PDX: Cycling heaven on earth
08-17-09, 05:30 PM
#51
I'm Melting.....
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I got totally spanked on Skyline the first time I rode it. Rode it from the PBS in Beaverton (with Joel the mgr of the shop- back in '05) and was reduced to a mass of jelly by the time we were finished.....
08-17-09, 05:51 PM
#53
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Did you ride up Scholl's Ferry? Because there's a pretty good slog (at least for a flat lander like me) even before you get to the hills.
08-17-09, 05:57 PM
#54
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08-17-09, 06:10 PM
#55
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Later once I got my legs and lungs up to speed I decided to go up the South side to Skyline by way of NW Helvetia Rd and UP NW Logie Trail/NW Johnson Rd. I have no clue as to what the grade was at the beginning of LT (where it started off of Helvetia), but it was killer....
08-17-09, 06:38 PM
#57
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Seriously, either city has great year-round riding, unless of course you are made out of sugar, in which case you will die like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfV_ENR5IZE
08-17-09, 06:42 PM
#58
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08-17-09, 06:57 PM
#59
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Here's a great compilation of the major climbs in and around the Portland area. https://legacy.lclark.edu/~kolitch/cycling.html
If you really want to bury yourself on a ride, try this one a teammate showed me. It's sure to make your legs feel like they're going to fall off by the end.
Take Hwy 30 out to Rocky Pt. Climb, Descend. Take 30 back towards Portland till Logi Trail. Climb, Descend. Hwy 30 again towards Portland till you hit German Town. Climb. At this point it's likely you'll feel like death. You can either choose to not descend German Town but ride Skyline back towards downtown. Or Go back to Hwy 30 back into town, find Cornell/Thompson and CLIMB AGAIN! The cool thing about this ride is which ever climb does you in you can choose to just ride Skyline back towards downtown and enjoy some nice rolling hills rather than awful Hwy 30. Enjoy.
If you really want to bury yourself on a ride, try this one a teammate showed me. It's sure to make your legs feel like they're going to fall off by the end.
Take Hwy 30 out to Rocky Pt. Climb, Descend. Take 30 back towards Portland till Logi Trail. Climb, Descend. Hwy 30 again towards Portland till you hit German Town. Climb. At this point it's likely you'll feel like death. You can either choose to not descend German Town but ride Skyline back towards downtown. Or Go back to Hwy 30 back into town, find Cornell/Thompson and CLIMB AGAIN! The cool thing about this ride is which ever climb does you in you can choose to just ride Skyline back towards downtown and enjoy some nice rolling hills rather than awful Hwy 30. Enjoy.
08-17-09, 07:18 PM
#60
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The thing I really liked about Portland when I was there was that there were bike trails and bike lanes everywhere. The riding west of town across the river heading towards Astoria was awesome, very very few cars, and fantastic views.
The downside that I noticed is there was glass everywhere on the roads, it seemed like I was constantly dodging glass on the shoulder.
The downside that I noticed is there was glass everywhere on the roads, it seemed like I was constantly dodging glass on the shoulder.
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08-17-09, 09:26 PM
#61
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08-17-09, 10:26 PM
#62
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I lived there for a few years, it is everything you say and so much more. you possibly even missed the best part, https://www.zoobomb.net/ ... keep portland weird.
08-17-09, 10:30 PM
#63
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Man some people get super defensive about portland getting props, hilarious really. C'mon it's the northwest it's gonna rain a lot, but that being said i love PDX, and it really is the ****...
08-17-09, 10:55 PM
#64
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IIRC, we went up SW Cedar Hills to SW Barnes/W Burnside, then over to Skyline.
Later once I got my legs and lungs up to speed I decided to go up the South side to Skyline by way of NW Helvetia Rd and UP NW Logie Trail/NW Johnson Rd. I have no clue as to what the grade was at the beginning of LT (where it started off of Helvetia), but it was killer....
Later once I got my legs and lungs up to speed I decided to go up the South side to Skyline by way of NW Helvetia Rd and UP NW Logie Trail/NW Johnson Rd. I have no clue as to what the grade was at the beginning of LT (where it started off of Helvetia), but it was killer....
