Kilometers that is, this last weekend featured a pair of 100 kilometer rides. That’s 62.5 miles if you’re not up to the mental conversion. Eric Virogen and Duane Wright came down from Seattle and we met up with Susan France and Nate Armburst on Saturday for the Oregon Randonneurs (we’re a real club now) Snoozeville populaire, ridden as a permanent. It starts in Hillsboro nips up into the Pumpkin Ridge hills north of Highway 26, loops around Banks (without making it to town) and follows vineyard and orchard surrounded roads to Forest Grove. By that time a rider has climbed 1600 or 1700 feet. The course then flattens out by buzzing down to Gaston on wide shouldered highway 47 and then gets rural then suburban for a mostly flat return to the start.
The day was overcast and we had some rain and requisite headwinds. For the unusual experience note we encoutered lots of unfenced dogs who stayed in their yards and silently watched our passing. At the Snoozeville turn around a tall rangy pale brown mutt ambled up to be petted and sniff at us. He waited until we departed before howling.
From a personal perspective this was the longest ride with the most chatting and comeradarie I’ve ever had. It made for an enjoyable day. Nate was on his Kogswell Model G. This is a frame I’ve been curious about. Turns out he had the size I’d buy if I bought one. I did a quick spin on the bike after the ride. The gearing is taller than I’d ride fixed. Nate had done really well on the climbs and descents, so he’s chosen his gear well.
On Sunday I joined Duane, Susan and Eric for the second half of the Three Prairies (map) Permanent route. I missed the start and first half while at a friend’s birthday party. I’d not ridden this particular route from Newberg to Mt. Angel before. Mostly the roads on the French prairie are pretty similar, and familiar. The afternoon and evening was a relaxing (hey, I had some rest and the rest of them rode for 70 miles before we met up) cruise. The sun had just set when we left Mt. Angel, so the first part of that ride was westward into the rosy glow of sunset. Otherwise the ride was an extended meditative glide on nice roads with very nice folks.
OK, so I’m happy to report that at one point Eric pulled to the side and asked that I go in front of him. My headlight was washing out his and all he could really see was his shadow. I noted that my Busch&Müller DIWA (you’ll need to scroll down a bit) was putting out a beam that compared favorably with the E6 on Susan’s bike. A nice confirmation of lighting choices. I’m still going to add a secondary generator light to assist on downhill stretches. It can wait.
A great weekend of cycling!
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