Sponsored by Wheel Sport Bicycles

Whether you’ve spent all winter hibernating under a mountain of blankets or hitting the mountains on skis, spring is here. It’s time to emerge, blinking, on wobbly baby-gazelle legs, into the bright sun of bike season. And a spring road trip is the best way to dive into bike season wheels-first, whether you’re chasing a change of scenery or a chance at good dirt.

With enough trail mileage for a couple long weekends or a Spring Break week, each of the following road trip destinations will satisfy your cycling cravings and build up your stoke—and legs—for the rest of the season.

Hood River

Its location at the confluence of the wet, west side of the Cascades and its arid rain shadow gives Hood River, Oregon, the best of both worlds: amazing dirt and milder weather than farther west. Post Canyon, 10 minutes from downtown, puts those pieces together for some of the best gravity-oriented spring riding in the region.

The well-graded climbs of Lower and Upper 8-Track are easy on early-season legs. In addition to being exciting descents in their own right, these trails access the massive gap jumps and big blowing berms of Bad Motor Scooter and Grand Prix.

For cross-country-oriented riding, 7 Streams trailhead connects to a tight network of winding, wooded singletrack in the Family Man Staging Area. A return trip on Kleeway provides a forgiving early-season re-entry into flow trails. Ride these trails the day after a spring drizzle for dirt that you’ll be dreaming about all season long. Bonus: in addition to a handful of iconic bike shops, downtown Hood River boasts some of the best post-ride dining and drinking options in the region.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth, on the sunny east slope of Washington’s Central Cascades, is a popular late-April road trip destinations for obvious reasons. The first is the dirt. Leavenworth locals and the Central chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance have transformed the Leavenworth Ski Hill just outside of town into a pine-scented singletrack nirvana. The ridgeline flow of Rosy Boa and Ribbed are both Evergreen State classics, rounded out by the bi-directional flow of 4 the Boys and Freund Canyon. The second reason? The scenery. Save this trip for late April, when peak balsamroot bloomage competes with the peaks of Mt. Stuart and the snow-covered Central Cascades as well as a birds’-eye view of the Bavarian-village vibe of Leavenworth.

Central Washington Sage and Singletrack

Surrounded by wheat fields and rangeland, Beezley Hill Recreation Area is an oasis of sagebrush and sandy singletrack on the edge of downtown Ephrata in central Washington. A little over twenty miles of singletrack wind on Beezley Hill, most of it built with bikes in mind. With smooth, swoopy turns and low-angle pedaling, the trails are a good transition to dirt from months on the trainer. But a handful of expert-level descents with big drops and wood features will quickly shake off the cobwebs.

West of Ephrata, near Quincy, the Ancient Lakes trail system traces cliff-lined coulees, basalt outcroppings and pothole ponds that are the remnants of the Great Missoula Floods that scoured the Columbia Plateau. The routes here tend to be rockier than the other trail systems on this list, with some sections of steep scree and sagebrush and thistle that often threaten to swallow the tread. But the views—across the broad band of basalt that towers over the Columbia River, and the small lakes below it—are second to none.

Bike Recommendations

Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp: With its 2X power assist and Stumpjumper-inspired singletrack handling, the Turbo Levo SL will let you play until dark—and beyond.

Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp: Pairing uncanny descending capability with unexpected climb-ability, the Stumpjumper EVO is a do-it-all bruiser with style to spare. There’s a reason it took home PinkBike’s 2020 Mountain Bike of the Year.

Specialized CruX: Go farther, faster on your gravel adventures. The lightest gravel bike in the world marries racing pedigree with the ability to get rowdy.

Riding Gear Check Up

Your accessories played just as hard as you and your bike did last year, so give your gear closet a once-over. Inspect your helmet for cracks and replace it if you find any or if the helmet is more than three to five years old—the materials used to make helmets break down over time and lose their impact-absorbing ability. Clean your hydration bladder, or replace it if it’s too funky. Clean and tighten your cleats if riding clipless. And, finally, re-up your riding essentials: pump and levers, CO2, spare tube, tubeless repair plugs, chain master link, chain tool/multitool, and, perhaps most importantly, a first aid kit.

