The Birkie is a 200 kilometer (124 miles) Brevet in northwestern Oregon. From, Forest Grove through Timber, and Vernonia to Birkenfeld and back, the route passes through the lush green Oregon forests. And, it ways rains – you can count on it.
The Birkie
This would be my first 200k ride since I broke my leg in November of 2009.
Fifty souls left the McMenanmis Grand Lodge at 7:00 am, in the rain. Joanne and I were riding our single rain bikes, hers is a custom Titanium DeSalvo and mine a RedLine Titanium Cross. Titanium is our frame material choice for a rain bike because titanium does not rust.
Leaving Forest Grove toward the west, we are soon in farm land on Gales Creek Road. Gales Creek was a small community with a gas station, store and tavern. Only the tavern survives.
Then we join Highway 6 westbound for a short distance. On past Birkies, Hwy 6 would be filled vehicles hauling ATV, sand rails, etc speeding toward the coast. They have always been loud, obnoxious and just plain annoying. However, today they were missing. Perhaps the recent raise in the cost of gas, but more likely it was the heavy rain that was keeping them at home.
Leaving Hwy 6, we turned to the north on Timber Road. While glad to be off of Hwy 6, Timber Rd is a 600 foot climb. It starts innocently enough, gently rising as it follows Beaver Creek (how so just like Oregon), but then you come upon a hair pin turn and the climbing fun begins. After just a few short miles, you crest the summit and drop down in the the timber depressed town of Timber. It has a post office, but I did not see a store, a gas station or even a tavern. The only way to leave Timber is up, so I climbed another hill to the land of the barking dogs and then dropped down to Highway 26.
Birkie Elevation
We crossed Hwy 26, which is a very good thing. Hwy 26 is the major route between Portland and the Coast and as such, it is very busy. But today, there was no traffic! I did not have to wait; I rolled up, stopped and crossed as traffic was clear.
Continuing on Timber Road, Joanne and I soon encountered the first of many log trucks rolling down the road. (I have to wonder why folks say the timber industry is in decline in Oregon when you see working log trucks on a weekend.) Most gave us plenty of room, but some did not.
After 36 miles, we came to Vernonia. With an estimated population of just over 2,300, this would be the largest town we would pass through on the route. Here we stopped at the warm and friendly Black Bear Cafe. Joanne had decided she had enough of the rain, the cold and and log trucks, and had decided to head back to Forest Grove. I continued on not because I was looking for more rain, more cold and more log trucks, but because I am in training for The Lewis and Clark Ultra.
Leaving Vernonia, there is a short side trip that exists just to add distance to route and then you head off to the place name of Mist. However, it was on this section of the route that I had a flat tire. Fixing a flat in the rain is never fun, and I took a long time fixing this one. I wanted to make sure that I found the cause of the flat and fixed it, so I would not be doing this again. But on the bright side, while I was fixing my flat, the rain stopped!
At Mist is, well there was mist, and a highway junction to Ranier, some well kept homes and nothing else. In five more miles I reached the turn around point of Birkenfeld which does have a tavern and a store with a cafe and Oregon State Liquor Store. Instead of food or liquor, I got a Tomato Juice.
Birkenfeld is the turn around point for the route. Now, you retrace your route back through Mist, Vernonia, Timber and Gales Creek to Forest Grove. Leaving Birkenfeld, the rain started again, but it soon ended leaving a dry ride back to Vernonia. During this stretch, I was working against a mild head wind. My speed dropped but I was still passing riders one by one or in small groups. Nearing Vernonia, I had to work extra hard to catch a young lady who was riding exceptionally well. We formed a two-person pace line a took one minute pulls into the wind allowing me to recover.
At Vernonia and again at the Black Bear, I needed some calories, but did not want to waste time waiting for a burger or a sandwich, so I ordered soup. It came early, and I ate it quickly and I was off. However, something was wrong. I was bonking; I had no energy. My speed and heart rate dropped. Folks that I had been passing were now passing me. Perhaps I did not take in enough calories or I blew my muscles chasing down riders. Whatever it was, I was suffering. But at least the sun came out and warmed me.
I limped up and over the Timber hill and dropped down to a small store on Hwy 6. There, I filled up on calories (beef burrito and a Frappuccino). This gave me enough energy to ride the 14 miles back to Forest Grove. And yes, just as I entered Forest Grove, it started raining again. By the time I reached McMenanmis on the farr side of Forest Grove, I was soaked again.
My first 200k in nearly a year and a half was hard on me. I was very tired at the end. I must wonder about my plan to ride a 300k in two weeks. But in the end, I had fun!
Stats:
Total Time: Something just over ten hours
Ride Time: 8:29
Distance: 124.29 miles
Average Speed: 14.7 mph
Average Heart Rate: 122 bpm
Heart Rate
