Spring term is known for being the fun term: a lot of seniors will soon be graduating, freshmen are finally feeling settled in, everyone has eyes set on the summer and even faculty are a little jazzed.

Whether you want to be in nature, explore Eugene or hang out with friends, a bike and a good trail make it all the better. And even better news? Lane County has plenty of bike trails, paths and roads to choose from. Whether you want to coast along with the wind in your helmet or mountain bike through forests and around waterfalls, Eugene alone has over 100 miles of biking paths and shared roadways and is frequently ranked as one of the most bike friendly cities in America.

For affordable bike rentals or free maintenance, make sure to check out the UO Bike Program at the corner of 18th Avenue and University Street. The group will also be hosting a bike appreciation day on April 6  in front of Lillis Business Complex for free minor adjustments and maintenance that your bike will need before riding around these wonderful trails.

Fern Ridge Trail
Distance: ~7 miles one way
Skill Level: Easy
Type of bike: Any
Closest Starting Point: W. 15th Avenue and Jefferson Street

The Fern Ridge Trail officially starts about a mile off campus, right around Jefferson Park. The path follows the Amazon Creek to the west. This trail might be close to campus, but it makes you feel like school and stress are a world away. Known for passing through some of the best plant and wildlife viewing areas in Eugene, this bike path also includes several pedestrian bridge crossings over Amazon Creek and enters the West Eugene Wetlands. This will offer a refreshing escape on a spring day. For committed road bikers, this seven mile path can easily become a 21 mile jaunt to Richardson Park on the far side of Fern Ridge Lake.

Riverbank Path System

Distance: ~7 miles one way
Skill level: Easy
Type of bike: Any
Closest Starting Point: The corner of Franklin Street and Agate Street

Extending east to Island Park and northwest to Owosso Bike Bridge, the riverbank path system follows both banks of the Willamette River through some of Eugene’s largest parks such as Alton Baker and Skinner Butte. As you ride, you will pedal through diverse scenery from local vistas to the downtown heart of Eugene and even to nearby historical monuments. These paths are paved and have broad curves to coast around, as well as restrooms and fountains nearly every mile. The path system includes five pedestrian bridges crossing the Willamette River and many different views on either side. This will be great for a quick, relaxing escape from campus or a fun ride with friends.

Alder Bikeway
Distance: ~3 miles one way
Skill Level: Easy
Type of bike: Any
Closest Starting Point: Anywhere on Alder Street.

If you are looking to cruise through the ‘burbs, this is the one for you: Alder Bikeway is the longest shared roadway running south from the university, which means it is bike friendly with typically low traffic and perfect for getting you somewhere for lunch on a sunny afternoon. From Broadway Avenue to Kincaid Park, Alder Street passes by our ever-busy campus and leads to the Amazon Parkway bike path: an even safer path to ride through the city. If you’re a commuter, want to get to a friend’s place in Eugene with few automotive hazards or would like to bike to any of the numerous vendors on Alder Street, Alder Bikeway is your best bet.

Ridgeline Trail
Distance: ~4 miles one way
Skill Level: Moderate
Type of bike: Mountain bike
Closest Starting Point: 4699 Spring Blvd.

The Ridgeline Trail is perfect if you are looking to escape the city but don’t want to go too far. Starting at the Spring Boulevard Trailhead in Southeast Eugene, this trail will take you through about a mile of Mount Baldy’s pine forest with an elevation gain of 300 feet. You will then coast down Dillard Road for almost half a mile until you find the Dillard West Trailhead, which will lead you to Amazon Headwaters Park after two and half miles of downhill forest cruising. Between Dillard Road and Amazon Headwaters Park, these trails connect to paths leading to Spencer Butte. There you can ditch the bike for a little while and enjoy a hike to one of Eugene’s most panoramic view points. The Ridgeline Trail succeeds in providing access to nearby adventure any day of the week.

The McKenzie River Trail
Distance: ~26 miles one way
Skill Level: Moderate
Type of bike: Mountain bike
Closest Starting Point: 1 mile east of McKenzie Bridge on Highway 126

Considered America’s number one trail by Bike Magazine, the McKenzie River Trail passes waterfalls, wood bridges, old-growth forest, crystal blue pools and follows alongside the beautiful McKenzie. This is 26 miles of gorgeous, single track biking. Most people drive to the bottom of the trail, take a shuttle to the top with their bikes, then ride the downhill path back to the car. The shuttle costs $30 per person, so you might want to take two cars and leave one at the bottom to avoid the fee. You will also have to drive 50 miles outside of Eugene for this trail, but it will be sure to satisfy your wanderlust. If you want to make a weekend out of it, the surrounding area offers great camping, rafting and nearby hot springs, just in case the best biking trail in the United States isn’t enough for you.

