Put your skinny tires on the road

With flat farmland roads and winding mountain climbs all within a few miles’ radius of Sisters, this area has become a magnet for cyclists from all over Oregon — and beyond.

The area offers a wide variety of cycling experiences. Traffic is generally not a problem and the weather is consistently good from March through October.

Whether you are looking for a pleasant morning tour of the countryside or a challenging climb into the craggy magnificence of the Cascades, you’ll find plenty of riding options to suit.

“The nice thing about Sisters is there are enough backroads that you only have to jump on the highway in a few places,” said Brad Boyd, an avid cyclist and owner of Eurosports sports shop in Sisters.

And Jacquie Zanck of Sisters’ new cycling shop, Blazin’ Saddles, notes that even on Highway 126, new bike-friendly shoulders make riding safe for the whole family.

Avid cyclists recommend several routes for cyclists. Both shops will provide you with maps with routes highlighted and tailored to your particular needs and interests. You can ride as far and as hard as you wish in Sisters.

16-20 miles: Ride along scenic Indian Ford Road. This is a popular ride that takes cyclists north on Camp Polk Road to Indian Ford Road, then west along this beautiful back road with lovely mountain views. You can loop back to Sisters along Highway 20 for a 16-mile ride or go out-and-back for a ride of just over 19 miles.

30 miles: The Fryrear Loop is mostly flat and easy, covering the flatlands east of Sisters. This ride requires some highway riding. Boyd recommends that riders head east on Highway 126 to Cloverdale Road. Turn south (right) on Cloverdale and ride through farmland with majestic mountain views. Cross Highway 20 to pick up Gist Road; turn east on Plainview Road and return to Highway 20. Cross the highway again and ride north on Fryrear Road across sagebrush flats and through a juniper-studded canyon to return to Highway 126 for the return ride to Sisters.

Zanck notes that the newly widened Cloverdale Road is now family-friendly and makes for one of the most scenic routes in the Sisters Country.

35 miles: You can extend the Indian Ford ride out to Camp Sherman, riding along Highway 20. If you are still feeling frisky, the backroads of Camp Sherman can add another 20 scenic miles to your route.

40 miles: “Riding down to the Crescent Moon Alpaca Ranch is one of our favorite rides,” says Zanck.

This route takes you through some nice farm and ranch country. Head out Highway 126 to Holmes Road. Turn left and ride up Holmes to a T-intersection; turn right at the stop sign. Ride 10 miles or so to Lower Bridge Road and turn right. Travel 2-3 miles to Buckhorn Road, where the ranch is located. Expect some moderate climbs.

50 miles: Make the Indian Ford Loop, then tack on a climb up Highway 242 to the McKenzie Summit. This is a classic Sisters ride and the spectacular scenery is worth the hard work.

80 miles: When Highway 242 is completely open, you can go up-and-over and back again. This is an 80-mile trek with about 7,000 feet of climbing.

96 miles: If you’re looking for a real challenge, try taking on Sisters’ three major climbs in one ride. Take Elm Street straight south from the center of Sisters and climb up Three Creek Road.

This route is one of Sisters’ toughest climbs — 14 miles to the end of the road. The mountain views are spectacular, but you’ll work for them. You’ll conquer about 3,000 feet of climb, with some pitches as steep as 10 to 12 percent. Then come back to town and head up to McKenzie Summit. On your return, head out Indian Ford Road to Green Ridge and make that climb.
That’ll earn you some time in the hot tub.

If you are unfamiliar with the area or just enjoy riding with a group, Eurosports offers Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning rides from March through October. Ride difficulty and pace is determined by the overall fitness and skill level of the group on any particular day. The group stays together and nobody gets dropped out.

Some riders opt to extend the ride to three or four hours and they pick up the pace at the extension point.

Sisters Athletic Club (SAC) is another focal point for cycling in Sisters. The club sends many riders to Cycle Oregon each year.

A ride book at SAC offers opportunities for riders to hook up for excursions.

Sisters is a great place to break into the world of road cycling. Even if you haven’t ridden since you were a kid, both Eurosports and Blazin’ Saddles can help you with equipment and advice. Cyclists should be aware of the particular demands of the Sisters Country.

Take plenty of water along. Many of the best rides don’t offer the chance to refill a water bottle. Temperatures can vary wildly from the flats to the summits. Wear leg and arm warmers and a windbreaker on your rides into the mountains.

The weather is changeable and thunderstorms can brew up quickly in the summertime.

Road conditions are generally good. Some of the backroads can be rough and there may be cinders on the road shoulders from snow management early in the season. The cinders are usually swept away by the time spring riding season rolls around.

In the springtime there can be ice in shaded areas in the morning.

All the usual safety equipment should be on hand — from your helmet to your repair kit — and it’s a good idea to let folks know what route you are taking and when you expect to return.

Make sure your bike fits properly

Bicycle fit is of critical importance to your enjoyment of your cycling trips in Sisters.

Brad Boyd of Eurosports notes that bicycle fit formulas are based on the physiology of a 20-something white male — and most of the folks he sees in Sisters are 40 and up and both men and women are hitting the road.

Boyd recommends getting a good personal bike fitting before you crank the pedals — and he insists the fitting should start with a flexibility test. The key is to fit your bike to your body, not your body to your bike.

Fit can change due to an injury or other physical restriction. It can also change as you get in better shape or gain flexibility.

Boyd says that good fit will increase a cyclist’s comfort, help prevent injury and increase comfort. The greater the mileage you plan to cover, the more important fit becomes.

“There’s no reason to be uncomfortable on your bike,” Boyd says.

Get your fitting before you bring your bike to Sisters (don’t forget that flexibility test) or Boyd can provide the service in his shop.

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