Proving the prognosticators wrong, it appears we’ll all be around to celebrate another running of the Rapture route in 2012. Personally, I wish the real rapture had happened - I would have liked to see all the zealous jeesus-types disappear giving us free reign to fuck shit up for a few months before we all went to hell. Since that didn’t happen, we might as well run another version of the Rapture through the coast range. Expect more-o-the-same as last year.
PLEASE NOTE - this ride is NOT for the faint of heart. And not because it’s a long, hard route. This route travels through remote areas of the coast range and any mechanical or injury will be serious. And if you get lost - you’re fucked. No two ways about that - this ain’t no Dalles Mountain ride.
Before we get into the remaining details, let me tell you what this is NOT. Due to the vagaries of the folks who own these roads, bike races are not allowed in this portion of the coast range. However – individuals are allowed to ride bikes as they please. Therefore, in order to avoid raising the ire of the “man”, this is not a race. This is not a group ride. This is not a bike event. You get what I’m saying? This is nothing but a gathering of like-minded folks who like to ride bikes and drink beer, each of whom will go on their own individual ride into the coast range. You may just happen to be starting and finishing at the same place, and likely riding the same route. We will give out maps and cue sheets of a particular ride we like to do – you can choose to follow it or not…
Because this is NOT a bike race, there are some things you should know should you choose to ride. You are riding as an individual. That means YOU are responsible for YOU. No one else is responsible for you – especially not us. If you choose to go riding, you should also be aware of the following:
- The route is very remote and the majority of these roads are blocked to vehicle traffic so don’t rely on a rescue. There is no easy way out of the coast range.
- There are NO services en route. This means you are carrying ALL your food for your ride.
- There is potable water available at one location, at ~23 miles. Beyond this you will need to either carry all your water or plan on bringing iodine tablets or a small water filter – there are numerous creeks and rivers en route.
- There is no support available whatsoever – if your bike breaks down you need to be able to fix it. Remember you are responsible for yourself – this is an individual ride after all – so you cannot rely on another rider to bail you out. We have neither the desire nor the ability to save your ass if something goes wrong.
- You will need an accurate bike computer or a GPS to follow the cue sheet. We highly recommend a GPS. We will have a downloadable GPS file of the route available.
- Optional items: lights, compass, spare tire, good navigation skills, cell phone (there is likely no service available en route), SPOT transceiver.
Details:
- When: May 5, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
- Where: Super secret location near Yamhill, Oregon
- Bike-ing: 70 miles, 95% dirt, 7,000+ ft of climbing
- Beer-ing: As always, there’ll be a keg-o-beer for all your drinking pleasures
- Camping: Camping is available the night before and the night of – May 4 & 5. Camping is $17 per site, per night - limited to one family or 4 individuals. More details on camping when you register.
- You can read more about the route and last year’s edition here.
Registration is MANDATORY this year. Sucks, I know - especially for me… We’re restricted to hosting 100 people - so if we get over 100 people signed up, we’ll do as we did for the Stampede - you’re automatically in if you rode last year, rest of you get waitlisted. You’ll get a registration confirmation email with lots more details after you sign up.
Registration will only be open until midnight April 20, 2012.