Once again folks managed to get Raptured in the coast range without getting sucked off into the heavens.  In my estimation is was a great day, but I was more concerned with people getting lost or hurt than anything else.  I had one particular moment of panic when I saw a helicopter heading into the range – thank god they were just spraying the riders down with toxic chemicals and not rescuing anyone.  The only big bummer of the day was floating the keg before it even got dark.  2 kegs next year, 2 kegs…

As far as the results go, we might as well just re-post the results from last year.  Nelson managed to crush everyone again, and made it look easy.  To beat Justin, the next fastest rider, by over 40 minutes in a 5 hour ride is just insane.   It’s a good thing Nelson’s such a nice guy, or people would probably start hating him.  We’ll see how the Stampede goes, he hasn’t dominated there as he’s done at the Rapture.   Hopefully someone can give him a run for his money – he doesn’t need a third spur, does he?  Full Rapture results here.

We’d like to thank everyone who came out.  We always appreciate how respectful everyone is, enjoy meeting and bullshitting with everyone, and we’re glad everyone had a good time.  We also need to thank our sponsors, 21st Avenue Bikes and Cream of the Gods.  They make it possible to put these events on for you, so you can always show your thanks by buying stuff from them.  And thanks to Gabe for bringing out the pinata so we could celebrate cinco de mayo in style.

One other side note – while adding last minute riders wasn’t a big deal for the Rapture, for lots of reasons it’s not possible for the Stampede.  The Stampede is full and we have a significant waiting list.  If you really want to ride, drop me an email and I’ll add you to the wait list.  Odds aren’t good of getting a chance to ride this year.  Thanks for respecting the hard work we put into these events and helping us keep the ride viable.  If we get shut down because too many people show up, that’s the end of that…

I’ll post links to photos and write-ups as I get them, or just add them to the comments below.  In the meantime, here’s a few photos taken by Tekla and Gabe (more of Gabe’s at this link).

• Bicycle Kitty’s writeup
• Drew Devereux’s writeup
• Gabe’s Photos

(c) Tekla

For those of you who’ve never seen him – the legend himself, Nelson:

(c) Gabriel Amadeus (more photos here)

Got a new toy in the mail recently – all the way from Canada!   After a lot of hemming and hawing, I decided to give the Salsa Anything Cage a chance, combining it with Porcelain Rocket’s new Anything Bags.  It’s a cool combination, and I am hoping to use this setup to increase my carrying capacity for longer multi-day trips when there are long distances between services (e.g. OBCDR).

I’ll do a complete review once I get some miles on them, but here are my initial impressions:

• I wouldn’t buy two again.  If you’re rolling with a frame bag and two of these, you’d only have room for one water bottle on the downtube.  I never ride with a camelback setup, so this leaves me with almost no water carrying capacity.  I’ll definitely roll with one, but I doubt I’ll ever use both of them at the same time.

• I wish the opening of the bag was flared.  I had a hard time packing them because the opening is the same size as the bag, which is on the small/narrow size.  I have small-ish hands – big hands will make this hard to stuff properly.

• Quality looks really good – we’ll see how they hold up.   I’ve never used any PR stuff before, and I suspect they’ll take a beating in that location.

• On the spendy side – $75 for two bags plus $15 shipping = $45/bag.  The cages are another $20/each.  It’s a lot to pay ($130 total) for just a bit more carrying capacity.  I also noticed the bags are now listed at $100 on the PR website.

Looking forward to another great summer of exploring on the bike…

Proving the prognosticators wrong, it appears we’ll all be around to celebrate another running of the Rapture route in 2012.  Personally, I wish the real rapture had happened – I would have liked to see all the zealous jeesus-types disappear giving us free reign to fuck shit up for a few months before we all went to hell.  Since that didn’t happen, we might as well run another version of the Rapture through the coast range.  Expect more-o-the-same as last year.

PLEASE NOTE – this ride is NOT for the faint of heart.  And not because it’s a long, hard route.  This route travels through remote areas of the coast range and any mechanical or injury will be serious.  And if you get lost – you’re fucked.  No two ways about that – this ain’t no Dalles Mountain ride.

