HWY 242 Bike Ride 2010

I love to ride my bicycle.

McKenzie River Ride.

Okay, you want to go on a tough bike ride that takes you to some of the most beautiful scenery in the state, we’ve got the ride for you. Before you go, stop by Hideaway Bakery, behind Mazzi’s, and buy their fig rolls. Cut them in half, put peanut butter and jelly on them and you’ve got your lunch.

If you go before Wednesday, you won’t have to deal with traffic. The road is closed for the winter and opens mid to late June. Cyclists know this and when the snow melts, head to the top, to the Dee Wright Observatory. It’s a 50-mile ride and it’s tough. 5200 feet of climbing. It’s one of the greatest rides Kathy and I have ever done.

242 is the old the old McKenzie River Hwy. It’s curvy, it’s beautiful and it’s great.

We start at the McKenzie River Ranger Station and ride up. You only have to ride a couple of miles on HWY 126. You ride about 11 miles up to the gate and then you are free. Take lots of water, you don’t need a map because there are no turns. We have had riders run into bear before. (Not literally run into bear but saw one). The ride is 5o miles but half of that is downhill. Still plan to burn about 2500 calories on your adventure (and that means lots of food later). We don’t just ride, we look and it took us about 4 hours. As you can see, Kathy and I stop off at
Takoda’s Pizza place on the way down, have a couple of diet Pepsi’s (I know it’s bad for you but after 50 miles who cares) and then we head home for burrito’s, beer and a movie.

2 Comments

• 
  Momtism June 29, 2010 at 7:34 pm

  OK, I'm homesick now! I miss 242. That's where I learned to corner on my motorcycle. Much respect to you for doing it on a bicycle! We used to go up to “The Castle” with sleeping bags and spend the night in the Summer… on a clear night, it felt like being in the middle of the Milkyway! The stars looked like they had been painted across the sky. I loved the ride from Eugene to Sisters; then Belknap Springs on the way back… way before Belknap was a fancy lodge. Thanks for the pictures… I was finally able to show my daughter the “castle” I've told her about all these years.
• 
  Momtism June 29, 2010 at 9:34 pm

  OK, I'm homesick now! I miss 242. That's where I learned to corner on my motorcycle. Much respect to you for doing it on a bicycle! We used to go up to “The Castle” with sleeping bags and spend the night in the Summer… on a clear night, it felt like being in the middle of the Milkyway! The stars looked like they had been painted across the sky. I loved the ride from Eugene to Sisters; then Belknap Springs on the way back… way before Belknap was a fancy lodge. Thanks for the pictures… I was finally able to show my daughter the “castle” I've told her about all these years.