A group of (5) of us road-tripped it 15 hours up to Bend to do a (3) day tour with Cog Wild MTB tours on the McKenzie River Trail. We did 60+ miles over the 3 days. Besides MRT, we rode King's Castle and O'Learys. MRT was Noble Canyon'ish but much more lush with alot of water crossings. King's Castle was a blast but the O'Learys was unbelievable. Everything we rode in Oregon was amazing and had the best dirt I've ever ridden on. It's almost like they mix mulch and fertilizer, then spread it out on the trails. The trees and plant growth was so thick that even when it was 80+ degress out, it was closer to 70 under the canopy of trees.

After the tour, we moved down to Oakridge where they hold the "Mountain Bike Oregon" event every Summer. We rode teh Alpine Trail to Tire Mountain to Cloverpatch and all I can say is that Oregon knows what real single-track is supposed to look like. This was 20+ miles of pure, lush singletrack through old growth forests. Imagine the Ewok scenes in Stars Wars and that what their forests were like. One section was actually named "Jedi". The Tire Mountain trail was probably the best single trail I've ever ridden.

Sorry but I'm not much for stopping to take photos. I have a few on my iphone but have no idea how to post them here.

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If you don't go this year, you'll only be a year older when you do - Warren Miller

Well I guess I'll be the first to say That's a Badass mountain bike trip!

It's easy and we'd all like a little inspiration, so please post...look down below the reply window where it says "upload attachment". Tap the "choose file" button and then "existing". You can attach pictures straight from your iPhone. Only hitch is they will look great to everyone with a smartphone, but might appear sideways to someone viewing on a PC. Don't worry about it.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Oregon is amazing! Best dirt ever. Glad you had a good time! Any photos would be super cool, just so we dont upset the AvidTest!

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I want my Mtb!!!!

We visited some good friends in Oregon a couple of years ago and met in Bend before traveling to their home in Salem. It killed me that I didn't bring my bike, especially when I drove over to Black Rock to check out the trail system there. My wife wants us to retire to Oregon . . . I really hope I'm still riding when/if that time comes.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

Pretty awesome trip...find a way to throw up some pics. My dream job would be to work with an outfit like Cog Wild.

Here's a related TR on Pinkbike about the MBO festival. A certain under-the-radar Dirt Treader has been talking about this for years. A huge party. I hear there may have been naked riding. Or naked dancing. Pretty sure there was naked something, and beer was a factor.
http://m.pinkbike.com/news/mountain-biking-oakridge-oregon.html

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Dude, what did I tell you about Oregon and Oakridge. Keep it on the down low.
Did you stop at Union Brewery in Oakridge?

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When is it going to rain.

Many, many years ago when I was 18 I almost bought 120Ft of river front property in Sunriver, Oregon (just down 97 from Bend) right on the Big Deschutes river. My neighbor had moved up there and right down the street on Lunar drive was this lot. It would have cost me $9999 and $99 a month in payments. Being into motos and not thinking that far in life I passed on it. Still kick myself in the ass for that one. Now it's worth big time money, over looking the river, across the river is a golf course, and it's a great area to live. dammmmm it

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

We went to the Union Brewery twice while we were there. I'm not a beer drinker but the food was very good. One of the guys in my group is a Corona drinker and didn't like the beer there. The others drank it like there was no tomorrow.

The dirt in Oakridge is awesome but the trails we took always seemed to end with a long runout on a fire road and the place had the worst signage of any major area I've ridden. They are adding & working on new stuff all the time but the limited available "workers" can't help. The town itself is definitely hurting. It was actually on "Secret Millionaire" last month and they explained how bad off everybody is since (2) lumber mills closed. When we asked where everybody goes for breakfast at the bike shop, we were told "Dairy Queen".

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If you don't go this year, you'll only be a year older when you do - Warren Miller