Before we get into the remaining details, let me tell you what this is NOT.   Due to the vagaries of the folks who own these roads, bike races are not allowed in this portion of the coast range.  However – individuals are allowed to ride bikes as they please.  Therefore,  in order to avoid raising the ire of the “man”, this is not a race.  This is not a group ride. This is not a bike event.  You get what I’m saying?  This is nothing but a gathering of like-minded folks who like to ride bikes and drink beer, each of whom will go on their own individual ride into the coast range.  You may just happen to be starting and finishing at the same place, and likely riding the same route.  We will give out maps and cue sheets of a particular ride we like to do – you can choose to follow it or not…

Because this is NOT a bike race, there are some things you should know should you choose to ride.  You are riding as an individual.  That means YOU are responsible for YOU.  No one else is responsible for you – especially not us.  If you choose to go riding, you should also be aware of the following:

• The route is very remote and the majority of these roads are blocked to vehicle traffic so don’t rely on a rescue.  There is no easy way out of the coast range.
• There are no services en route.  This means you are carrying all your food for your ride.
• There is potable water available at one location, at ~23 miles.  Beyond this you will need to either carry all your water or plan on bringing iodine tablets or a small water filter – there are numerous creeks and rivers en route.
• There is no support available whatsoever – if your bike breaks down you need to be able to fix it.  Remember you are responsible for yourself – this is an individual ride after all – so you cannot rely on another rider to bail you out.  We have neither the desire nor the ability to save your ass if something goes wrong.
• You will need an accurate bike computer or a GPS to follow the cue sheet.  We highly recommend a GPS.  We will have a downloadable GPS file of the route available.
• Optional items:  lights, compass, spare tire, good navigation skills, cell phone (there is likely no service available en route), SPOT transceiver.

Details:

• When:  May 5, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
• Where:  Super secret location near Yamhill, Oregon
• Bike-ing:  70 miles, 95% dirt, 7,000+ ft of climbing
• Beer-ing:  As always, there’ll be a keg-o-beer for all your drinking pleasures
• Camping:  Camping is available the night before and the night of – May 4 & 5.  Camping is $17 per site, per night – limited to one family or 4 individuals.  More details on camping when you register.
• You can read more about the route and last year’s edition here.

Registration is MANDATORY this year.  Sucks, I know – especially for me…  We’re restricted to hosting 100 people – so if we get over 100 people signed up, we’ll do as we did for the Stampede – you’re automatically in if you rode last year, rest of you get waitlisted.  You’ll get a registration confirmation email with lots more details after you sign up.

Registration will only be open until midnight April 20, 2012.

Pros:

• Fits perfectly under a bike helmet
• Fit is ideal, not too tight, not too loose
• Good ear coverage
• Small, packs away easily
• Reasonably priced at $18
• NWAlpine = PDX company
• Hand made in Oregon

Cons:

• Kinda ugly on it’s own
• Having to pay a homeless guy $20 to pose for the above photo

Alpine climbing?  What does that have to do with riding bikes?   If you’re like me, you’ve always had trouble finding stocking caps that fit well under a helmet AND keep you warm.  That’s where NW Alpine comes in – they designed the Helmut Hat to fit perfectly under a climbing helmet.  Not only does it do that really well, it does double duty by fitting perfectly under a biking helmet.

I hate hats that constrict my brain, this one doesn’t, while still staying snug around my lid without bunching or binding.  I’ve never found a better fitting under-the-helmet-hat before.  It’s small enough that I almost always toss it in my jersey or frame bag just in case.  It’s great for winter riding and dries out quickly as well.  The only downside is that it’s not a terribly attractive hat on its own, although Tyler looks pretty hot in the below photo.

Another big upside if you’re into buying local is that they are hand sewn in the Portland metro area.  Only available online at NWAlpine.com.

