Monday, October 3, 2011

The ULTIMATE Folding Trike!

OK, Via the infamous bentrideronline site, I have fallen in love with what appears to be the next evolution of the folding trike.

Evolve Trikes has built what appears to be the niftiest folding trike in the universe. One of the major concerns and comments I get with out current trike stable is, "how do you carry those around?" Evolve Trikes seems to be solving that problem.

Check out the video below of this trike folding in record time and being placed into the back of a SMART CAR! Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie one!!! Sadly this trike is not in production yet, but I am really hoping it makes the leap soon - this one is a must have for a family of trike riders.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Cleanup Complete - The Wait Begins Again

Finally got done with the complete trike cleanup from Cycle Oregon. Just in time for riding in the Portland fall rain - HA!

New countdown timer up - 128 days until the announcement of the 2012 route! With rumors afloat of "the most climbing ever" it will be interesting to see:

1. If that hold to be true, and
2. How that affects the sellout time

Well, I don't plan on sitting on the laurels. Ill be there when they announce - and try to sneak a registration form from the table to start filling out as the route is announced.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Going Coastal - On a Trike!

Final cut of our 2011 Cycle Oregon video. Enjoy! Click on the "HD" to go to Vimeo to see it in a clearer HD presentation.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Post Cycle Oregon

Well, after a few days of recovery, and having laundry everywhere, tent and rainfly and groundcloth strewn about drying, cleaning sleeping bags, etc... I can't wait to do it again!

The rumor is that 2012 will see some epic epic epic climbs - well they all have epic climbs so I am not too sure what to make of that. Either way - bring it on!

Putting final touches on the 2011 Week Ride video - post to follow in the next few days. Until then here are a handful of pictures from the week:





















Sunday, September 18, 2011

Day 7 - Back to Sutherlin

And here we are - the end of 2011 Cycle Oregon. It's hard to believe that this is the last day. Today we a relatively easy cruise with a few short and crazy steep grinds - thrown in as a reminder of what has come before. Cruising into the finish is always hard. On one had it is a relief that its all over. On the other the sadness really starts to set in that until 2012, this is it.

 Bidding farewell to the final camp in Riddle.

A quick AM stop at the local grocery is always a must do.

rolling past piles of logs - the sustenance of these small towns.

Every time you say to yourself "I have seen it all!" on Cycle Oregon, you will be proven wrong.

Complete calm.


Bike art along the road into Sutherlin.

Crossing the finish. What a great year and already looking forward to what 2012 brings!

Day 6 - The Epic Climb

Here it is. The day everyone was talking about. After all was said and done though, it turned out to be one of the best days of the week. Yes it was slow. But the scenery and serene quality of being out on this day's epic journey was too awesome to deny. The last half of the day was nothing but a great cruise down some incredible downhills with a smooth flow into Riddle.

 When the day is going to be this beautiful and quiet how can you go wrong?

 Gear drop humor is the best.

 Nearing the top of the climb. In surroundings like these it's amazing how you forget about the time.

 When at the peak, a trike squat is a must do.

Before taking in the rapid downhills, a bit of roadside relaxation can be just what you need.

On the smooth and winding path to Riddle.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Day 5 - Cruise control into Powers

All that can be said for today is this - if ever a route were set for a recumbent - trike or not - this is it. Mild rollers ruled allowing for an amazing maintenance of speed the entire way. Along the way we rolled along grassy meadows and in between tree covered mountains dotting the sky. The morning started out a bit misty, but that only made the scenery more serene and incredible. And as always, the welcome at the finish line put on by the residents of Powers did not disappoint.






When the scenery is this awesome you simply must stop to soak it all in. If you don't then you really are missing the point.






Speeding along to Powers - I spied with my little eye a fellow trike rider passing by!






Fresh coffee brewed at rest stop # 1 straight off the coffee cycle? Yes!!!!






Scenes from just off the road on Cycle Oregon.






Fresh strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and fruit of all kind greeted riders at the final rest stop. Served with a smile by a ton of amazing volunteers while Jhonny Cash blasted in the background. Awesome. Didn't stop at the last rest stop (only seven miles from camp in Powers) because you were in too much a rush? Ohhhhhhhhhh...






Camp in Powers. Pristine as it gets. If you spy the ideal campsites in the distance you win.

Day 4 - Picture perfect layover in Bandon

Today offered up a chance to rest and relax in Bandon or do the optional out and back along highway 101. We opted to stay in town and see what Bandon had to offer. We were not disappointed.

What an incredible little town with an amazing boardwalk, art galore, and some of the best seafood around. This is to say nothing of the
Beach in Bandon, which is breathtaking to say the least. Having been to Canon Beach several times I have to say - if you think you have seen awesome then you need to make a trip to Bandon.




Camp in Bandon. Very close to the massage tent, which can be very handy.





"Year of the rabbit" artwork along the Boardwalk in Bandon.





Bandon beach = all kinds of epic awesomeness.





Hidden coves and treasures abound at Bandon beach.





When this many cyclists show up to the Crab Shack it is time to fire up the fish and chips pronto!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Day 3 - On the roller coaster road to Bandon

Day three. This is typically the day where you wonder what the heck you signed up for. Today however, even with a wet wet wet AM of the typical Oregon coast, was an epic ride. After an early camp tear down, we headed out along highway 101. After many a mile of face blasting mist from passing logging trucks, etc, the air cleared a bit and the rest of the day was a roller coaster treat on the way to Bandon.





Stopping for local fare is one of the great treats of Cycle Oregon. When else can you ride, ride, ride and pull off at the Fisherman's Grotto? Well, we decided to sample some seafood in Carleston Oregon for lunch and it did not disappoint.





After lunch we hit the seven devils. These hills lived up. To their reputation - some stiff climbing awaited us! We ticked them off one at a time though until the last devil was conquered.





After a cruise into Bandon, we were greeted with the usual small town welcome. After setting up camp we checked out the town for some dinner and a bit of fudge from the local candy shop. What a place. yes this will be a great place for the layover day.




Day 2 - Loooooooong

A bit delayed on the day 2 post. That's what happens when it's a 90 mile day with a lot of elevation gain and you linger too long at the rest stops. And have to deal with flats. And stop a lot to take pictures...

Still it was a great day. Killer downhills. Steady climbs. The road wound through. The forest for nearly the entire time. At one point we were quite alone on the road and we simply stopped riding to listen to...nothing. Complete silence. Simply a day that, if not for being on Cycle Oregon, we would never have had. Awesome.





Flying through the trees on a trike - an experience that has to be had to be appreciated.





No gas here. None needed on this trip!