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Meldrum Bar Dirt Jumps

During a recent trip to Oregon I had the opportunity to spend some time with some friends I haven't seen for quite some time. In fact, last time we rode together was a year ago at Dusty's jumps in Southern Oregon. My buddy Rocker Dave has been telling me about his trails for a while, and I had finally made it up ot P-town to check them out. A few phone calls were made and Rocker (currently unable to ride due to a recent head injury) rounded up his crew to show me their trails at Meldrum Bar.

Located south of Portland, in Gladstone, the Meldrum Bar dirt jumps have been around for a while. I remember riding some of the smaller sets on my 20" years ago when I was a local. Upkeep of the trails has been taken over by the crew known as the Dirty Thirty.

Scott on the second set

I love these guys. It seems that the older I get, less and less of my peers are into riding their bikes. Whether it's cars, long hours at work, house payments, or time with the wife and kids, more and more of them simply don't have time to ride any more. With these boys, the priorities are different: get off work, shovel dirt, ride bikes, and drinking. (Pbr of course) It's nice to know somethings never change. Needless to say, I felt right at home.

As for the jumps, they're are pretty fun. The main line consists of four sets up top and three big sets at the bottom. You start off with two mid size doubles and then head to the right over two more before flying down this big ol' berm leading into the first big set, followed by two more.

Scott doubles into the downhill berm before the first big set

the first set

Adrian launches the first set

The hits aren't small. I had to take four or five bitch runs before I stayed off the brakes an hit the first set. There is an alternative line where you can hip to the left and then to the right and head into the last two sets that was pretty fun as well.

floating the alternative line

I was hitting the alternative line the most after I tweaked my ankle(for the umpteenth time) on the second big set. Either way, it was a lot of fun boosting big jumps that were easy to flow.

the author- trying to decide what direction he's going/ turny bar

The backside step down set currently in progress.

Although the freehub body on my new profile hub got all funky and locked up a few times and the tweaked my ankle again, it was good times. I'm looking forward to checking out the jumps next time. The way these boys have been moving the dirt, it should be fun.

On a final note, this goes out to my buddy Rocker, who still sees 4 boobies at a time without his special glasses on: I hope your brain heals up soon

BikeMag article on the Dirty Thirty

Additional Photos added here