The Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum (MHCC&M) is staging the August 25-26, 2012, inaugural Barlow Road Ride (aka Mt. Hood Century) to raise funds in support of the MHCC&M. The Barlow Road Ride is a two-day out-and-back century (100 mile) road bike tour from the end of the Oregon Trail in Oregon City to Government Camp, with an optional trip up the West Leg Trail to Timberline Lodge.
As you embark on this extraordinarily scenic and historic course, you will be riding the paved route of the famous Barlow Road – once followed by many pioneers around Mt. Hood to reach Oregon City. You will be traveling along the cool Clackamas River, to the gateway city of Sandy and then up the sparkling Sandy River Valley via Marmot Ridge to Zig Zag past open fields and amid vibrant forests, and finally up Laurel Hill to majestic Mt. Hood. A truly world class route! Join 1,000+ of your bicycling buddies on this newest tour on the Pacific Northwest’s list of premier cycling events. Note the maximum number of riders is 2,000, so register early to avoid missing out.
Riders of all abilities can participate. Just select the right starting point for your skill level. The Trail Scout route is for experts who have trained for the challenge of 120 miles and 7,000 feet of elevation gain in a single-day century+. The Trail Boss route is the main two-day ride with the first day being 50 miles uphill to Government Camp for a great dinner at the Cascade Ski Lodge. See the lodging page for hotel and camping accommodation options Saturday night, and reserve early because this is a prime summer season weekend when hotel lodging sells out. The second day will be the big reward of 50 miles almost all downhill finishing around noon. The Pioneer route will start in Sandy to reduce the hill climbing to 25 miles on the first day. For those who are not into much hill climbing, the Junior/Senior route will start on Sunday morning in Government Camp for a thrilling and fast downhill ride to Oregon City with only a few short hills along the way.
Almost all of the ride will be on quiet rural roads with little vehicular traffic. The only time you will be riding on Highway 26 will be from Zig Zag to Government Camp up Laurel Hill, which has new pavement and a wide shoulder. The entire route will be marked with ‘Dan Henry’ arrows.
This is a fully supported ride with rest stops approximately every 10 miles where you’ll enjoy plenty of food and energy drinks… with massages available. You will experience top-notch volunteers who welcome and help sustain you as you pedal away the miles. The registration fee includes all the necessary ride support (food, energy drinks, food, toilets, more food, sag wagons, massage, mechanics and medical help) finish point will feature not only a great dinner at the Cascade Ski Lodge, but also live music, our professional massage team and tours of the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum. There are many other food, drink and entertainment options on the Mountain for those so inclined.
Thank you for supporting our fundraising effort in behalf of the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum – while promoting Mt. Hood and the state of Oregon!