Memorial Day Weekend rides

[emily_in_nc]

That sounds fun TrekDianna! I love riding on closed roads. Where is the McKenzie Highway?

Yesterday we rode through four cities outside of KC (Prairie Village, Overland Park, Merriam, and Shawnee!) to find a Trek bike shop. I have ordered a couple of tires for my MTB to be delivered to that store this coming week, and we just wanted to make sure it was ride-able. Only about 12 miles round trip, but we tacked on some for a 20-mile ride.

Here are some photos from our ride, which took us on roads, through a couple of parks, on on bike/ped paths. What a blast! I just had to pose outside of the (closed) Trek bike shop with my Trek, of course!

http://s816.photobucket.com/user/emi...?sort=2&page=1

It's pouring cats and dogs this morning, so it is a good day for off the bike activities. Hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day!

[Skippyak]

On Sunday I rode from home and to a bit over halfway of Big Cottonwood canyon here, 42 miles and 4200 ft altogether from my home. 2000 ft climb in the canyon. It was a lovely day.

[TrekDianna]

That sounds fun TrekDianna! I love riding on closed roads. Where is the McKenzie Highway?

It's the old McKenzie highway mountain pass. It's highway 242 and it goes from Sisters, Oregon to the Eugene, Oregon area. From October until June/July it's closed to cars because of the snow. As soon as the snow melts enough to see the road, it's open to bikes and hikers. It generally opens mid-June- July to cars again depending on snow level. At the summit there is Dee Wright observatory, built out of the lava rocks. It has spectacular 360 views of the Cascades and miles and miles of lava fields. The ride is great. You start in the high desert, ride though Pondersosa Pines, then mixed conifer, the finally subalpine before getting to the lava fields.