After the MADE Show wrapped up, I dragged my exhausted body out of Portland and headed about 1.5 hours south, determined to relax with a super-chill ride.
For this bikepacking trip, our route was the C2C trail, which runs from the city of Corvallis—home to Block15, the brewery that collaborated with Chris King for the MADE promotion—to Ona Beach. We planned to cover about 60 miles (approx. 90 km) over two days.
It’s a universal truth that when a bunch of chatty, laid-back friends get together, it takes forever to actually leave. But since we’re experts at having a good time, we started by saying "Cheers!" Living in America, the land of "freedom" and self-responsibility, we figured we’d just do as the locals do.
We spent the first 10 miles on the road, chatting about the show and bikes, which helped break the ice for those who were just meeting for the first time. There’s really something about "saddle talk" that works magic.
Once the road section ended, we eased into some gravel.
We moved along, scattering and gathering (I was consistently at the back). You know how it is—the fast climbers get plenty of rest at the top, while those of us lagging behind are greeted with, "Oh, you're here! Let's get going!"
My strategy to counter that was to start eating or drinking the second I arrived. That way, they’d wait for me to finish! Plus, when you’re eating, people gravitate toward you—and if you head over to someone else who's eating, you can buy yourself more break time. That was my survival tactic.
What kind of trail food is popular?
Since everyone started snacking the moment we stopped, I asked around to see what they’d brought.
Eri: "Cody, what are you eating?"
Cody: "Trail mix from Trader Joe's. You can't beat the classic combo of dried fruit and nuts. You have to chew it a lot, so you don't get too thirsty, and nuts are perfect for staying active. Want some?"
Eri: "Liebow, what are you having?"
Liebow: "I usually bring dried mangoes on my rides! They’re easy to share with everyone, and they really keep me full. I went with chili mango this time, but I think I prefer the regular one (laughs). Want one, Eri? It’s spicy though."
Eri: "Aaron, what's your snack?"
Aaron: "Peanut butter-filled pretzels! I portioned them into Ziploc bags. It feels less guilty eating them out here than at home. You get the sweet and salty hit all at once, plus it’s great for calories. I love these! Want some?"
Eri: "Selena, what are you snacking on?"
Selena: "Mario gummies that Minami gave me as a souvenir! A 1-Up to get my energy back! Not that I ever run out, though! haha"
Eri: "Jeremy, what's your choice?"
Jeremy: "Popcorn! It seems like most ride snacks are sweet, so I figured everyone might be craving something salty. It’s a bit bulky, but it’s light, everyone loves it, and it's essential for a big group ride. It’s fun to share, right? Have some!"
Eri: "Curtis, what about you?"
Curtis: "Blackberries! Oregon is famous for berries; if you go for a gravel ride, you're almost guaranteed to run into some wild ones. The big, ripe, pitch-black ones are delicious. Mmm, can't stop eating them! You better have some before the bears get them, Eri!"
I usually tend to prepare my own snacks solo, but this was a real eye-opener. It turns out "shareable" snacks are the most popular. It’s impressive that they'd even bring popcorn—leave it to the Americans to know how to have a good time.
Anyway, time flew by and the sun started to set. A bit of a worrywart, I pedaled on while fretting, "What if we don't make it to the campsite before dark?" I caught glimpses of the view from the summit, the perfectly maintained singletrack, and the dreamlike, pastoral scenery, but I had to keep moving so I wouldn't fall further behind the group.
We slid into the campsite just before total darkness and spent a chill evening enjoying Japanese curry, wine, beer, and whiskey together. The next morning, I woke up to coffee brewed by Liebow, and we were off.
As I was grinding along, our saviors appeared halfway up a hill: Jeremy from SyCip and Curtis from Retrotec!
They started pushing me up the hill with a mix of leg power and e-bike assist. They told me, "Don't worry, we'll bring a rope to pull you along next year!" While I thought, "I really should train," it was a great reminder that e-bikes are just tools to help everyone stay at the same pace and have fun together. Thanks for all the help...
Descending the mountain and feeling the sea breeze on my skin, I knew we were close to the finish.
Once again, getting to ride with the amazing group surrounding SimWorks has become an unforgettable memory.
To the entire SimWorks USA team, working so hard across borders: thanks for everything! We were filled with so many good vibes over these two days—let's meet up and do it all again, healthy and happy, next year!
