Thom Batty, owner of Tall Town Bike and Camp and founder of OOTS with his wife, Shelley and their dog Garmin. Photo: Conan Thai
Tell us about your background as a cyclist
I was a late bloomer, didn’t even learn to ride a bike until junior high school and, like a lot of kids, pretty much stopped riding after I got a driver’s license. I usually had a bicycle as an adult, but never really got into it until the early 2000s when the Search & Rescue group I volunteered with added a mountain bike component. Having people to ride with made it a lot more fun, and the SAR team rode together at least once a week, usually in the dark. That led to the purchase of a used road bike and century rides, a cyclocross bike and ‘cross races, a nicer mountain bike, and some races. Interspersed in that time was the desire to learn to work on my bikes, with lessons first from Gracie’s Wrench and eventually from UBI. Then I made the mistake of watching the movie “Ride the Divide” about the Tour Divide race. Thanks to a supportive wife and a generous PTO policy at my job at the time I was able to train for and attempt the Tour Divide in 2013. In spite of a DNF, it was still a pivotal event in my life.
What inspired you to move from Portland to Lakeview?
After my Tour Divide attempt, I had an increasingly difficult time tolerating my desk job, and in 2014 I left a 15-year career to start The Bike Concierge, providing custom, fully supported bike tours anywhere in Oregon. I had a decent three-year run with TBC, but it wasn’t making enough to break even. I had developed some routes in Lake County and the Lakeview area and felt really drawn to the area. When my wife, Shelley, was offered a job as the town finance director that allowed the move to happen.
What inspired you to open Tall Town Bike & Camp?
This was late 2017, and I had enough of a taste of self-employment that I couldn’t face working for someone else again. The Oregon Timber Trail was just getting into full swing, and the nearest bike or sporting goods store to the beginning of the route was 95 miles away in Klamath Falls. It seemed like an opportunity, and one of the local business owners let me rent space in his building at a rate I could afford, and after we were both comfortable that the business would succeed sold me one of his other properties.
Grand Depart rigs in front of Thom’s shop, Tall Town Bike and Camp. Photo: Gabriel Amadeus
What’s the best thing about living in Lakeview?
I have made a lot of great friends here, the weather is usually good, I don’t miss the crowds or traffic in Portland at all. There is not a lot of traffic, so road riding is less stressful than in the city, and when I want a mountain bike ride I can have tires on dirt two blocks away from my shop.
Downtown Lakeview and its wonderful Oregon Timber Trail signage. Photo: Daniel Sharp
What would you like to improve?
The food scene. I miss the variety of cuisine in Portland, and the microbrews.
What would you like city folks to know about Lakeview?
We are a long way from the city and services are limited. We want you to come to visit us, but keep the gas tank full, and don’t expect great cell phone coverage.
What would you like Lakeview folks to know about city folks?
Tourism is a big industry, people are bringing money into our economy. They aren’t coming here to try to change the way we live, they are here to enjoy what we have.
Downtown Lakeview and its gorgeous vintage facades. Photo: Daniel Sharp
What is your favorite Lakeview ride that you would suggest for a visitor?
For a road ride, the Prison Loop is a nice 20 mile loop through ranch land. Mostly flat, the only substantial climb is prison hill, and riding the route “backwards” makes it a killer descent instead! And yes, there really is a state prison here, Warner Creek Correctional Facility, but don’t worry we haven’t had a jail break yet. For mountain bikers, there is a 5 ½ mile loop right outside town, a two mile gravel road climb followed by 3 ½ miles of singletrack on the Noni’s Trail bringing you back to town.
Favorite Lakeview night out with your lady
We don’t have a lot of nightlife in Lakeview. The Alger Theater is an art-deco movie house that is undergoing renovation and has periodic movie showings, very occasional live theater, and an annual Cowboy Poetry festival.
Thom, Tori, Missy, and Melissa doing the hard work at during Watson Fire Rehab trail stewardship event. Photo: Daniel Sharp
How long have you been involved with the Oregon Timber Trail?
I started attending work parties right after moving to Lakeview, and this is my fourth year on the board.
You’re at almost every trail work party. What do you enjoy about trail work?
Primarily two things. The people that show up for work parties are always people I enjoy spending time with; I’ve made a lot of new friends at work parties. The other thing is seeing the difference we can make on the trails. The Fremont Tier of the OTT hasn’t gotten a lot of attention prior to the OTT (and the Oregon Desert Trail backpacking route), so there is always a huge, noticeable improvement, a big sense of accomplishment.
What is the most unique meeting you’ve had with an OTT rider?
A rider flew in from New Zealand, met up with friends in California and drove up to ride the OTT. I had closed up shop for the day and had just gotten home when my phone rang (my cell number is posted on the shop door). He got to Lakeview and realized he had not packed his bike shoes, and was hoping I sold shoes. I don’t, there are not enough riders clipping in around here to justify the inventory. I was going to send him to Klamath Falls, hoping the shop there would have something, then decided to take a long shot. Luck was on his side, he wears the same size I do. I have a pair of bike shoes that have ridden more of the Timber Trail than I have! I got a nice bottle of whiskey along with the return of my shoes, and a fun story. Totally worth it.
Grand Depart riders at the start of the race near Lakeview. Photo: Conan Thai
What’s one thing that most folks don’t know about you?
I’m a history buff, particularly western America in the decades just before and after the Civil War, and cosplay General George Crook for the local history museums.
Let’s talk about Oregon Outback Trail Stewards (OOTS)
What inspired this move to create a new trail group?
The short answer: All the riders bitching about Crane Mountain. The full answer requires a little background. In spring of 2018 the Lake County Chamber of Commerce invited Travel Oregon to hold a Rural Tourism Studio here. The outcome of the two day studio was identifying three tourism draws that were present already and just needed promotion, maybe a little polishing up- Western Heritage, Geological Features and Trails. Committees were formed for each of these and some great initial action taken. Then Covid hit and all three pretty much fell apart. OOTS is my effort to revive the trails committee in what I hope to be a more sustainable manner.
How can folks help OOTS
I like to see people work their strengths and interests. There is always room for people to get out on the trails to do the physical work of trail maintenance and restoration, but we also need the administrative tasks, things like outreach and social media, someone to wade through the paperwork of getting our non-profit status and the volunteer agreements with the land managers, someone to handle fundraising, coordinate trainings and liaisons to other trail groups.
What would you tell someone that wants to get involved?
Welcome aboard and thank you! How do you want to help?
The view of Summer Lake from Winter Rim. Photo: Daniel Sharp