Bandon Fat Bike Ride : Shuttled

LEARNING THE GROUND RULES

To be honest, prior to this adventure I had never been on a fat bike. Looking back, it is a pleasant reminder that diving into unfamiliar territory can be an incredible and inspiring experience. Albeit uncomfortable at times, it made me feel alive again—like everything is new and possible.

CRUISE CONTROL (8 miles)

I met up with a group of newly founded friends from the Bandon area at South Coast Bicycles where I rented my fat bike. They were able to provide great intel on the tidal level and wind direction; on this day it was coming from the northwest. Shuttle service Pineapple Adventures* dropped us off on the north side of the route, making our departure location Seven Devils beach. This park has a restroom (vault toilet), but no running water, so make sure to fill up your bottles before embarking on the journey. *Pineapple Express no longer offers shuttle service, but can provide bicycle delivery and rentals.

Once on the beach, we could only go in two directions, making it nearly impossible to get lost. Taking a moment to appreciate the simplicity and ease of this ride, it felt great to relax and settle into enjoying the experience. Knowing my ability to navigate a new area, this was a major bonus. The fat bike tires are so wide they provide enough suspension to keep the ride comfortable and traction to keep you upright without any effort.

From Seven Devils beach we headed south, with large sandy cliffs on our left. We rolled along different segments of the beach, finding the right path that allowed us to roll along as effortlessly as we could, avoiding the soft sand as much as possible. This is a fun, ever-changing challenge, depending on the tidal levels. Generally speaking, if you ride at low tide and fairly close to the waterline, you’ll be fine. Just be safe, and watch out for those sneaker waves. We crossed a few small streams, high enough to get our feet wet and low enough that we could make it through without leaving the saddle. We rode below the world famous Bandon Dunes Golf Course for four miles until reaching the rock outcropped jetty. The iconic Coquille River Lighthouse makes a great pit stop (with an open restroom). We sat watching the waves crash with a great view of Bandon from across the river.

Departing the lighthouse, we left the beach and headed back into town on the gorgeous, smooth blacktop of Bullards Beach Road. Accelerating quickly, we wound along the river with stunning views of the marsh. Once over the steel bridge, we headed south and back to the quaint town of Bandon. Enjoying our roll through town, we stopped for a quick cup of coffee and bite to eat at the Minute Cafe*. *Now Closed

The Face Rock Bonus Loop (5 miles)

After fueling up in town, we dove into the best part of the ride: the bonus loop. It is worth noting that you can split this into two days of riding if one full day feels like too much. I pinched myself this entire ride—a true showstopper. I kept asking, “Where am I right now?” It felt more like Iceland than Oregon and I loved every bit of it.

Named one of the top 100 beaches in the world by CNN, Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint is simply stunning. Native American folklore gave name to the massive rocks, silhouettes of Chief Siskiyou’s beautiful daughter, Ewauna, and her pets who were taken by Seatka, the evil spirit of the ocean.

Riding around, identifying each of the iconic sea stacks (Face Rock, Cat Rock, Table Rock, Wizard’s Hat, and Elephant Rock), we were like kids on a playground. We chased each other around pillars, through arches, and over the squishy sea kelp, laughing the day away.

Once we tuckered ourselves out, we cruised south to China Creek Beach* (*this beach is closed Mar 15- Sept 15 for Snowy Plover Nesting) where we crossed a small river and jumped back onto the pavement. Riding back up Beach Loop Road, sharing stories about everything we had seen, we started dreaming of dinner and a good night’s rest. A full day with big views and even bigger smiles, this trip is not one we will soon forget.

Tips and Tricks

When fat biking on the Oregon Coast, there is one insider tip to follow: ride the beach with a tailwind. By this I mean assess the wind direction and allow that to steer you north or south. You want the wind at your back. On your return, ride the road instead of the beach and you will be naturally sheltered by trees and houses, which dissipate the wind.

Or, do what we did and hire a shuttle service. This allows you to enjoy the best part of the ride, then jump in a van to take you back. (See below for bike rental and shuttle services in the area.) Another key consideration (that I almost learned the hard way) is to complete this ride at low tide . There are a few sections that are impassable at high tide due to the water level crashing up against the cliff edges. At low tide, you can cover more ground, faster, and explore more of the stunning tunnels and rock features.

Plan this ride as close to low tide as you can. See the chart here.

The Bikes

Bike Rental - Don’t have a fat bike? Don’t worry, a couple shops in the area offer rentals. Pineapple Express Adventure Rides stocks fat bikes, and other rentals out of their Port Orford location. Pineapple Express also offers delivery and pick up services if you can't fit your fattie in your rental car. South Coast Bicycles in Bandon also offers rentals bikes. Always call shops to verify availability and reserve your bikes.

Tour and Shuttle Service - Pineapple Express can also take care of you if you want a quick shuttle to one end or a full-service tour, where they remove the tedious planning part by riding with you. Erin, a skilled bike mechanic and owner of Pineapple Express, is fun, bubbly, and the perfect person to show you around a new zone.

Bike Service - South Coast Bicycles has a full service bicycle shop located in Bandon, right off Highway 101. Pineapple Express is located in Port Orford and is a full service bike shop.

Dining

Minute Cafe - This is a down-home local breakfast fare that makes you feel like you’ve lived in Bandon for a lifetime. (PERMINANTLY CLOSED)

Tony’s Crab Shack - A “fresh-off-the-boat” crab shack that provides delicious, no-frills meals with a on the ocean vibe.

Alloro Wine Bar - This is where the big city meets charming Bandon offering a bit of wine and class to the town.

Bandon Dunes Golf Course - For a high-end meal, check out the fine food at Bandon Dunes Golf Course.

There are variety of great restaurants in Bandon to suit your taste!

Lodging

The Inn at Old Town - This is a nice little hotel that is walking distance to everything downtown.

Bandon Inn - A larger hotel with a view while still being walking distance to downtown.

Sunset Oceanfront Lodging - With views of Face Rock park, this hotel makes a great starting point for your ride.

Other accomondations and AirBnB's abound.