figure 8s and such.

<https://www.traillink.com/trail/ruth-bascom-riverbank-trail-system.aspx>

Shifty

Yes, Fox Hollow and McBeth are very safe any time. I would tell you to ride out Fox Hollow, a long climb, but beautiful and excellent road. After you go over the top of the hill, turn left at the fire station and enjoy the rest of Fox Hollow Road. At the end of this road, turn Right on Lorane Highway (also good low traffic road with good shoulder). Just before the church turn right and follow this road back into town. This is one of the best rides in Eugene, about 30 miles. You won't be disappointed with this one.

B. Carfree

There's a couple of different ways to end this ride. After you turn right at the church on Lorane Hwy (a little less than five miles from the end of Fox Hollow; at mile post 6), roll another 1.8 miles to McBeth and climb back up to Fox Hollow to return from whence you came. This is my "only have two hours to ride" ride.

Alternatively, you can turn left at that church on Lorane Hwy (at mp 6), ride about three miles west to the end of that road (Spencer Creek Rd), turn right on Pine Grove and then turn right on Gimpl Hill (yeah, that's how they spell things around here). At the east end of Gimpl Hill, you can either turn left on Bailey Hill and find your way back to wherever you started or turn right and go over Bailey Hill back to that church at mp 6 on Lorane Hwy and then choose whichever route home you fancy, either left and all the way in on Lorane Hwy, left and then up McBeth, or straight and then back over Fox Hollow the way you came.

As far as safety, the later in the day you go, the more suburbanites will be returning home. Thus, as you get into the afternoon, traffic outbound from Eugene picks up. However, it's never very busy. With a little bit of luck, the county will clean up the grit they put down over the wet season before you get here and you'll have a clean shoulder on the portion of Lorane Hwy that has a shoulder (only the portion inbound from McBeth lacks a shoulder). This time of year, there are shadows at the top of Fox Hollow and on part of the climb up McBeth, so it's not a bad idea to throw a blinky on.

RoboCheme

Thanks, Shifty, B. Carfree, Looking forward to it.

Cliff

B. Carfree

Next time you come up this way try to leave a bit more time for riding so you can get out to the second best cycling area on the west coast: the O&C. Only the Lost Coast is better, IMO. We do a free supported century-plus around Fall Equinox, https://www.bikeforums.net/pacific-no...tury-plus.html Click on the route in the link to see where this area is. You could take the Coast Starlight up, stay at the Whiteaker Hostel to be close to several local brew pubs, do the Duncan Ride, return to the brew pubs and then take the train back home. Or not. Riding all day without any traffic alongside rivers isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Shifty

I see that your wife will be knitting while you are here. Is she aware of the Black Sheep Gathering? A big part of the gathering is knitting and fiber arts, it's a big event. It is held in Eugene at the fairgrounds in late June.
Black Sheep Gathering Shows & Contests