Salsa Ochoco Overlander 2022

Salsa Ochoco Overlander 2022

Bikepacking a smorgasboard of gravel, paved, and forest roads, catered meals, beer, views for days (4 days to be exact), live music, yoga, great coffee, and even better company.

That my friends, is The Salsa Ochoco Overlander in a nutshell

With wildfires blazing in Oregon and unsafe air qualities, the days leading up to the 5th Annual Bikepacking event were filled with nervous anticipation about whether the ride would happen. Fortunately, the air cleared up and 50 riders gathered at Good Bike Co. early Friday morning for steaming hot breakfast burritos, coffee from Back Porch Coffee Roasters and tasty espresso drinks served up by Autobahn Coffee before the grand departure. There was a particular buzz in the air consisting of 7:00 am bike-nerdery and the excitement of reuniting with friends made at Overlanders-passed.

A 200 mile loop from the bike shop in Prineville

This year’s route meandered up the Crooked River Scenic Bikeway and into the Ochoco National Forest on Day 1. Riders enjoyed a 63 mile journey on mixed terrain with +5,250 ft/-3,000 ft of elevation through gorgeous ranch lands, open plains, deep green trees, a midday aid station, and finally on to camp at Antelope Reservoir where riders were warmly welcomed by event staff and pointed toward ice-cold refreshments. After pitching tents and getting settled in, riders relaxed around camp and swapped stories from the day while munching on snacks and tipping back Boneyard Beer and Elixir (Non-Alcoholic CBD beverage), bubbly water or hot tea. The sunset glowed warm over camp as the last few riders trickled in and Alia Fern from Bhakti Earth Yoga serenaded the group with her acoustic guitar and sweet voice. A hot dinner feast of enchiladas, abundant salad, and delicious dessert topped off the day. Folks sat around the fire, enjoyed the bright Milky Way overhead, and eventually retreated to rest up for the next day’s adventure.

The smell of espresso floated through the air

Chad from Autobahn threw down drip coffee and lattes for those who fancy the froth. Hot breakfast was abundant, with leftovers from dinner and scrambled eggs, bagels, fruit, and plenty of smiling faces. Some riders took advantage of the morning Yoga and stretch session while others shared bike adventure stories and packed up camp. The route continued on with Day 2 taking riders about 50 miles with +3,400 ft/-4,000 ft of elevation through vast prairies and rich desert colors on varied gravel roads – some of which could be described as “soupy” washboard – then onto buttery-fresh black top to finish out the day. Riders pulled into Deep Creek Campground for the second evening of great food, gorgeous forest landscape, camaraderie, beer, live music and laughter around the campfire.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Riders awoke from their tents and were once again welcomed to the day with hot coffee and a hearty breakfast from the happy faces of volunteers and event staff. Alia led morning Yoga, tents were packed away and bikes loaded up with gear for Day 3 featuring a “Choose Your Own Adventure” option. Continuing along, this section of the route offered a choice between a shorter 26 mile ride and longer 49 mile and +4,170 elevation version, both sending riders up and over Mount Pisgah, topping out at near 7,000 ft with an optional out-and-back to the lookout tower. The lookout offers up superb views, well worth the challenging terrain to get there. A bit foggy mid-way up the mountain, riders basked in the glory at the top of Mt. Pisgah. A few even took a pull off some Ochoco Overlander 2022 Strong Whiskey – a special surprise of individual bottles was hidden on each rider’s bike the night before. A rowdy descent ensued with rocky roads making big, silly smiles on the faces of those with mountain biking roots. The route peeled off onto a dirt-surface forest road, complete with berms and roots, a treat for those that like get a little wild on their loaded bikes. Turning back onto smooth pavement, the final stretch to camp at Walton Lake was a gorgeous and relaxed way to finish the day. Most riders got to camp with plenty of time to wander around the lake, get some fishing in, snack and drink and take in all the tales from the day from fellow riders. Chicken Parmesan over penne pasta with colorful salad, breadsticks, and vegetarian/vegan options for those with food restrictions was served before folks gathered around the fire, listening to another set of live tunes from Alia. The stars shone bright and a crisp Fall feeling was in the air as riders exchanged gear preferences and stories about life and bike rides.

Day 4

We headed out from Walton Lake and took riders 48 miles skirting the Mill Creek Wilderness through the Ochoco National Forest back into Prineville and finishing at Good Bike Co. with about +2,725 ft/-5,000 ft of elevation. More amazing scenery and gravel riding was consumed, including an aid station at a most jaw-droppingly gorgeous viewpoint. As riders made their way back into Prineville, many caught up with others and rode the traditional Ochoco Overlander Peloton into town, rolling into Good Bike Co. with ear-to-ear grins and dirty bikes. A fiesta commenced at the bike shop, with a full-on taco bar from the great folks at The Sandwich Factory, more beverages from Boneyard Beer and Elixir, and most importantly – riders shared what a great time they had, remembered funny moments, talked about how good a shower and their own beds would feel later, and celebrated the accomplishment of riding 200 miles and 15,500 ft of elevation gain over 4 days.

