Old West Scenic Bikeway

Ride Summary

Experience

* I didn’t feel much like riding, and worried I wouldn’t make it “all the way”. Like usual, I underestimated myself and did just fine. Eventually I relaxed enough to enjoy the scenery.

Weather

* W
arm and sunny

Spotted

* A few other cyclists on the road, all going the other way, all looking like they’ve been bikepacking for a very long time.

Roads

* Delightful. There could have been more shoulder considering this was a “scenic bikeway” with fast moving trucks, but it was fine.

Mechanicals

* None

Nothing but Tailwind

Ride Summary

Experience

• I felt so tired and out of shape. But the wind pushed me along this flat (downhill, actually!) one way track. I had to dig deep at the very end, repeating my pedal mantra for an hour. It hurt my ego and helped my ego all the same.
  

Weather

• Warm and sunny

• Wind at my back the whole time.

Spotted

• A new style or urban, secured sharps disposal container

Roads

• Wow- there are so many more bike paths in Salem than I imagined!

• Smooth, well maintained- Oregon still hasn’t let me down.

Mechanicals

• None

Planning Ahead: The Scenic Bikeways of Central Oregon

I think it would be super fun to stay in Sisters or Sunriver and enjoy some of the Scenic Bikeways of Central Oregon. The first on the list is McKenzie Pass, 38 miles one-way, which I think would be best enjoyed as the first ride of the adventure.

Sisters to Smith Rock might pose as a fun add on to a one-way McKenzie Pass ride, or a fun loop on it’s own right. Twin Bridges Loop is 36 miles total and makes for a perfect day trip. Madras Mountain Loop is also another perfect 29-mile day trip. Can’t go wrong!

There is also Crooked River Canyon, a 36-mile round trip scenic ride that would be fun as a day trip.

Planning Ahead: Old West Scenic Bikeway

I’m super excited to ride the Old West Scenic Bikeway and the I plan to camp at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Area and bike from there! I’ll bike through the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Bates State Park, and the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site. More planning to come!

Planning Ahead: Willamette Valley Oregon Scenic Bikeway

I’m starting to plan my 2021 biking goals. I want to try my hand at a solo-week long bike camping tour….annnd maybe even two. A goal like this is ambitious and requires training. One of the rides I’m looking at is the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. I already rode on every stretch of this bikeway, and many of them several times. However, my route always happened to be planned for other reasons, and I never paid specific attention to the Bikeway itself. I’d like to ride this bikeway, for the sake of the Bikeway in nothing else. I’m in the early stages of planning, but this might be a 2 or 3 night trip (134 or 174 miles, depending on route), and might involve me sleeping in a tent or in at BnB or motel. More planning to come.

Camping Spot Ideas:

Bicycle Boater Campground