Plan Your Trip Pacific Northwest Outdoors - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 78

Cycling & Mountain Biking
A cyclist could hardly ask for more than the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Big cities in-
cluding Seattle, Portland and Vancouver are some of the most bike-friendly on earth, of-
fering safe bike lanes, a supportive bike network and endless shops for parts and advice.
Even smaller cities such as Olympia, Eugene and Victoria (which even has a cycling
festival) are well known for their bike culture.
Outside the urban centers there are diverse and spectacular cycling opportunities on
the coast, in high deserts, through lush rainforest and up alpine mountains. Many ski re-
sorts turn into mountain-biking destinations in summer; Whistler has an especially amaz-
ing trail system. And the bike-touring possibilities in the region are nearly limitless.
Local shops are great resources for route and back-road suggestions, while
www.dbmechanic.com/biking has trail and bike-path info and links.
BIKE TOURS
A good way to start planning your tour is by deciding your vacation objectives and
then building an itinerary around them. Go kayaking in the San Juans and have
high tea in Victoria, but arrive by bicycle. Visit the Rose Garden in Portland then
windsurf in the Gorge, but transport yourself by cycling the gorgeous landscape in
between. The advantages are many: intimate experiences with the environment,
staying in shape, rubbing elbows with the locals and traveling in an ecofriendly way.
Maybe it seems intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it's surprisingly pleas-
ant and often addictive. You can choose to go fully loaded with camping equip-
ment, or take it 'easy' and pedal from hotel to hotel.
Check www.bicycletouring101.com and www.bikingbis.com for more.Cycling So-
journer: A Guide to the Best Multi-day Tours in Oregon
( www.cycletouringoregon.com ) by Ellee Thalheimer is another recommended re-
source. (A similar book about bicycle touring in Washington is currently in the
works and should be out in 2014.) Don't want to deal with the logistics? Try a tour
company.
Adventure Cycling Association ( www.adventurecycling.org ) Guides supported and
self-contained tours. It also sells good cyclist-specific maps for extensive touring.
Bicycle Adventures ( www.bicycleadventures.com )Runs tours in Oregon, Washing-
ton and British Columbia, among other places.
Cascade Huts ( www.cascadehuts.com )Offers mountain bikers hut-hopping, self-
guided, multiday trips in Mt Hood National Forest.