Old friends, new friends, and personal growth

The 2022 Ochoco Overlander was a whole lot more than a gorgeous adventure bike ride with good food. It was an opportunity for old and new friends to come together, challenge themselves and even experience a bit of personal growth. With many riders returning for a second, third or even fourth go at the Overlander, friendships are forged that extend well beyond the weekend. It’s a way for old riding buddies to meet up for an adventure, it’s a conduit for making riding pals or simply challenging yourself with the comfort that there will be hot food and smiling faces waiting for you at the end of each day. The Salsa Ochoco Overlander is a must-do event for those looking to ride an amazing route in a remote area with a little support, a lot of great food, some live music, delicious coffee, and the best kind of company.

Register for the Upcoming Ochoco Overlander

Stay in the know. Get your name on the Overlander Waitlist.

Check out The Path Less Pedaled Video from Russ and Laura highlighting the bikes of the 2022 Ochoco Overlander. Follow along with Good Bike Co. on social media and keep an eye on the 2023 Ochoco Overlander page for details and registration.

The bikes of the Ochoco Overlander

A special thank you

To the volunteers, event staff, and riders - this is a unique event that takes a huge amount of logistics, planning, and careful execution and we truly appreciate everyone that came together to make the 2022 ride a success.

Big thanks to our sponsors:

Salsa Cycles, Boneyard Beer, Backporch Coffee Roasters, Swift Industries, Autobahn Coffee, The Path Less Pedaled, Katie Sox Photography

Prepare for Bikepacking the Ochoco Overlander

Tips for a Multi-Day Bikepacking Adventure

So, you’ve committed to riding over 200 miles of gravel through some of Central Oregon’s most beautiful and rugged terrain. Step One accomplished. Don’t worry, it’s only 15,000 feet of climbing.

It may be hot. It may be cold. It may be cold and rainy. It’s all part of the fun. You’ll get there and have an amazing adventure along the way.

Training for Your Adventure

Other than having fun, Step Two is perhaps the most important step of the entire ride. And it happens well before day one when you show up at Good Bike Co.

Chances are that if you’ve registered for the Ochoco Overlander that you’re well aware of the adventuresome physical challenge it may entail. This isn’t a race. The only person you’re competing with is yourself and your own stamina. Some days we may ride near 80 miles and climb over 5000’ of elevation. If you’re not prepared, you’re going to be miserable – not fun.

One sure way to make the ride more enjoyable is to train well in advance of day one (see tip 6 below). Don’t wait. Start today.

Dial it in, Put in the Time, Prepare Mentally

Though we don’t have a specific training sequence we endorse for the Ochoco Overlander, bikepacking.com is a valuable resource and has produced a helpful video with Logan Watts discussing training tips for bikepacking. If you need a training practice, we highly recommend you take 15 minutes to check it out, summarized in the following 11 tips:

1. Get a bike fit.

2. Dial in your kit early.

3. Match your terrain.

4. Hire a coach.

5. Pick up proper training tools.

6. Put in the time.

7. Build a community.

8. Start route research early.

9. Stretching and non-cycling activities.

10. Watch your diet.

11. Prepare mentally.

Get Your Gear Together

If step two is about physical preparation then assessing and preparing your gear is Step Three. Proper bikepacking gear can make or break a trip.

Your days bikepacking will mostly be spent in the saddle. Though Good Bike Co. will provide some sag support, for the most part you are responsible for your gear. We don’t provide any gear or equipment.

Bikepacking Equipment Checklist

You don’t need the latest and greatest equipment for a successful bikepacking adventure. Small and lightweight is helpful. You mostly just need to know your gear and know what works for you. Be prepared for whatever might come your way.

We’ve put together a simple bikepacking gear checklist that has worked for us over the years. Look it over. Compare the equipment you currently have to that which you may need for your bikepacking trip. If you need a solid bikepacking tent, Six Moons Designs Lunar Solo reviewed by Ryan Wilson, is a tidy, light-weight solution.

Remember, you’ll be carrying your gear on your bike while riding on gravel through potentially cold and rainy conditions, then crashing out at night in a tent. Be prepared and enjoy the ride.

Good Bike Co. carries a variety of bikepacking and gravel riding gear. Contact us if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Look towards the Horizon

And there will be many beautiful horizons. We’ve witnessed some amazing sunsets over the Painted Hills of John Day National Fossil Beds National Monument and taken in the vistas and high desert air of the Ochoco National Forest. The Ochoco Overlander provides lots to look forward to.

The best way to make your bikepacking adventure the most enjoyable it can be is to start preparing for it now.

The point of this ride is to challenge yourself amidst beautiful scenery and in the company of friends – some old, and hopefully some new. Ultimately, have fun and make memories.