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PNW Downhill...

blackohio

Generous jaywalker
Mar 12, 2009
2,773
122
Hellafornia. Formerly stumptown.
Posted in the PNW forum, but wanted some actual downhillers input and not weight weenie XC.

Possibly moving to Portland and wanted to get a idea whats in-store. Shuttle, Lift whatever. Im used to riding Snowshoe, 7Springs, Windrock etc. East Coast roots, wet and rocks. Very Fast and Technical.

Whats in store for me?
 

Raingauge

Monkey
Apr 3, 2008
692
0
Canadia
I've ridden Dry Hills in Port Angeles, WA in February. It's a bit of a drive from Portland but the trails are awesome and the locals are friendly.

6 months of winter sucks. I can usually make it untilFeb before I get stir crazy.
 

thom9719

Turbo Monkey
Jul 25, 2005
1,104
0
In the Northwest.
You're in for some of the best riding in the country.

There are a bunch of awesome shuttle spots, you can ride SkiBowl all summer and they are building a new park at Timberline lodge. Bend isn't far away, hood river is really close, syncline, etc. Plus you're close to washington trails and much closer to whistler.

the PNW is the best riding in the country. you won't be dissapointed.

-KT
 

MinorThreat

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2005
1,630
41
Nine Mile Falls, WA
Just an FYI, blackohio, the PNW forum is populated mostly by downhillers and other gravity folks anyway, so don't be a stranger there. Very few XCers on that one and lots of local knowledge. Welcome.
 

Sam B

Monkey
Nov 25, 2001
280
0
Cascadia
Yes... if you will be living in Portland that is in the southern region of Cascadia. A larger amount of the "good riding" is located further north in Cascadia (BC for example), however the riding is great across the region and you can drive anywhere in Cascadia for a weekend trip. Secret stashes are all around, so get friendly...

As someone else posted, NW Oregon is a beer mecca. Insane amount of breweries of extremely good quality. Deschutes, Full Sail, Bridgeport, Rogue... on and on...
 
seriously?? really?

comparing to PNW with your/our neck of the woods? i know Windrock is money...but really?

PNW has like 10 Windrocks but longer, awesome bike-friendly culture, and amazing brewskis...

seriously...move to PNW. i'm stuck on the east coast because of kid, wife, and extended family. in another life with none of my current responsibilities, i'd be all over PNW like white on rice.
 

motomike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 19, 2005
4,584
0
North Carolina
I recently moved back east from a 7 month stint in Portland. There are many many stashes very close to Portland to ride DH at, and plenty of trail riding within an hour. As mentioned above, there is plenty of tasty beer to try out. Its different, I honestly would not say its better than the east coast by any means, but its a good change of scenery. If I go back, I'd probably end up in Hood River, which is just an hour east of Portland.
 

DHRracer

Monkey
Sep 29, 2004
371
0
seriously?? really?

comparing to PNW with your/our neck of the woods? i know Windrock is money...but really?

PNW has like 10 Windrocks but longer, awesome bike-friendly culture, and amazing brewskis...

seriously...move to PNW. i'm stuck on the east coast because of kid, wife, and extended family. in another life with none of my current responsibilities, i'd be all over PNW like white on rice.
Seriously? Stuck because of kid and wife? Extended family I can see but kid and wife was your choice. If the riding is more important they would be better off with out you.
 

blackohio

Generous jaywalker
Mar 12, 2009
2,773
122
Hellafornia. Formerly stumptown.
I think you missed the point of his post.

See in my post I never compared what I ride to the PNW, I simply said this is what I ride, what am I in-store for. Your reaction ensued.

You said " Im stuck because of wife and kid" He replied (using muted irony I hope) in the same way you you did.

To which you replied, that you said "they are more important," which you never did. You said stuck with other responsibilities."

thats my take. I just wanted to know what portland area riding is like that's all.
 
i guess i demand too much of the literary minds on the interwebz. more like 'muted hyperbole'. i should spell out exactly how i feel so that there is no room for uninformed/biased interpretation or psychoanalysis.

i guess "responsibilities to my family" doesn't imply sufficient importance or caring....my bad.

i seems like to me, you WERE comparing the PNW to what you ride now. Or perhaps the intent was to garner interwebz consensus to affirm your deep seated desire to move out there. being the experienced mountain biker you are, I would have thought that you would have come to the conclusion that all the magazine articles, internet postings, videos, verbal hearsay, are pretty much in agreement that PNW kicks alotta ass for gravity-assisted mountain biking. i have no beef with you, if that's the collective kick in the butt you needed to make the move out there, so be it.

but there I go again, guilty of the same crime. ASS-U-ME-ing.
 
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DHRracer

Monkey
Sep 29, 2004
371
0
I think you missed the point of his post.

See in my post I never compared what I ride to the PNW, I simply said this is what I ride, what am I in-store for. Your reaction ensued.

You said " Im stuck because of wife and kid" He replied (using muted irony I hope) in the same way you you did.

To which you replied, that you said "they are more important," which you never did. You said stuck with other responsibilities."

thats my take. I just wanted to know what portland area riding is like that's all.
blackohio, sorry to be part of the derail hear but i do think you so my point and yes with a bit of muted irony. Is there some truth to the ( im stuck) in his view. I bet there is. As far as PNW riding/lift service. There may not be alot of chair lifts but lots of shuttleing and great trail riding. One thing about Oregon is the state has for a long time been very supportive of all outdoor recreation.
 

Frisco

Chimp
Jan 16, 2002
73
0
Vancouver, WA
I've been out here (across the river in Vancouver, WA) for a bit and there is great DH and other trails. The trails here mostly aren't as rocky as you find in other parts of the country but still awesome. The scene is improving, too. Most trails are about an hour drive. There definitely aren't as many trails around Portland as BC but that's pretty stiff competition.
 

JayBear

Monkey
Ive been living in Portland 3 years now, after spending many seasons on the east coast. Plattekill, diablo, snowshoe..etc. I still fly back once a season to ride some roots and rocks with the boys, but I must say the runs are super short compared to PNW. I did have some racer buddies come out here and they were siked, but had alot to say about all the buffed runs and lack of lifts. Im a free riding fool these days and post and blackrock just straight rule. AND YOU CAN DRIVE to WHISTLER, which to me, is just awesome..Hit me up when you get out here..