Last week (July 2016) I finished a mountain biking trip in Bend, Oregon. The trip included seven days of riding, camping in a hammock, and exploring the town of Bend.
It was a spectacular trip!
I biked 277 miles, rode 18 of the trails in the Bend area (just a small fraction of the mountain biking trails in the Bend area).
The trip was filled with spectacular mountain trails, high desert landscape, challenging climbs, and thrilling descents. The entire week was a refreshing break.
Here is what I learned…
- Bend, Oregon is one of the best places to ride in the USA. Hundreds of miles of well-marked trails and a large number of rainless days allow for a wonderful mountain biking ecosystem. In my seven days of riding, I only rode a small fraction of the vast number of trails available in the Bend area.
- Hats off to Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) and to the many organizations and individuals that support its initiatives. COTA develops and maintains the Bend area mountain bike trail system in cooperation with the US Forest Service. COTA rocks!!!
- People in Oregon are kind and helpful to visitors. I always received a kind greeting and a helping hand wherever I went.
- God gave me good health and allowed me to the encounter another small slice of the vast universe he created. I am thankful to God and acknowledge his wonder, power, and creativity. It is his world, and he allows me to live in it.
Below are my daily experiences, filled with photos, maps, and descriptions of my rides. I hope that you use my experiences to gain a perspective about Bend and that you benefit from my experience …
Day Before the Bend Mountain Biking Trip
Day One – Eugene to Bend
Day Three – Mountain Biking is Art
Mark Updates 