BALANCE: great outdoors

Paved Paradise 

by KEVIN GROVE | photography by ZACH SCOTT

Three classic road rides

S

hould you pump up the tires or wax the skis? That is a common question when it’s spring in Bend. The mountains are still covered in snow, but the dry pavement and warm temperatures in town make for super spring road riding. Central Oregon offers numerous classic road rides to get in shape for the Pole Pedal Paddle bike leg, gear up for summer rides or races, or just to get out for exercise in the fresh air.

BEND LIVING has put together three progressively difficult rides to get you back in the saddle, without early season saddle sores. The first ride, Ride Around Bend, is relatively short and relatively flat. The next two rides are longer but often warmer, getting into Central Oregon’s “banana belt”—rides that are at the lower elevations east and north of Bend.

For all rides, be sure to include energy food, sports drink and a rain shell on your ride, as well as essential bike repair equipment like a spare tube, pump and tool kit to make it home safely.

Erik Huston, a local bike riding legend, suggests always knowing potential food stops on route. With a nickname and body of “Stick,” Huston understands the value of keeping the fuel tank
above empty on road rides. Make sure to start the season off with shorter rides without too much elevation gain to get your legs back into spinning shape before building up to longer, more
difficult rides. These classic rides near Bend will start the wheels turning.

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