OT: Portland Visit (Climbs)

[denapista]

I'm visiting PDX next week for 7 days / 6 nights. Going for a fitting for a new project bike and to hang at the Oregon Handmade Bike/Beer festival.

I'm bringing my bike with me and I'm looking for routes to ride... I live in LA and I like climbing and I've been searching for big PDX climbs on strava, but the strava search is hot garbage.

Can anyone recommend some really good climbs and rides? I want to get in something over 90mi and 10,000ft of climbing. I'll be in Eugene for a day then mostly staying in Portland.

[Dead Man]

I'm I'm the field this week, so working from my phone.. Hard to dig around on strava

But here's one I do when I hate myself https://www.strava.com/routes/2214471

Starts in my hood up in Saint Helens, but you could start and return at logie or even just ride the highway up from Portland for more miles

These are some of the best/nastiest climbs in "the country." (Versus city) There are tons of urban climbs in SW Portland and suburban/subdivision climbs over around the sunnnyside/se area... Google "de ronde portlandia" and ridewithgps and mapmyride routes showing those'uns should be top hits

Ill be done with this project this weekend and should be free to grind out some early next week if you want a partner

Welcome to Portland

[Bostic]

Starting from Corbett to the top of Larch Mountain is roughly 16 miles and 3300' of climbing. It's beautiful at the top and you can see 5 different mountain peaks on a clear day.

[denapista]

Thanks Fellas.

My goal is to ride as much as I can during the morning into lunch and drink beers at night.

[Dead Man]

Starting from Corbett to the top of Larch Mountain is roughly 16 miles and 3300' of climbing. It's beautiful at the top and you can see 5 different mountain peaks on a clear day.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1963069

Few hundred more feet from the sandy bridge.. This is my "biggest climb," according to strava... But at 3% average grade doesn't satisfy the climbers itch much

It is a cool ride though, and my bros and I make a century out of it from NW at least once a year. If you're looking for 7 days of Portland riding, Larch is definitely one to fit in there.

Crown Point in the gorge too.. Climbing is steeper out that way also, if not as much gain. And if you want scenic, eastern edge of the gorge is ****ing amazing....
http://rs844.pbsrc.com/albums/ab6/bkb0000/0015398-ZF-5492-52741-1-001_zpsx17qdgwe.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip

[gasman]

Dead Man mentioned it but de rhonde portlandia on map my ride or ride with gps will give you 51 miles with 7,200 of climbing. A couple climbs approach or exceed 30% grade. The whole ride is in the city limits mostly on residential streets.

If you're in Eugene and have time I'd be happy to take you out for a ride.

[denapista]

Staying on Marine drive and from there to the top of Larchmont is 38mi. NICE! 72mi round trip, not much climbing but a good way to see the city.

[Dead Man]

I'll say one thing for larch, it does get steeper the higher up you go... So it's mostly just country rollers till you pass the gate up on the mountain, but then it's probably more of an average of 5% with some spots getting up into the 8-9% range under the top. you can definitely get a good smoke on if you hit it hard.

[denapista]

That ride sounds like a local climb I have here in LA (Cleer Creek Station).
I can get 38-45mi and close to 4,000ft of climbing from my front door. Averages 3-4%, but just riding up Angeles Crest at certain hours can be a drag. Streetbikes and Porsche's non stop, and the occasional Breaking Bad van with an old guy driving erratic.

[Dead Man]

Well lucky for you it's gonna be cold and wet and low visibility at altitude, so very little car traffic once you get off hwy30. :-D

[ORMojo]

If you have the ability to get out of Eugene for a day, you should ride this.

http://rideoregonride.com/road-routes/mckenzie-scenic-pass-scenic-bikeway/

[kevinvc]

Larch Mountain is my favorite climb in the area. It's beautiful, relatively low traffic, and the sight from the top (walk the 100 yards or so to the overlook) is absolutely stunning. And the descent is a blast if you like to go fast.

The west hills have lots of options as well- Saltzmann Rd or Leif Erikson Dr if you want to do some dirt without cars. Newberry or Logie are also nice. It's also easy enough to string some of these together if you really dislike your legs.

If you're truely a masochist, check out either the Ronde course or la Doyenne; both are around 7,300' of climbing in 51 miles. Both courses can be downloaded in Ride With GPS, links are on this website (http://www.rondepdx.com/).

[gospastic]

Larch Mountain was great. I did it a couple weeks ago when I went to visit. It was my first climb, ever, in my life. I loved every second of it. The view once you get up there is very rewarding.

That was the only long ride I did, but got to do a few around Forest Park and Skyline. You can get a lot of climbing in in a short amount of miles it seems.

I also rode around the Nestucca River, which, while it doesn't have much elevation is just really beautiful and nearly carless.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8265/29382849803_9e768a25ca_b.jpg

[moose8]

Thanks Fellas.

My goal is to ride as much as I can during the morning into lunch and drink beers at night.

That sounds like an awesome plan. Go here if you get a chance: http://www.cascadebrewingbarrelhouse.com

[ORMojo]

Here is another killer - 6,353 total elevation gain in 73 miles. (We like Bald Mountain as a beautiful ride or drive, plus a couple of our favorite wineries are just down the south side!)

http://www.rubbertotheroad.com/?p=41


And browse around that site for other possibilities (http://www.rubbertotheroad.com/?page_id=514).

[Spaceman Spiff]

Here is another killer - 6,353 total elevation gain in 73 miles. (We like Bald Mountain as a beautiful ride or drive, plus a couple of our favorite wineries are just down the south side!)

http://www.rubbertotheroad.com/?p=41


And browse around that site for other possibilities (http://www.rubbertotheroad.com/?page_id=514).

