Eugene offers multitude of bike trips
The diversity of landscape and
variety of paved surfaces around
the Eugene area offer a smorgas
bord of bike excursions for aspir
ing cyclists.
Bicyclists can tailor rides to
match their abilities, time and
amount of energy. It’s easy
enough to take a bike-by-the
seat-of-your-pants attitude, fol
lowing bike paths at will. Or a per
son could opt to try one of the
more established day trips that
covers the McKenzie River Valley.
It’s a great way for newcomers to
get acquainted with the surround
ing countryside. A minimum of
hills makes the 26-mile ride easy
for beginners.
Starting from the University
grounds, the excursion begins by
crossing the footbridge over the
Willamette River and following the
bikepaths over to the Oakway
Mall. A slight detour utilizing Oak
way, Gilliam and Crescent Roads
helps avoid some of Coburg Road
and its heavy traffic conditions.
The course returns to Coburg
Road, but beyond the junction
with County Locke Road the traffic
thins out.
As travelers approach Armitage
Park (point A), they might con
sider taking advantage of the pic
nic area, water facilities and toilets
available there. Good weather
may call for splashing around in
the McKenzie River, readily ac
cessible from the park.
Leaving Armitage Park, there’s
a rock quarry worth checking out
along McKenzie View Dr. (point
8). A couple of rolling hills later, a
genuine windmill stands next to a
quaint old farm house (point C.)
Upon reaching the junction with
Hill Road, the first opportunity to
yg i*
Photo by Ench Boeketietde
Eugene has several shops specializing in bike repair. The downtown offers several, but you should be
aware of more than the fact that your bike isn't wheeling along like it used to. Proper service and a few
precautionary measures as well as knowledge of local bike facilities and hazards are good protection for
you and your two-wheeler.
Biking
(Continued from Page 28)
make up an advanced system.
If you are interested in more
than just commuting or short
ndes. you may want to plan some
day trips. One alternative open to
students unfamiliar with ' day trip
ping" is to enroll in the bicycle tour
ing class offered fall and spring
terms. The class meets Wednes
day nights for lecture-discussion
Then, throughout the week, the
class members will go on a pre
arranged ride lasting about four
hours in the company of a bike
leader. During the term, the class
covers a total of 150 miles. It
meets the first six weeks of the
term only. Instructor Bob Bums
tead says he is always looking for
experienced cyclists to be bike
leaders for the class. The leaders
can receive from two to three P E.
credits.
Organized bike tours are put to
gether by Spoke Folk, a bicycle
touring group in the Eugene,
Springfield area. The group plans
a senes of overnight trips during
the summer and goes on day rides
during the fall and spring
weekends There are no dues to
loin. People are welcome to at
tend Spoke Folk meetings, held
every third Wednesday of the
month at 6:15 p.m. at Leslies
Mandarin Restaurant, 13th Av
enue and Hilyard Street. For more
information contact Dick Moffitt at
746-5130 after 7 p.m.
Bike trips are also arranged
through Eugene Parks and Re
creation. A schedule of upcoming
activities can be obtained by cal
ling 687-5298.
There are no markings on the road
itself, just along the roadside de
signating the bike route sign.
Twelfth Avenue is designated this
way, so cyclists will have to
negotiate auto traffic themselves.
Sidewalk routes move bike traf
fic along sidewalks which have
comer ramps installed tor uninter
rupted travel. The bikepath into
Springfield along D Street is one
of the more notorious paths for its
ups and downs.
Off-street routes are the best
deal for unhampered cycling.
These paths generally wind
through parklands and are set off
from any auto traffic. The bike and
jogging trails along the Willamette
River connecting campus, Skin
ners Butte, Alton Baker Park, Val
ley River Center and Springfield
People interested in racing can
join up with the Eugene Cycling
Club. They meet every third Wed
nesday evening of the month at
various residences. For more in
formation call Chip Darling at
Hawkeye's, 342-8181.
Additional information about
biking in general can be directed
to Bishop at 687-5298. She can
advise people about various
bureaucratic committees that deal
with bike paths, city ordinances
and other subjects pertaining to
bicycling. To report glass in the
streets or dangerous storm
drains, notify the public works
maintenance at 687-5220.
bow out and head home presents
itself To do so, turn right onto Hill
Road. The more stout-hearted
turn left on Hill Road and continue
pedaling until reaching Donna
Road. At the comer of the inter
section is a little store, where peo
ple can stock up on energy food.
A jaunt up Donna Road, fol
lowed by a left on McGowan
Road, will eventually bring the de
termined cyclist to McGowan
Creek Park, complete with rifle
range (point D). Picnic tables and
toilets are available.
Returning to the junction with
Hill Road, the route turns off to the
left. This takes you across Mar
cola Road and onto Sunderman
Road, which circumvents busy
Marcola Road.
The route next picks up on Old
Mohawk Road, but a word of cau
tion. At last report, a pair of bike
chasing woofers were patrolling
the road.
Once safely reaching the junc
tion of Hill and Mohawk, the
short-winded riders ought to be
ready to continue the ride home.
Following a series of roads
through Springfield, the route hits
Hayden Bridge Road. From there
Garden Way Road and Centen
nial Boulevard lead into the mas
sive Autzen Stadium Parking lot.
Any number of ingenious routes
can be improvised to reach the
bike path adjacent the stadium.
From there it is only a matter of
minutes to reach the University
grounds.
Lots of bike fun
available nearby
The following can be used as a gauge for planning day trips,
determining mileage as a commuter or estimating distance covered for
exercise purposes.
From Alton Baker Park to:
Day Island Park 3.6 miles
Valley River Center 1.6 miles
Amazon Village Community Center
(via Peart Street) 2.6 miles
Sheldon Meadows Community Center 2.1 miles
Westmoreland Park
(via 15th Avenue) 3.2 miles
From Skinners Butte Park to:
River Road 1.6 miles
Beltline Road
(via River Road) 3.9 mjles
The total distance of the North Bank Trail along the Willamette
River, running from Valley River Center to Springfield city limits, is 4.2
miles.
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