Dalles Mountain 60

[Wahine]

It's coming up this weekend. I did it last year in challenging conditions and I'm planning on doing it again. Anyone else?

Dalles Mountain 60 (http://velodirt.com/2011/01/dalles-mountain/)

:D:D

[SadieKate]

What a group of cool rides! I may need to do some detailed reading up for anything that might take me along a little stream.

This reminds me, I keep meaning to plan a trip out in the John Day area. Guess I better get with it since it can get pretty durn hot out there. Have you seen these guides?

http://www.paleolands.org/find/time/here/C68

[Wahine]

I don't know this group but I've worked at and participated in several cycling training camps/events in the area. It is spectacular riding, especially in the spring.

[Wahine]

This is the second year that I have done this ride. It is amazing. If you're looking for something different, with amazing views and a lot of challenging terraine, look no further.

I had a great day. It was partially cloudy and we couldn't see the mountians but on a clear day you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens and Ranier.

No traffic to speak of. We saw lots of cows and one woman on a horse. Best of all, you get to descend the Maryhill loops road (http://youtu.be/FFjLidodYYU) (longboarders but you get a good feel for what the road is like). I could not wipe the sh!t eating grin off my face. :D:D:D

It took me almost 5 hours to do this 60 mile ride. I'm not super fast, but I'm not slow so it should give you an idea of how hard it is to ride 60 miles on steep packed dirt and gravel roads for the climbs. Followed by delicious descending and some flat riding into a headwind.

And I got to eat and drink as much as I wanted when I got home. :)

You can't ask for a better day on a bike.

[SadieKate]

Wahine - did you use a mountain bike or cross bike or ___________? Would you use the same bike again?

Bubba and I have some dirt road loops that would probably be faster on a mountain bike because of the long sections of rock and baby heads but we still can't break our tradition of riding cross bikes. Kind of a badge of honor for us idiots but we at least know what we're getting into. Curious what kind of bike you used.

Editing - nebbermind. I found this. Everyone's on cross bikes (Though all the photos showed recently graded and bladed roads. Must be nice.;))

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rspinnaking/sets/72157629562061203/with/6971385415/

Were you in any of the photos?

[Wahine]

Most people used cross bikes, many used road bikes with regular road tires and there were very few mtn bikes. The course is about 30 miles total of dirt, some of it washboard but most of it very good.

I'm not in any of those photos. Thanks for pointing them out.