Eastern Wheel Works

Oregon is synonymous with the outdoors and cycling. However, much of that is localized to a few areas in the state. Yet, in the quaint Northeast corner of Oregon, you'll find some of the best cycling spots you have yet to hear of. Sean Lerner, owner and operator of Eastern Wheel Works, spends his days running the only MTB suspension service shop in Eastern Oregon, a place I fell in love with years ago visiting family in the area, and so did he, and I understand why. The Grande Ronde Valley is captivating in many ways to convey; you just have to visit.

I was lucky to join Sean on his post-work trail maintenance ritual at The Mount Emily Recreation Area, or MERA. Originally a private timberland that allowed recreational use, Union County acquired & protected it as a public recreation area with the help of grants from the Oregon Parks & Rec. Today, MERA features over 45 miles of non-motorized trails, making it a haven for bikers! The flanks of Mount Emily are covered in miles of serpentine singletrack, with berms and jumps built by the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trails Club and maintained by volunteers such as Sean.

I felt Sean's dedication and passion for these trails and land; honestly, it rubbed off. I've been contemplating whether I should move to Eastern Oregon in the coming year, and having a shop and community such as Sean's makes it easier to consider.

In general, La Grande and Eastern Oregon remain as "far east" and undiscovered unlike west of the Cascades. I understand that Oregon is massive, but by all means, you are missing out on ventures unlike any other; starting with MERA, I barely scratched the surface, and the itch to explore the "unknown" is growing daily. One day, I might be on the Eastern side of the state, who knows.