*Photo courtesy of NWAlpine’s website

• 29 miles (58 if you start in Tillamook)
• 4000 ft elevation gain
• 95% dirt
• Start/End:  Trask River County Park (near Tillamook)
• Services:  None
• GPS route; Mapped Route
• Tires:  1.9″ optimal; 32c do-able
• Map:  Tillamook State Forest Map

For those of you interested in the Rapture route, here’s a good introductory ride to give you a flavor for the riding in the Coast Range.  The big down side to this route is that it starts on the other side of the range from Portland, near Tillamook.  The upside is that this route encompasses some of the best riding I’ve found in the range, all within a manageable distance.  Just note the elevation gain – and know that it starts right off the bat with grades into the high teens.  It’s a bitch, but once you’ve suffered up the first couple miles of Toll Road the grade settles down.

Unless you’re familiar with this area of the Coast Range, I’d recommend using a GPS.  There are many unmarked turns, and several non-obvious ones.  I’d also recommend taking the giant Tillamook State Forest Map and keeping track of where you are along the way.  Several sections of the route overlap the Rapture route, so if you’ve ridden that, some of this might look familiar to you.  I posted a highlighted map above, for whatever good that might do you.

Park at the Trask River County Park (water and toilets), and look for the uphill turn onto dirt on your left less than a mile further down the paved road.  The initial riding is on the Trask Toll Road (aka Toll Road, aka Old Toll Road), which is occasionally marked with blue posts marked “TTR”   Beyond that, you’re mostly on your own.  Keep in mind that Murphy Camp is a 6 road intersection that can be confusing.  You’ll pass through it twice, making a lopsided figure-8 on the route.  I only shot a few photos, as I rode this solo while finishing up the route and cue sheet for the Rapture.

Hard to see, but there’s a black “TTR” on this blue post:

If you rode the Rapture, you might recognize the gate.  This time you’ll be riding in the opposite direction:

Looping back on the Flora Mainline:

Keep an eye out for Tanner…

Another landmark from the Rapture route – this time you’re riding in the same direction:

Good luck, have fun, and email with questions.

Pros:

• Great neoprene cuffs & long sleeves
• Durable waterproof zipper
• Lightweight and packs down well
• Optional hood for really shitty weather
• Long cut in the back

Cons:

• Serious durability issues – see description & photos below
• Given my issues, not worth $125 price tag

I know Wes gave Showers Pass an upstanding review of their Club pants, but I can’t say the same for my Double Century Jacket.  I bought this jacket for my big Alaska trip in 2010 and it performed better than expected on that trip.  It was waterproof, lightweight and the hood was stellar during long, wet and cold descents.  At the time I couldn’t have been happier with my purchase.  Unfortunately, it just hasn’t held up well and I no longer feel compelled to say anything nice about it.

As you can see in the below photos, many of the taped seams have come apart, especially around the collar and shoulders.  There’s also stitching coming apart in the shoulders.  This jacket is no longer even remotely waterproof and now simply serves duty as a glorified windbreaker.  It’s really too bad, because I prefer lightweight waterproof jackets and really liked being able to stuff it away easily when not in use.  It had great potential too – the sleeves were long enough and I love the neoprene cuffs.

While I am typically hard on gear, this jacket has not seen particularly heavy use and it started falling apart long before it should have.  If they were cheaper, I’d forgive them and likely buy another one.  But I’m not spending another $125 on a jacket that’ll only last 6 months and I’m not willing to upgrade to one of their beefier jackets given the obvious quality issues.  It’s really too bad, because I love to cheer for the local boys.

Searching the internet for a clever title for this post related to the number three – this being the third running of the Dalles Mountain 60 – I ran across a Wiccan reference to the “Rule of Three”.  According to Wiccan lore, whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three fold.   Like karma, but on a grander scale.  Given the day I had yesterday, I think the reference is apropos.  Thanks everyone for an amazing day of bikes, beer and bullshitting.

We had a crazy turnout yesterday (~120 riders??) for what turned out to be near perfect springtime weather.  Although a few of us got shut down trying to access the Maryhill Loops, it sounds like everyone had a great day.  It was also really cool to see a lot of new faces and the chance to meet quite a few of you.  We’ve come a long way in two short years, and we’d really like to thank everyone for the support you’ve shown us – thanks for coming out!