Helmet recommendation: The Ambush 2, Specialized’s flagship trail helmet, has been redesigned from the chin up. With loads of adjustability for a personalized fit and lots of vents for maximum airflow, you won’t even know it’s there. But with a five-star safety rating from the venerable Virginia Tech Helmet Safety Ratings, you’ll be glad it is.

Apparel recommendation: Lightweight, durable and downright comfortable, the Specialized Trail Shorts are the quiver killer of riding gear. With an understated yet stylish cut, you can go from spring shredding to summer wedding. (Check your RSVP card for dress code first, please.)

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Did you skid your bike into the garage and close the door on its dirt-covered drivetrain and mud-caked frame at the end of last season? Or did you keep riding all winter through rain, snow, and road salt? Either way, it’s very likely in need of some TLC. Get your bike ready for spring with the bike maintenance triage list below. It will help you prioritize your spring-cleaning tasks, from “anyone can do” to “leave it to the professionals.”

Beginner Level Maintenance

First, give your bike a thorough wash to remove grime and salt—mild soap and water for the bulk of the bike, degreaser for the drivetrain (chain and gears). Wiping off grime is the single easiest thing you can do to keep your bike running smoothly (and, more importantly, looking good). It also gives you a clean canvas for inspecting the frame and components for any obvious cracks, gouges, or wear. If using a hose, make sure to put it on a low-pressure setting; high-pressure hosing will spray debris into spots it shouldn’t be.

If you’re running tubeless tires, now is a good time to top off your sealant. Sealant dries out over time as it’s exposed to air in the course of sealing holes, so a complete refill at least every six months of riding is a good rule of thumb. No need to remove the old sealant; just remove the valve core and pour in more, making sure to use the same brand every time. (Different brands have different formulations that may not play well together.) Take the opportunity to replace your no-doubt gunkified valve core too.

Intermediate Level Bike TLC

If your shifter and (mechanical) brake cables and housing haven’t been replaced after an autumn or winter of wet riding, they likely have sufficient grime penetration to cause slow and sticky shifting. Check your brake and shift cables for nicks and proper tension. If you find nicks or fraying, replace the cable. If they’re stretched out, replacing your cables and housing will bring back those snappy shifts. Otherwise, pop a couple drops of chain lube on your shift cables to keep them sliding smoothly through the season.

Although neither winter riding nor winter storage affects disc brakes, now’s a good time to bleed your brake lines. If you ride regularly, manufacturers generally recommend that you bleed your brakes once a year, because contaminants get sucked into the system through the pistons. And it’s probably been more than a year, hasn’t it? At the very least, lubricate sticky brake pistons with mineral oil or brake fluid, whichever your manufacturer recommends. And check your pads and rotors for excessive wear and replace as necessary.

Your chain probably bore the brunt of sloppy autumn or winter conditions. Check your chain for wear with a chain-elongation gauge and replace it if indicated. As a general rule, chains should be replaced every six months, but sooner is always better; an excessively worn chain will wear the cassette and chainrings to match, necessitating a much more costly drivetrain replacement.

Another moving part that did the unheralded work of getting your bike through foul weather: suspension seals. These unobtrusive bits kept the grit and grime out of your expensive suspension. Give them a happy retirement.

Leave It to the Expert

Shock manufacturers’ recommendations vary, but if it’s been more than 50-100 hours of riding time or a year since your last service (or you don’t remember—no judgment here), it’s time for some expert TLC. Regular service will extend the life of your suspension and will make a noticeable difference in the quality of your ride.

Now’s a good time for a shop to check and service frame pivots and other high-load bearings, which have likely developed squeaks and creaks over the preceding year. Like shock service, this wear is not directly related to winter riding. But if you put it on the calendar for early in the year every year, you can get a jump on the spring shop service crush. And the sooner your bike is given a clean bill of health, the sooner you can enjoy it.

Schedule a service appointment at your local Wheel Sport location in north Spokane, on the South Hill, or in Spokane Valley now and be ready to ride when the trails dry out. Call 509-326-3977 to make an appointment for your ride today.

This post is sponsored by Wheel Sport Bicycles.

Find more biking stories in the OTO archives.

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