How do you make sure the person you’re having sex with doesn’t later accuse you of sexual assault? If they can claim months after sex that they didn’t actually consent (even though they were obviously into it the whole time), aren’t you kind of screwed? (no pun intended).

-Dude Process McGee

Dear Dude,

You are right to say that consent is a very sensitive topic at the University of Oregon, and I’m happy to hear that you respect the consent of others, as well as the impact it will have on yourself. As you may have learned during a Get Explicit presentation, always ASK!

Your first step to getting consent and not being framed for sexual assault is to literally ask, “Wanna have sex, sweet thang?” This can be steamy, romantic, cutesy, cheesy, quirky, suave, awkward — whatever your style is, there is a straightforward way to ask if your partner wants to give consent.

If you feel like this would ruin the mood, practice so it doesn’t! Get up in the morning, brush your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror and in your gentlest voice whisper in their ear, “Do you want to have sex with me?” Say it so you know the mood won’t drop — in fact, say it so it adds to the mood. The asking may be the part that turns your partner on the most (outside of bed, of course).

Okay, let’s say you practiced ‘til you were an expert, and when you asked in the moment it seemed right, but then your partner is hesitant and unsure about saying yes. If that’s the case, do not keep pressuring them because that might lead to the assault accusation you are worried about and make your partner very uncomfortable. The last thing you want is to coerce your partner into saying yes. Try asking what they’d like to do or what you can do for them. This will prompt them to say what they consent to and will give them the opportunity to possibly express why they are feeling hesitant.

Now, let’s say that your partner wasn’t hesitant and it seemed like they were “obviously into it,” as you put it, but they were drunk. There’s quite a lot of grey area around giving consent and being drunk, here’s a simple guideline: even if you are drunk, the initiator is still liable for their actions, and if someone seems incoherent or unable to think about consequences because they are intoxicated, they forfeit their ability to give consent.

I’m not saying drunk sex is bad because two very inebriated people can certainly have a fun night and end it with sex, but if you’re wary whether someone may accuse you of sexual assault, you shouldn’t be having drunk sex. If it’s your first time with this person or it seemed like you may have pressured or coerced them in any way — I know it sounds unnatural — you should not have sex. Try asking the next day when you’re both sober… then let the magic begin!

If I have one piece of advice, it’s that you should do the right thing, and you seem to know what that is regarding consent. Sometimes temptations or intoxication make irresponsible actions seem okay, but try your hardest to know what’s right and wrong.

For further guidance about consent, check out this comic from Everyday Feminism. 

I hope you consent to my advice,

Braedon

How do you handle not being able to climax during a session in which your partner has multiple orgasms? – Blessing and a curse

Dear Blessing and a curse,

From your legal name, I get the sense that you feel slightly ambiguous about your question. On one hand, you like the fact that you can please your sexual partner and it’s kind of satisfying to know that they enjoy it. It’s important in any sexual relationship to hold up your end of the give-and-take; it’s immensely gratifying when your partner is enjoying it.

On the other hand, you feel like you might be missing out on the satisfaction or maybe you want to share in that satisfaction, not just that you want to orgasm, but that you want to orgasm with your partner! There’s something wonderful about a sexual relationship because you share these feelings together.

Not being able to orgasm may come from under-stimulation, not being in the right mindset or maybe focusing too heavily on your partner and not on yourself. First and foremost, try to relax when you’re doing the deed. You might be too preoccupied or worried about your partner and can’t really get in the mood. At the same time, avoid drinking too. Alcohol won’t do you any favors in this scenario.

Secondly, don’t feel coerced into sleeping with someone if you don’t want to. What I’m saying is: it’s hard to enjoy sex if you don’t want to do it, if you’re not in the right frame of mind or if it’s just too physically exhausting to accomplish. But if you feel relaxed, the mood is right and you want to have sex, you might just be a little under-stimulated. Foreplay helps with that — it helps a lot!

Try spending more time touching each other before you have sex, so as to get some of the pre-stimulation you deserve. This may even make you more excited about having sex and will be a mutual turn-on. 

