The neighboring cities of Eugene and Springfield are located in the southernmost portion of the Willamette Valley, about 100 miles south of Portland. Lane County, where Eugene and Springfield are located, is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean and by the Cascades on the east. Touring is tremendously popular, and the region plays host to some of the best mountain biking in Oregon. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon, and it is a center of bicycling culture. The number of bicycle clubs, bike advocacy groups, and alternative transportation organizations found here is mind boggling.
Group rides, tours, races, clinics, and bike festivals are commonplace events.
Eugene is alive with active, bike-riding people. The good stuff is in Oakridge, about 40 miles southwest of Eugene on OR 58. The opportunities around Oakridge are gaining a national reputation. Lovers of challenging single- track are making Oakridge a vacation destination. Oakridge locals are getting used to seeing lycra-clad geeks wandering the aisles of their grocery stores.