OAKRIDGE - Greenwater Park is packed this weekend with evidence this city is pedaling away from its timber town past and toward its new slogan, "The Center of Oregon Recreation."

About 300 cyclists from 20 states are camped here, having shelled out $150 to $250 apiece to ride in Oakridge's second annual "Mt. Bike Oregon."

The $150 three-day option includes food, beer, hot showers and evening entertainment - plus shuttles to trails in the nearby Willamette National Forest. Some participants paid $250 for a "hard-core" option that includes two additional days of trail riding.

The nonracing event joins a cluster of other mountain-biking activities that are putting Oakridge on the map as a back country cycling destination, said McKenzie Bowerman, who owns Willamette Mountain Mercantile, a bicycle and outdoor outfitting shop in town.

09/20: Quick rise to top cop for former Racinian

Today could be the day a Racine policeman completes his lengthy climb up the ladder to the chiefs office. Thats one way to get there. Adam Meyers skipped all of those middle rungs. After patrolling streets in Racine and Waterford as an officer, he took over last month as police chief of the tiny Village of Elmwood near Eau Claire. Considering its rough track record with outsiders as chiefs, Racine decided to lock them out for the time being. Thankfully for Meyers, Elmwood kept its door wide open. I never, ever thought that they were gonna hire me, Meyers said Tuesday as we caught up by phone. On patrol or handling evidence, he could afford to see the job from one angle. As a 31-year-old top cop, hes learning how budgets factor into the equation. There are local quirks, too. One day, a state trooper backed him up when he found out too late hed been expected in court.