That's one of my regular routes as I live ~3 miles away. That first section is about 8%. Up the road a bit, it goes to ~12%. There's a bunch of different skyline rides with similar climbs. My bikes have low gears.
08-18-09, 01:46 AM
#66
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08-18-09, 08:24 AM
#68
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obra3: Just last week. I think there were maybe 25-30 riders.
Although I should amend my post to admit there was some yelling, but from the women. The 1/2/3 peleton caught the women at the top of the course (clockwise) and it seems the back end of our group squeezed the women on the hard right. In our defense, they didn't neutralize. We got pulled over and warned and then released back on to the track to finish 3 more laps.
Although I should amend my post to admit there was some yelling, but from the women. The 1/2/3 peleton caught the women at the top of the course (clockwise) and it seems the back end of our group squeezed the women on the hard right. In our defense, they didn't neutralize. We got pulled over and warned and then released back on to the track to finish 3 more laps.
Largest field I've seen at PIR was about 100 I think- earlier this year.
08-18-09, 09:08 AM
#69
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08-18-09, 09:17 AM
#70
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Hidden Springs Road is actually in West Linn. It is steep although I don't know the percentage grade. In Lake Oswego Overlook Drive is very steep. It makes me cry every time I climb it.
08-18-09, 09:53 AM
#72
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Yea, Laurelwood is signed 18%. I think there are some sections which go up past that on the hill. Myself, being a somewhat mediocre climber, have never actually climbed this particular road even though it's a mile from my house. I regularly do hill intervals up Bald Peak Rd though. From the bottom of the hill to the top on the north end of the road it's a pretty good ~12 minute climb at full speed, average gradient of about 8% with some pitches up to probably 12% give or take. Three of those with ~7min rest between (to go back down the hill) and then go home. Makes for a good ~1hr FTP workout.
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08-18-09, 10:09 AM
#73
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Portland is a great place to ride. Just takes a little bit to find good routes. Cross season is almost here and the Cross Crusade madness begins again, can't wait.
I did the mens 4/5 race that night, my first one. Great place to race. I was there again for #2 last night and wondered what had happened. We neutralized when the 123 men passed us. When we passed the ladies they kept to the inside of the track. Great race, I just wish I could sprint....
I live in West Linn. I ride up a little hill called Marylhurst Drive, all the way to the top, to finish off most of my rides. Marylhurst is one light North of Hidden Springs. The other great West Linn climb is off Johnson Road, take Woodbine up either straight up Wisteria or Loop up Grapevine. Turner Road to Petes Mt. should get a mention and the free ferry ride across the Willamette to Canby. Great riding out in Canby, nice path through town and Mulino Road to Central Point. Nice.
obra3: Just last week. I think there were maybe 25-30 riders.
Although I should amend my post to admit there was some yelling, but from the women. The 1/2/3 peleton caught the women at the top of the course (clockwise) and it seems the back end of our group squeezed the women on the hard right. In our defense, they didn't neutralize. We got pulled over and warned and then released back on to the track to finish 3 more laps.
Although I should amend my post to admit there was some yelling, but from the women. The 1/2/3 peleton caught the women at the top of the course (clockwise) and it seems the back end of our group squeezed the women on the hard right. In our defense, they didn't neutralize. We got pulled over and warned and then released back on to the track to finish 3 more laps.
I live in West Linn. I ride up a little hill called Marylhurst Drive, all the way to the top, to finish off most of my rides. Marylhurst is one light North of Hidden Springs. The other great West Linn climb is off Johnson Road, take Woodbine up either straight up Wisteria or Loop up Grapevine. Turner Road to Petes Mt. should get a mention and the free ferry ride across the Willamette to Canby. Great riding out in Canby, nice path through town and Mulino Road to Central Point. Nice.
08-18-09, 11:42 AM
#74
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I live in West Linn. I ride up a little hill called Marylhurst Drive, all the way to the top, to finish off most of my rides. Marylhurst is one light North of Hidden Springs. The other great West Linn climb is off Johnson Road, take Woodbine up either straight up Wisteria or Loop up Grapevine. Turner Road to Petes Mt. should get a mention and the free ferry ride across the Willamette to Canby. Great riding out in Canby, nice path through town and Mulino Road to Central Point. Nice.
