Team
Wanta
2004
MS 150 August
14-15, 2004
Team Wanta will return again to challenge ourselves and other MS150
teams and individual cyclists. Our goal is to continue our
presence in the Oregon MS150 toward supporting the fight against multiple sclerosis.
Team Wanta reigns as the
2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000 largest team and
2000 and 1999 top fundraising team. Together we are making a
difference in the fight against MS.
2004 MS 150 Bike Tour Route
Information
Designed for all levels of cyclists, the 2004
MS150 will mark the Oregon Chapter's 20th annual two-day MS 150 Bike
Tour! Come out and ride on this historic occasion.



DAY 1
- WINE COUNTRY
On
the first day, riders can choose between distances of 32, 80, or 108
miles. All three routes include a lap of scenic Hagg Lake beginning
approximately 9 miles into the ride. The rolling hills around the lake
are one of the region's most famous cycling destinations.
Riders
anxious to continue their southerly journey can elect to bypass Hagg
Lake entirely by heading directly to Gaston and removing about 15
miles from their day's total distance. At Gaston, approximately 24
miles into the ride, riders will choose their distance as the three
routes briefly diverge. Riders on the 32-mile option turn north and
return directly to Forest Grove.
Riders
on the 80-mile route will pedal over rolling terrain through scenic
valleys, along the banks of the Willamette River, and through some of
Washington and Yamhill Counties' most picturesque rural areas.
Riders
choosing the 108-mile distance will be rewarded for their extra effort
with beautiful and diverse landscapes showcasing the rural
countryside, vineyards, and communities of Yamhill County before
rejoining the 80-mile riders and riding along the banks of the
Willamette River and back into Washington County.
DAY 2
- WOODLANDS
On
the second day, riders will choose between 25- and 72-mile options.
Both routes begin the day riding past the Fern Hill Wetlands just
south of Forest Grove and stay together until approximately 12 miles
into the ride.
At the
12-mile mark, riders choosing the 25-mile distance will begin a return
loop to Forest Grove that offers diverse surroundings. The scenery
includes a section with dense forest cover, a pioneer cemetery, and an
historic church, and the roads offer a few gentle climbs and one long,
straight (and very thrilling) downhill ride.
Riders
choosing the 72-mile distance experience the wide variety in terrain
of Washington County. On the northern leg to Vernonia the landscape
changes from rural farm areas to dense woodlands. One long climb puts
riders to the test, but those who meet the challenge will savor the
rewards of fantastic vistas and the lunch stop in Vernonia.
The return trip to Forest Grove again features a mixture of scenery,
including woodlands, rural areas, and a river valley as the route
follows the Nehalem River for several miles. One more climbing
challenge awaits, but afterwards there is a mix of twisting descents,
long gradual downhill sections, and flats for the last 20 miles of the
ride.
See the NMSS Oregon Chapter web site for more
information,