Well folks, it’s all over.
After yet another major climb and an exhilarating downhill, we made our way back into Sisters where we started one week ago. I can’t wait to get home. I’m jumping in a car to drive back in a few minutes.
Check out the slideshow below from today’s ride…and thanks for following along all week. On Monday, it’s back to business as usual.
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
First off, I do ride a road bike, typically 100-200 miles/week, organized rides most weekends. I did not ride Cycle Oregon. While I enjoyed seeing the photos of the Cycle Oregon fun and especially the McKenzie Pass section, I am concerned to see the photos of riders riding three or more abreast abd at or across the center line.(even across the double yellow!)
Hwy 242 (McKenzie) is twisty and hilly with limited sight distance over most of it\’s length. Cars trying to get around bikes taking the full lane and then some find it nearly impossible to get around them. It doesn\’t help us cyclists to antagonize drivers.
I know that sometimes it\’s safer to take the whole lane, but as depicted in several of the photos, riding in the opposing lane is never a good thing, especially given the limited sight distance over most of that road.
As I recall from the last time CO went across McKenzie – they close the highway to auto traffic. The year I rode it, they ended up closing it to the last cycling group due to high winds, sleet, snow, slick road and poor visibility. That kicking high school band stayed and played \’til the very end though! Would that have been 1997?
Point made though. Jonathan has posted several other photos of multiple persons strung across a roadway lane. Just pay attention and ride.
I happened to have traveled over McKenzie Pass eastbound just before 8:30 AM on Saturday. I was allowed over, no questions asked, but was warned that there were bicycles on the road. There were signs posted advising of that for several days prior (good job C.O.) They may have closed it sometime after I passed, however the signs did not warn that the road would be closed only advised caution that there would be bikes on the road.
-Kevin
Congrats and thanks for the updates and photos!
They did not close the road – there were cars coming from both directions pretty much all morning – though the traffic (other than CO vehicles) was really very light. During the 45 mile ride, I can recall seeing maybe 6-7 non-CO vehicles.
3-4 abreast was not common on day 7, but it did happen. There were 900 new riders, and a double handful of jerks and idiots who just wouldn\’t get over despite being admonished repeatedly during evening announcements. Some people just aren\’t going to follow the rules, and there\’s nothing we can do to *make* them follow the rules.
The CO staff and crew (all those wonderful volunteers) did a fantastic job for this event and I would gladly attend any future events they decide to do.
Great photo\’s Jonathon. I didn\’t see you this year! Suzi in the boot.
please stay of the road or your going to get run of.
love mom