Mt. Bachelor is probably best known for ripping powder on bluebird days, but in the summer, the bike park has some sick downhill as well.
It’s been nearly 20 years since I rode downhill at Mt. Hood’s Ski Bowl, but after the first lap at Bachelor, and some excellent tips from my co-riders, I’m instantly hooked on downhill riding again. Whether ripping through the trees or going high on the man-made banks, Bachelor has it all. My advice: either rent or buy a full-suspension bike with at least 6 inches of travel—I was on my hardtail trail bike, which is doable, but definitely not as fun.
The ride: Bachelor has 13 miles of downhill trails serviced by two lifts: Pine Marten and Sunshine Accelerator. Pine Marten requires an all-mountain ticket, $42 per day. Sunshine is $19 for a day ticket. Pine Marten has rides from intermediate to expert, featuring trails that are traditional single track to machine built. Sunshine caters to beginning riders.
What’s needed: Chairlift ticket, helmet, closed-toe shoes and a bike.
Gear sourcing: Pine Mtn. Sports, Crow’s Feet Commons, Hutch’s Bicycles and others have bikes for sale or rent and protective gear. But if you’re new to downhill, Bachelor has you covered. They rent bikes, protective gear and even shoes.
This article appears in Jul 11-18, 2018.
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