I only snapped a few crappy photos during the ride.  If you’ve got photos or writeups or whatever and don’t mind sharing, please feel free to add them to the comments below.

Crashes and busted rims…

And because no good deed goes unpunished, here’s a photo of my car after getting rammed from behind on the interstate going 65 mph by some crazy dude.  It was the sole black mark on what was otherwise an amazing day.  Fortunately, we survived intact.

60 Miles
3,300 ft elevation gain, both major climbs on dirt
~30% dirt
Start/End: The Dalles, OR

9:00 a.m., Saturday March 10, 2012

Route map & GPS data

Route description

Cue Sheet

Details:

• This is a fully unsupported ride – you’re completely on your own.  All we’re providing is a cue sheet of a route we like, you can decide whether you want to follow it or not…  But don’t expect any support, sag wagon, etc. – there is none.
• This is a good introductory ride if you’re interested in getting into off-road, dirt and gravel riding.
• Most folks ride road bikes, although almost any type of bike will suffice.  The climbs are dirt/gravel, but there’s a lot of pavement in between.
• Same start/finish place as last year:  Holsteins Coffee Company, in The Dalles, OR.  Please park on the street – NOT in their lot.  There are plenty of all-day spaces on the street in downtown.
• The only commercial services along the route are in Biggs, OR.  This is a little over halfway through the route, so plan accordingly.
• Download the cue sheet here.  Please note – we will NOT be bringing copies of the cue sheet this year – print and bring your own.
• IMPORTANT:  The cue sheet routes you through the Maryhill Loops.  The access point is private property and may be trespassing, so access at your own risk.  The road itself is also private property and was unexpectedly closed when we rode it last year while they filmed a car commercial.  We likely won’t know in advance if it’s closed again.  For an alternative route, consult the cue sheet.

• 42 miles
• ~5,000 ft elevation gain
• 50% dirt
• Start/End:  Mosier
• Services:  Mosier, The Dalles
• Online Map
• Tires: 35c optimal; 28c do-able
• Map: DeLorme Gazetteer

Third time was the charm on this route as it took that many tries to find a legitimate way to link Ketchum Road with The Dalles.  I’d recommend starting at 10-Speed Coffee in Mosier (great coffee & food).  Head up and out of town on Mosier Creek (paved).  The dirt starts as you take a left turn across the bridge just past the “Pavement Ends” sign.  A sharp left turn onto Digger Grade begins the real climbing, which doesn’t let up until just before Vensel intersects with Ketchum.  Great dirt and great views on all of these well-marked roads.  Road conditions steadily deteriorate on Ketchum and are in pretty rough shape up near the far point with variable snow and mud (as of 2-20-12).

The steep descent down to Mill Creek is currently not ride-able (as of 2-20-12).  Most of it is either 15+% goat-heads or under several feet of snow.  But it’s only 1.5 miles of downhill and worth the walk.  The hardest route finding will be finding the left turn onto this “road”.  Look for the power lines crossing Ketchum at ~14.5 miles, with a steep, rocky road curling downhill from there (stay right at the split just after the initial steep section).  I ignored the “no trespassing” signs, as I believe they don’t apply to the road, just the area OFF the road.  You can make your own call on this…

Upper Mill Creek is dirt, Mill Creek is paved.  Both combine to make for a nice, enjoyable descent down into the Dalles where you get to decide how to get home.  Three options from here in easiest to hardest order:  1) US-30 historic highway (all pavement); 2) Seven Mile (paved) to Dry Creek (good dirt); 3) Chenoweth Creek (dirt) to Vensel (the way you came up).  Note: there’s a ~1,200 ft difference in elevation gain from easiest to hardest, and know that all three have their own special charm – there is no wrong choice.

I rolled with the Fargo (1.9″), but you could easily get away with 28c or 32c tires, depending on your tolerance for skinny tires on gravel.  It’ll suck on the upper part of Ketchum and the steep descent down to Mill Creek, but it’s not really worth going super fat for 3-4 miles of riding.

Mosier Creek:

Left turn to stay on Mosier Creek: