Lars Larson with that, there’s-only-10-miles-to-the-finish-line, smile.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Cycle Oregon is many things. The organization — in the midst of its 30th year — is dedicated to helping all of Oregon reach its economic and cycling potential while putting on events that bring people closer to new places and faces.

Cycling is at the heart of what Cycle Oregon does; but they’re really in the people business. When you “do” a Cycle Oregon event it’s entirely possible to come away with more memories of the people you rode with than the roads you pedaled on. That’s especially true on their Weekender event. Without the physical challenge of the much more grueling Classic ride (the seven-day event they’re most known for), Weekender is much more accessible in both price ($199 versus $999) and pain (120 miles over two days versus 490 miles over seven days). This means it might be doable for friends who aren’t as nutty about cycling as you are.

This past weekend I invited a few friends to join me on the ride. We chose to ride 78 miles from Portland to the base camp at Linfield College in McMinnville on Friday (thankfully someone drove our bags down for us). We followed that up with 73 miles on Saturday and a 52-miler on Sunday. None of the days had a significant amount of climbing and we kept our average speed chill and conversational (13-15 mph). It’s also worth noting that we chose the longest of three possible routes both days. (This event would be great if you have friends that would rather ride just 15 or 40 miles a day.) In between miles in the saddle we relaxed, got to know each other a bit better (easier to do than at home where our kids and other responsibilities constantly loom), soaked up the small-town charms of McMinnville, and let Cycle Oregon’s legendary hospitality do the rest.
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Cycle Oregon turns 30 years old this year and organizers unveiled their big plans last night to a standing-room-only crowd that packed into an elegant ballroom at the Portland Art Museum.
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Tonight was the route announcement for Cycle Oregon’s 30th anniversary ride. There’s a large loop that includes Crater Lake and Sisters/Bend. The start/finish is at the town of Tumalo, just north of Bend. The route is very similar to the 2007 route; here’s the breakdown.
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Bonfire on Gold Beach to end day three.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

We’re joining Cycle Oregon a bit late this year. The 2,500 or so people that make up this ride (about 2,000 or so riders and hundreds of volunteers, supporters, and staff) are now settled into a beachfront camp.

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Riders and locals in the historic town of Shaniko on Cycle Oregon 2014.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Those of you who’ve been around this site a while know that I’ve always been a huge fan of Cycle Oregon, a non-profit known mostly for their fully-supported week-long rides that venture into the most remote corners of our state.

Now I’m very excited to share that this year BikePortland is an official media partner.
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[BikePortland contributor Will Vanlue is on the Cycle Oregon ride this week. This is his latest dispatch.]

Plenty of cones help keep
things safe as Cycle Oregon riders
roll down Highway 97.
(Photos by Will Vanlue)

Cycle Oregon’s mission of helping the economies of Oregon’s rural communities keeps the route, for the most part, on quiet back roads with little motor vehicle traffic. However, there are occasions when there is only one road leading between communities giving people no other choice than to share the road with a large volume of motor vehicles.

There was one such situation this year when the route turned on to Highway 97, a major north-south corridor between Oregon and California, which regularly has traffic traveling in excess of 65 MPH.

Normally it’s a harrowing stretch to ride on a bicycle but for a few hours during the ride the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State Police were able to turn it into a safe, pleasant, and -by some estimations- fun place for people to travel on bicycles.
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One of the many bikes rolled out by residents of Bly, Oregon
to welcome Cycle Oregon riders. The 25th anniversary of the ride starts today.
(Photos by Will Vanlue)

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Today’s route: 49 miles, 1,300 ft. elevation gain

Today we packed up for the last time and faced a stiff headwind for a short but sweet ride back into Umatilla.

The route rolled through wheat farm country dotted with old barns and back through the Walla Walla onion crops I remembered from our first day.

At the rest stop in a tiny town called Helix (population 183), I noticed this wheat farmer talking with one of the riders. This interaction between spandex-clad cycling city-slickers and tough, old-fashioned farmers is a great part of the Cycle Oregon spirit.
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[Leaving Union]

What bike tour would be complete without at least one epic day? Today was that day.

After a smattering of rain last night, we embarked on our penultimate day’s ride under our first morning of questionable weather so far. Ominous clouds lingered overhead and riders suited up for the worst. At last night’s announcements, we were told our original route had been changed due to severe weather and cold in the mountains.

The cold and damp weather, combined with about 25 miles of highway and freeway riding at the start of the day was admittedly a bit miserable. Even though our new route was 1200 feet lower than the original one, it was still frigid and reports said it was only 38 degrees at our lunch stop at Emigrant Springs State Park.
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[Camped on the Union
High School football field.]

Today is our rest day here in the great little town of Union, Oregon and if you want to know what Cycle Oregon is all about, this day pretty much sums it up.

The 3,000 or so riders, volunteer and crew that make up Cycle Oregon have descended on this sleepy little farming town (population 2,000) and the community has responded by working hard to keep us fed, entertained and happy.
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