Ride:Three Capes Brevet
Organizers: Susan France
Date: Saturday, March 26
Start Time: 6:00 AM
Registration Time: 05:15AM-05:45AM
Start Location: McMenamins Grand Lodge Please park and gather in the far east parking lot away from the building.
Address: 3505 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR
Finish By: 02:00 (2:00AM)
Entry Fee: $15 ($20 for non-RUSA members). Checks should be payable to "Oregon Randonneurs".
Driving Directions: See McMenamins' website.

Yes, lights, leg bands and vest/sash are required!

Description:
This is your organizer's favorite 300. The coast range, the coast and just enough Willamette Valley riding. You might consider it an ORR classic …

The brevet starts at a favorite location, the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. Several folks made it clear that this was a great place to start and end a brevet. The route heads west along Gales Creek, then up Timber Rd several miles before turning around at an informational control. Returning to Wilson River Hwy, ride over Wilson River Summit (elev. 1586) through the Tillamook Forest on Hwy 6 to Tillamook, the first timed control . From Tillamook, you ride around the south end of Tillamook Bay on the scenic Three Capes Coastal Bicycle route. First, you climb Cape Meares. On a clear day you can catch glimpses of Bayocean below. Then, you ride up and down a few times passing near Oceanside and then down to Netarts.

The route then heads along Netarts Bay, passes Cape Lookout State Park and up over Cape Lookout, which has the steepest sections of climbing on the route. Approximately halfway up is a viewpoint, the perfect spot to catch your breath and take in the view. After reaching the top of Cape Lookout, it is a steep and fast decent to the Sandlake Dunes. Watch for cracks in the pavement on this downhill. At Sandlake, there is a small store, a grange and many dune vehicles on a nice weekend.

The route travels inland a bit as you continue your way south toward the third of the three capes, Cape Kiwanda, which is neither steep nor high. After Cape Kiwanda, you enter the Pacific City (an OPEN control), with a brewery on the right, and a great coffee shop on the left. Zigzag through Pacific City and ride along the Nehalem Bay back to Hwy 101. After a short distance, you head inland and along one of the quietest and best sections of the route, the Little Nestucca to Sourgrass Summit (elev. 672).

After crossing the Coast Range you head for Grand Ronde. The Spirit Mountain Casino is a good place to stop if you need services. It is usually in this location that riders notice one terrific tailwind coming in off the ocean. Sit up and enjoy it. Next, the route meanders along the Yamhill River then to Willamina, Sheridan and Ballston before heading towards Amity and the Eola Hills. Next, head north skirting several vineyards and wetlands back to Forest Grove.

What to do after the ride? If you finish before 11PM, you can use the soaking pool. Bring a suit and towel then exchange your driver's license for a key to the pool at the front desk. If you stay at the Grand Lodge, you can use the pool for free, otherwise it is $5. (No longer can you get pool access with a meal.) You can get something to eat (& drink!) until 11PM at the Ironwork Grill, 2AM in the Doctor's Office Bar. Grand Lodge also has several common rooms. We will have snacks, drinks and such in a room at the finish.

Cumulative elevation gain is estimated at 7000 feet.

Need more info about Forest Grove services? Check the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce website.

You may wish to review the "we're probably gonna change it anyway" cue sheet in XLS

All riders should be familiar with and abide by rider expectations.

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