I did a truncated version of that Bald Mountain route in June. I started at home in Beaverton so I didn't have to climb over the west hills (and back). It was a great ride, although it didn't have quite the vistas as Larch Mountain.

Another classic: http://www.rubbertotheroad.com/?p=57

Riding out to the Bridge of the Gods and back is a great way to see the Gorge.

[denapista]

ha. Thanks for the Cascade tip. I'm a beer geek myself and have been to a number of bottle shares. I tell all of my friends who visit Portland to head to Cascade! I transitioned from craft beer to bourbon/rye/scotch. I just found myself chasing beer releases and I felt weird hunting down alcohol. Standing in lines for limited barrel aged beers, when a racer5 IPA does the same thing.

Thanks for the tips. I'll do Larchmont for sure. It's been over 100 degrees in LA since my last ride (2 weeks ago). I won't be in shape to ride anything fast uphill while in Portland. Gonna enjoy my 12-29t

[estilley]

The only time I ever rode Larch I didn't walk up the stairs for the view...

That one needs redemption.


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[559Rando]

My advise is don't drink the beer at HUB. It's not worth it.
Oh and tell EVERYONE you're from LA. We LOVE Californians here (hey, I've been here a while and still catch a lotta California flack at work and from my neighbors...) ;-)


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[559Rando]

I'm hoping to hit the show Friday, possibly Saturday.

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[denapista]

I never tell people where I'm from unless asked. I want to be judged by my character, not my affiliation.

Keep Portland weird!

[bismo37]

Also consider a ride in Hood River or The Dalles further up the Gorge. Great climbing out there too... Some combo of Hood River-Mosier Twin Tunnels-Rowena Crest-Seven Mile Hill-Cherry Heights give a variety of nice loop options. Out of Hood River or Parkdale you can do a ride up Cooper Spur or up to Lost Lake. Also cool hilly loops in The Dalles like Petersburg School loop.

A great ride is up Lolo Pass along the flanks of Mt Hood. Can start in ZigZag ranger station or for a longer ride, can leave from Sandy.

Also, you gotta ride the Historic Columbia River Hwy from Troutdale/Edgefield McMenamin's out to Cascade Locks. (Shorter 40+ mile version could start at the Women's Forum viewpoint near Corbett). This is a great ride. Hilly climbing but nothing mountainous or sustained. Lots of waterfalls and beautiful Columbia River views. Lots of bang for your buck on this ride.

[Vientomas]

http://thegorgeismygym.com/road-biking/

[krhea]

Here's one we've ridden for years but I just "mapped" it tonight for the first time after seeing you ask for "real" climbing rides.
It's a butt kicker but includes some of the prettiest roads and amazing climbs you can find in the Portland area.

This one's 85miles and 8200':

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16905140

The start point on the map is a bit ambiguous as we just park in the little village of Springdale anywhere on the street and usually in front of the brew pub as we're VERY thirsty/hungry post ride and the "beers cold and the burgers good" at the place.

It's a very low traffic route and you can restock in Welches or ZigZag with fluids/eats.

Check the weather for Hood pre-ride as Lolo Pass ain't no joke in nasty weather.

LMK if you ride how you like it and if that doesn't work I have a file full of rides I can offer up.

KRhea

[559Rando]

There are good climbs in the city at Mt. Tabor.

Here's, one example:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1679183

[R3awak3n]

I was in Portland for a month in summer a few months ago, it was amazing. Even quick rides outside the city were awesome.

I did this ride a couple of times and thought it was awesome

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14972532

Starting from center of Portland too and with 10 miles gravel thrown in.
Elevation is not bad (for NY its great but you being in Cali its probably normal :)).

If you want gravel there are amazing rides on oregonbikepacking site, some can easily be done in a day.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15468145

A buddy of mine did this, took bus to tillamouk, had some cheese curds and then rode back to Portland. It was such an incredible ride and because a lot of gravel, tough climbs. Its even tougher going from Portland to Tillamouk.

We slept half way and made a camping trip out of it.

Portland is awesome, you gonna have some great ridding ahead of you. Also the drivers there are the most respectful I have ever seen (sometimes too respectful :D))

[miguel]

hi,
i live here, im from here.

ride the de ronde route for lots of climbing. its difficult and boring, IMO.

road rides only?
Here are a bunch of perms from my buddy and forum member
http://stopbelieving.blogspot.com/p/permanents-list.html

this one is fun
https://www.strava.com/activities/334354078


if you want a little gravel, try this out:
https://www.strava.com/activities/305930429

hwy 30-CZ trail-hwy 47-bv trail-farmlands

CZ trail runs parallel to a paved road so you could do that if you dont want to get dirty. the gravel wasnt that deep and totally doable on 25-28s. if it's wet for a couple days YMMV.

This is a good morning/midmorning ride into the gorge
https://www.strava.com/activities/329675086

You don't have to go all the way up wind ridge to gifford pinchot but maybe stop in one of the towns for a snack and turn around. Both sides are near water so it will be chilly, bring layers. Headwinds coming back on the washington side generally. Make sure to wave cars by around the bends as there are many hostile drivers (see: coal rolling).


https://www.strava.com/activities/321461492

if you want to experience portland's nationally famous homeless concerns, here's a chance to ride down the springwater and go up mt. scott. i wouldnt necessarily call it "dangerous" just "uncomfortable." In fact, that said, you could ride the springwater and go up mt scott/powell butte then hop back on and ride up rocky butte. These are not difficult climbs by any means but ???


https://www.strava.com/activities/729445569

This is my hill training. these roads are all on the deronde route. NW 53rd is a real fun one. stay off the granny gear you wimp.