Even in sex-only relationships, honesty and communication are essential. The reason people often fear communication is because you don’t know how the other person will react. That can be pretty scary. Especially in sexual relationships, people are very vulnerable and exposed with their partner. This is why communication needs to be considerate and gentle, but still honest.

So how do you be gentle, tactful and also frank? Sharing with your partner that you’re completely unsatisfied is probably not the right choice. Before you have sex, ask if your partner will touch you in a way that you like or simply tell them if you like when they do something in particular. You don’t need to say that you never orgasm.

Unless you feel like you need to tell your partner, this can be a time for self-exploration and finding what you like in sex. Before you make it a relationship crisis, know that you can take control of your body too!

Hope you screw the curse and get to screwing,

Braedon

Next Tuesday a certified clinical sexologist will visit the University of Oregon to address “the art of cunnilingus.”

Dr. Victoria Hartmann, director of the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas, believes that anyone – not just parents – can teach their children about sex. Dr. Hartmann’s mother was very open about sexuality and was one individual who inspired Dr. Hartmann to study human sexuality.

“How are they going to have a conversation with you about sex if they have shame about it themselves?” asked Dr. Victoria Hartmann.

Hartmann will visit the UO to offer one of the museum’s most popular lectures, “The Art of Cunnilingus” at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the LLC Performance Hall (1455 East 15th Ave). For those who aren’t in the know, cunnilingus is oral sex performed on the vulva and clitoris.

All students – regardless of gender or sexual orientation – are welcome to attend the lecture, which will include an open Q&A session for students to bring up questions or concerns. She suggested that shame and embarrassment be set aside for the Q&A portion.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Dr. Hartmann. “Let’s just accept it.”

Hartmann said that the lecture can be informative for women who haven’t found a way to get to know their own bodies, individuals who want to give their partner more pleasure or anyone who has a question about sex or their body.

“It will always be of benefit to be a little bit more educated on how we relate with people sexually and get to know our own body or the body of our partner,” said Dr. Hartmann. She suggests that this learning should take place in a safe, educational environment.

As museum director, Dr. Hartmann provides therapeutic and educational services in a variety of settings from medical centers, to colleges to her office at the museum. She encourages empathy, trust, safety and a nurturing environment for self-growth.

“I want to be in a relationship so much, but I never have been. I just don’t know what to do or how anything works, and being shy doesn’t help. What do I do?” – April Showers

Dear April Showers,

As this is my first response with the Emerald, I thought it would be fitting to start at the beginning: starting a relationship is exciting.

It’s completely normal to have not been in a relationship yet. Some people have dated 20 people by college and others won’t date until they’re 30. When you think about talking to that special someone, you feel your heart begin to race and your stomach rolls itself into the shape of a heart, right? Especially if you’re shy, this feeling must frighten the bejeebers out of you and pull you away from your crush at the speed of light.

I’m here to say that you should use that nervous energy as fuel. Confidence is suave, but honest, giddy, gooey feelings are flattering, and this sincerity is refreshing to hear. Talking doesn’t take courage; it takes hope, desire and a little push, so maybe tell a friend that you want to talk to a special someone and they can give you a nudge at the right time.

Powered by nervous energy, ask this person one of the following: “Wanna get some coffee after class?”; “Are you hungry? Because I’m starving right now”; “Do you want to study later? I feel like this teacher doesn’t explain everything clearly.”

Just talking or spending time together is the first step to having a relationship. This will let you know if you want to be in a relationship with this person.

When approaching someone you like, you might get sweaty, so layer up, wear deodorant and try not to think about it too much. You might stumble over your words, so think about what you want to say beforehand and make them easy, casual and sincere. For example, do not say, “Would indulging in a scalding, caffeinated drink be preferable to you?” Try instead: “Hi. Want to get coffee later?”

If they say yes, don’t pass out. Say you’re excited and then go do it (not “it,” but go hang out). If they say they can’t right now, but at another time, say you would like to and ask when they are free. This is probably the hardest part, so read closely: ask for their phone number! Ask! Be bold! You can do it, April Showers! I believe in you! Ask for their number so you can plan when you two will meet up. For conversation topics, be curious but not prying, ask questions about them that genuinely interest you; respond honestly when they ask you a question and the rest will be history.

As for how everything after that works, all relationships are different and I promise that if you are honest about what you want out of a relationship, they will be too. I wish you the best of luck, April Showers!

May your flowers come soon,

Braedon