1.) Alton Baker in the spring is gorgeous. A great place to start the ride is the bike racks just NE of the pond, centered between the parking lot, bathrooms, and drinking fountain.
2.) For some, the Defazio bridge and 4th ave overpass may feel like steep hills. Lead and mid-pack rider would do well to hold a very easy-to-follow pace and remind riders to downshift on the uphills and carefully check their speeds on the descents.
3.) The right turn across 6th (away from the tracks, at the federal courthouse) is a little sharp and crosses two lanes of quick-moving traffic. Leaders and mid-pack riders would do well to let the group "bunch" before the turn, followed by the leader pulling riders through swiftly, while the mid-pack rider "corks" until the sweep is through.
4.) The right turn on 8th may require somebody to hit the "beg button" on the curb.
5.) Crossing Mill at 8th may make less experienced riders feel vulnerable. Make sure the group stays tight through here. This is not a good intersection to "cork;" if some fraction of the group looks as though they may not make the light, the mid-pack rider would do well to "hold them back," whilst the lead holds the other portion of the group up at the corner of 8th and High.
6.) First stop, at the county courthouse, has plenty of room for riders to pull off the street and gather. Are folks going to dismount and lock their bikes, or just "toe down"?
7.) Left turn at Willamette from 8th. Remember to merge across early. Though this is a signalized intersection, we might help traffic flow more safely if we "cork," rather than hold-back and wait-up.
8.) Second stop, at 10th and Olive, doesn't have much room for riders to pull off the street and gather.
9.) Lights at 8th and 7th on Olive may be tough for the whole group to make, and dangerous to "cork." Better to hold-back and wait-up here.
10.) Third stop, at the train station. It's fun to loop the obelisk.
11.) Left turn at 5th and Willamette. Great intersection to cork.
12.) Lefts on both Pearl and High are good places to cork. Route could be simplified by moving straight through 5th and Pearl and just turning left on High at 5th, though this can be a tricky left, as northbound traffic does not stop.
13.) Fourth stop at Mims house. Perhaps best to simply dismount at the crosswalk at 4th and High and walk up the sidewalk.
14.) Hopping back on the bike path via 2nd (as I did on this test ride) can be tricky for less-experienced riders. Probably better to take 3rd and perform a "pedestrian left" at Coburg.
15.) Invite folks who would like to get "off the saddle" to drop their bikes at the PHR office and walk back to Alton Baker (if they drove there).
16.) For those riding all the way back, remember to check speed passing under the Ferry St bridge as well as rolling off DeFazio.
16.) End back at racks adjacent to bathrooms NE of pond.