Bend does not live up to its propaganda (stats, move)

[Dry Side]

Now I primarily X-Ski (classic and skate), in past years I found the Bachelor Mid Week pass reasonable and it was never busy mid week. I decided to focus on X-Ski because it was closer, didn't get cold on the lift, cheaper, better wx at Meissner, didn't have to smell cig smoke, could burn more calories.

[BendLocal]

The midweek pass is still out of the reach for many people and the reality is most people can't ski during the week because of work - that's why it doesn't seem crowded on a typical weekday - pow days excepted!

I think X-Ski is too much work for too little fun but I've got family and friends that love it. Have to say I haven't really observed a cig smoke problem at Bachelor. Smelled plenty of the other type of smoke though.

This fat bike craze is looking interesting. Could be another fun winter sport.

[redguard57]

It's cheap if you can meet the initial cost barrier for kayaking, camping or hiking - ie: do you have a vehicle capable of carrying gear / getting to these places? Can you afford the gas? Can you drop $1000 on the kayak? After that it gets cheaper.

I broke down and bought an old used 4x4 truck. Now I can drive all over the unimproved forest roads and hike / backpack / land nav / snowshoe till my heart's content. Not everyone can do that.

With skiing what bothers me are the recurring fees.

Before I moved to Oregon, the thought of paying more than $3-400 for a bicycle was unthinkable. I remember buying my first "bike shop bike" and being shocked. I had always just rode Huffy's from Wal-Mart which cost $100. I'm still shocked when I hear how much some people here pay for a bike. Thousands!

[Nightdiver13]

Originally Posted by kapetrich

You can choose to go camping where there is a fee. Normally that fee is nominal at best. You also have the choice to camp on BLM for nothing.

This could stand in for a lot of this discussion about having fun outside. You can make some hobbies affordable, but you can make EVERY hobby expensive if you want to.

[Dry Side]

For me cycling is my primary hobby so I have no trouble spending $$$ on good equipment. I have met many others in Bend who do the same.

[Nightdiver13]

Originally Posted by Dry Side

For me cycling is my primary hobby so I have no trouble spending $$$ on good equipment. I have met many others in Bend who do the same.

I bet that's not hard in a town like this. The lineup hanging from my neighbor's wall is worth more than both his cars.

[BendLocal]

Originally Posted by Dry Side

For me cycling is my primary hobby so I have no trouble spending $$$ on good equipment. I have met many others in Bend who do the same.

Definitely some serious dollars thrown at equipment around here!

[Dry Side]

So today at high noon I drove up to Swampy Lakes parking lot. Very little traffic on Cascade Lakes Highway. Rode my bike on this route..

Flagline Tie->Flagline->South Fork->North Fork->NF 370->Farewell->Tumalo Creek->Tumalo Ridge->Swede Ridge->Swampy

Did not see a sole. That said yesterday around noon Century Drive and Newport Ave were very busy.

[mrwibble]

Originally Posted by BendLocal

This fat bike craze is looking interesting. Could be another fun winter sport.

This one had me confused a few weeks ago when KTVZ reported that a missing skier had been found by a fat bike rider. I thought what does the size of the cyclist have to do with it and aren't they being a little judgmental. I guess i'm not as up to date on the latest trends as I should be.

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by mrwibble

This one had me confused a few weeks ago when KTVZ reported that a missing skier had been found by a fat bike rider. I thought what does the size of the cyclist have to do with it and aren't they being a little judgmental. I guess i'm not as up to date on the latest trends as I should be.

Fat Tire Beer just gave away a whole slew of Fat Bikes.