surveyors ridge : bicycles can save the world

A couple short ride reports

Not full reports as I’m not feeling too verbose as I’m a) overheating and b) busy as a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest, but wanted to post a couple short ride routes and quickly edited video from Surveyor’s Ridge. Still playing with the GoAm, I need to rig up a new mount, not feeling the handlebar perspective. Also not sure why this one came out pixelated as it’s the same quality level I saved it as last time from iMovie. Kinks:still not worked out.

The wildflowers are in full bloom in the Northwest so get out there!

Did this one a few times the past week. I’m calling this ride the lunch loop from here on out as it’s a short ride and a good midday pick me up.

You can see three (or four?) volcanoes from one part of the Lunch Loop. The Pacific Northwest is undisputedly the greatest place in the world in the summer. Also, the iPhone camera is undisputedly the most overhyped camera ever. Those blurry white lumps in the distance are (from left to right) Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and the bottom pic is Mt. Hood.

Even though it’s 90 out there are muddy spots on the Lunch Loop. Note that if you lose your rear wheel traction around a muddy corner and body slam yourself into a blackberry bush that it WILL suck.

A short section of Surveyor’s Ridge. Ride was with WSMB so ride was about half as long as hoped.

Messing around with the GoAm. This video makes it painfully obvious that I’m a terror on two wheels and am turning down sponsors right and left so that I can keep living this rebel lifestyle. However, you can still offer up free bikes and gear, maybe JUUUUST maybe I’ll say yes to the right people.

Untitled from Justin H on Vimeo.

Ride Report: Surveyor’s Ridge

Distance: Not far, a leisurely 10 miles

Weather: Sunny with an intermittent cloud early. Halfway point saw the wind kick up to where the clouds were moving so fast it looked like riding in a time lapse video.

Short summary: After last weekend’s attempt at finding a different trail resulted in almost running out of gas and turning tail to limp back to fuel up felt good to get on the trail. Wildflowers starting to bloom – seriously can you beat the Northwest at this time of year? Terrain started to change about halfway in from definitely western to hinting at eastern Cascades. Sign at the trailhead said recent bear sighting, but as it was gay pride parade day in Portland I figured any bears would be in the city. Good short ride that I’d do again if I had more time to go further.

The up: There wasn’t a ton of challenging uphill here, was mostly rolling terrain and gentle elevation changes. A couple rocky sections that resulted in getting off and pushing the bike through due to ridiculous pedalstrikes and riding Han Solo styley – didn’t want to break myself off with no one around.

The down: After a time check and turnaround the downhill was more apparent than the uphill – didn’t have to pedal much thru large sections of trail. Scenery went from wide open vistas and sidehill traverses to forested singletrack and back again. Great views of Mt. Hood. With the wind kicking up a lenticular cloud was starting to form over the peak. Had a nice pedalstrike on a rock around a corner kick me off the bike. Fortunately kicked me off to the right and not the left as it would have been a bit of a downhill roll otherwise!