AZ Randy

My wife and I are considering riding the coast of Oregon this coming summer on our tandem. Need your impressions of the roads (safety,conjestion,etc.) if you have done this portion of the N/W coastline. How about a tour group? We have rode with Cycle America before and were very pleased.

mntbikedude

My son and I rode the entire Oregon coast a year ago. It was perhaps one of my most excellent adventures ever. The entire coast is designated as a bike route. The shoulders are wide enough in most places and the tunnels have lights alerting vehicles that bikes are in the tunnel. The traffic moves at reasonable pace. And I felt safe.

There are hiker/biker campsites every 20 to 40 miles. And they are pure magic. You are always guaranteed a space. The Oregon dept of transportation have two maps available with details of elevation, the best routes thru towns and what campgrounds are coming up. The lady from ODOT was awesome. She sent us all of the maps free of charge. Midway thru the trip we lost the one map and she helped us locate one in the town we were in.

Oregon is geared up for bikers, they even have enclosed stalls you can lock your bike and gear in at major tourist attractions.

The people in Oregon treated us just so well, most of the time I was just in awe of the experience. We camped most of the time. Before we went we considered going with a tour group. I AM SO GLAD that we did'nt do that. It was so much more fun going on our own. At the end I just wasn't ready for it to be over.



This upcoming summer we are planning on doing it again. Perhaps from Canada this time.

In closing I can't recommend it enough. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I love to talk about biking the Oregon Coast.



This upcoming summer we are planning on doing it again. Perhaps from Canada this time.

In closing I can't recommend it enough. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I love to talk about biking the Oregon Coast.


MBD
Here's the link to ODOT
https://www.odot.state.or.us/techserv...lk/ocbrold.htm

Roughstuff

Its been a while but you would be hard pressed to pick a nicer place to debut. Riding SOUTH, the wind will be moderately at your back and the ocean just on your right hand side beyond a narrow shoulder. There are zillions of state parks and camping areas, many with hiker/biker lower cost campsites. Cafes are great places for breakfast.

Weatherwise I think the rain and cloudiness becomes progressively less of a problem as June fades into July.

The road is narrow and their are steep hills in many places. Most tunnels are marked with flashing 'cyclist in tunnel' buttons you can push. Low gears for the steep but brief climbs would be very helpful. Get a helmet mounted rear view mirror and you'll have no problem with the traffic.

I would recommend you tour on your own. There are numerous facilities and bike shops along the way that can take care of any problems you have. Tour groups just isolate you from the warm and courteous locals.

South of Coos Bay the countryside gets more rural and spread out. All along the way the coast ranges beckon and there are many many scenic roads that cross over the range into the Willamette valley fifty miles further east. The road in from Waldport goes by Mary's Peak, the highest knob of the range. You'll find less traffic on this road than Rt20 in from Newport; and its more attractive than the road that leads in from the coast to Eugene. Let me know is the "glide" (or is it "Slide?") campsite is still there: I camped one night and swear it was haunted.

Further south there is now a (paved?) or improved road along the Rogue River that goes up towards Agness and the Kalmiopsis wilderness.

Good luck.


roughstuff

catfish

I've been up and down the PCH a few times. oregon is very nice scenic and the roads for the most part are very good for cyclists. most of the way there is a shoulder in good enough condition Oregoin has a budget for cycling lanes However there were a few stretches of less than desireable miles and a couple of narrow bridges you must use caution allways. Some loging trucks but Rv drivers are more of a problem some of theses Rv's are 40 ft long and towing a car behind Thes drivers do not need any training or special liscense to operate them some are very good drivers and some have no clue.

Places to camp are many, the parks have hiker biker sites very reasonable and no reservation required showers for 25 cents. Cheap motels along the way too.
have a great trip
catfish

ollo_ollo

Weathrwise, the most likely time for sunny/dry weather is the last two weeks of July through the first two weeks of August but there can be a few days of wet weather anytime throughout the Summer. Don

AZ Randy

I think our minds are set now with the information we received. Thank You all for the great insight, and we plan to tour on our own for 2 weeks, southbound from the Washington/Oregon border.