Route Advice, Burlington to Madras

[IpponDuro]

I will be Riding down to Madras. (Leaving this Sunday Morning) to load my Bike in A truck and drive back. What is the quickest Easiest way to get there this time of year?

I-5 to Portland then I-84 to Hwy 97
I-90 to Eburg then south on Hwy 97 ?
Or Hwy 26 past Mount Hood ?

I've been checking the weather and leaning twords I-90 to Hwy 97. I have the return trip planned to avoid weigh stations. But looking for some opinions on the quick and easy way to get there.

[Timmer]

Originally Posted by IpponDuro

I will be Riding down to Madras. (Leaving this Sunday Morning) to load my Bike in A truck and drive back. What is the quickest Easiest way to get there this time of year?

I-5 to Portland then I-84 to Hwy 97
I-90 to Eburg then south on Hwy 97 ?
Or Hwy 26 past Mount Hood ?

I've been checking the weather and leaning twords I-90 to Hwy 97. I have the return trip planned to avoid weigh stations. But looking for some opinions on the quick and easy way to get there.

I'd probably do Hwy 26 past Mt. Hood. It's a 6 hour drive without stops. Coming back north on I-5 from Vancouver there are at least 5 weigh stations that I can think of. There's probably a similar number on the Yakima route as well.

[what broke now]

I think if you are under 10k gross, you can skip the scales. Unless you have more than the usual bike hauler.

[IpponDuro]

Originally Posted by what broke now

I think if you are under 10k gross, you can skip the scales. Unless you have more than the usual bike hauler.

The truck I'm picking up is liscenced at 18k GVW, Oregon requires anything 20k and up to stop and Wa requires anything over 16K to stop at scales. Officer Friendly has chased me down and infrormed of these rules more than once.


I'm picking this truck up for work so I'm getting paid to ride.

[what broke now]

"Well I'm a little overweight and my log book's way behind
But nothin' bothers me tonight I can dodge all the scales alright"


With apologies to Dave Dudley

[yondering]

I-90 to Eburg then south on Hwy 97

This one's always been the fastest for me. I have family in Bend/Redmond, it's a 5:45 - 6 hour drive from Redmond for me on this route, but in a car not a truck.

You should be able to do 5:30 flat, or better, from your house to Madras on the bike. Hammer would've!

[Tom Edison]

Originally Posted by IpponDuro

The truck I'm picking up is liscenced at 18k GVW, Oregon requires anything 20k and up to stop and Wa requires anything over 16K to stop at scales. Officer Friendly has chased me down and infrormed of these rules more than once.


I'm picking this truck up for work so I'm getting paid to ride.

If you've met Mr Friendly more than once your used to it flip
a coin and take your chances . Your all ready getting paid to ride
so " when you've got nothing you've got nothing to loose" :>)

[IpponDuro]

Originally Posted by tom edison

if you've met mr friendly more than once your used to it Flip
a coin and take your chances . Your all ready getting paid to ride
so " when you've got nothing you've got nothing to loose" :>)

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by Timmer

I'd probably do Hwy 26 past Mt. Hood. It's a 6 hour drive without stops. Coming back north on I-5 from Vancouver there are at least 5 weigh stations that I can think of. There's probably a similar number on the Yakima route as well.

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, with your departure time today.....
DO NOT ride Hwy 35 or 26. You will find snow on 35, and frost or at least fresh sprayed anti-freeze on 26.
97 down from Biggs, or 197 down from The Dalles are your best &safest choices.
Better ride/drive this time of year.
Say hi to SlowJoe, if you're going to Madras Les Schwab!!

[HighwayChile]

Originally Posted by yondering

I-90 to Eburg then south on Hwy 97

This one's always been the fastest for me. I have family in Bend/Redmond, it's a 5:45 - 6 hour drive from Redmond for me on this route, but in a car not a truck.

You should be able to do 5:30 flat, or better, from your house to Madras on the bike. Hammer would've!

i agree , you miss rush hour in seattle, even sunday am it can back up, the drive from sea-PDX sucks, slows in tacoma, oly, centralia, pdx is a slog... plus the east route is better on your mind, better scenery etc...

[IpponDuro]

Originally Posted by Apple Jam

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, with your departure time today.....
DO NOT ride Hwy 35 or 26. You will find snow on 35, and frost or at least fresh sprayed anti-freeze on 26.
97 down from Biggs, or 197 down from The Dalles are your best &safest choices.
Better ride/drive this time of year.
Say hi to SlowJoe, if you're going to Madras Les Schwab!!

Couple hours too late, But I took Yondering's advice and Went I-90 Still had to ride in the Snow but barely enough to turn the road white and only a couple miles.

[IpponDuro]

Originally Posted by what broke now

"Well I'm a little overweight and my log book's way behind
But nothin' bothers me tonight I can dodge all the scales alright"


With apologies to Dave Dudley

This is easier said (sang) than done, Dodging scales is a real P.I.T.A. escpecially without a map showing exactly where they are at. I got lucky avoided the ones that I knew were open and the ones I could'nt get around were not open today. I had enough "paperwork violations" to make things interesting if I got stopped.

[Tom Edison]

Originally Posted by IpponDuro

This is easier said (sang) than done, Dodging scales is a real P.I.T.A. escpecially without a map showing exactly where they are at. I got lucky avoided the ones that I knew were open and the ones I could'nt get around were not open today. I had enough "paperwork violations" to make things interesting if I got stopped.