BikePortland is an official 2015 Cycle Oregon Media Partner
Since 1988, Cycle Oregon has brought together people who love riding bicycles and people who live in our state’s beautiful rural communities. More than just a ride, Cycle Oregon is a non-profit organization that has doled out millions in grant funds to many worthy projects and causes.
Over the course of this year we’ll bring you original stories, reports on bicycling’s impact around the state, coverage of the Cycle Oregon Weekend and Week rides, and more.
Our Cycle Oregon coverage dates back to 2006. Check out our past stories below.
[Camped on the UnionHigh 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 … Read more
Well, I made it. Yesterday we left Sumpter and climbed up and over Anthony Lakes pass at 7,400 feet. Now I’m here in Union (population 2,000), yet another charming old town I feel lucky to visit. We arrived yesterday and today is our layover day. There’s an optional 91 mile ride that I’m sure would … Read more
[Leaving Starkey] Ride Details: 53 miles, 4,400 feet elevation gain This morning we left Starkey and rode along the Grande Ronde River valley. It was a frigid but unbelievably gorgeous start to the day. I couldn’t resist joining the many other riders that stopped on a bridge for a cheesy photo of me and the … Read more
[Dave, owner ofthe Starkey Store] The folks in Starkey, like Heppner and Umatilla, welcomed us with open arms; all 42 of them. Starkey is the first real small town we’ve stayed in. Total population is 21 and according to Dave (owner of the Starkey Store) they were the last town in Oregon to get phone … Read more
[Leaving Heppner] Ride details: 82 miles, 6000 feet elevation gain Leaving Heppner was bittersweet. While I looked forward to getting back in the saddle and the ride into Starkey, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to enjoy the sweet little town nestled between golden, rolling hills. The community in Heppner gladly let Cycle … Read more
Well I made it to Heppner; 70 miles down, 520 to go. The ride was fantastic. Ideal weather, wide-open countryside, and wispy clouds set against a perfectly blue sky and empty roads. I rolled out of Umatilla and kept to myself for the first 20 miles or so. I just wanted to let the feeling … Read more
[Editor’s note: I wrote this last night but couldn’t get on the web until now.] [Where’s my bag?] So here I am in McNary Dam State Park, Umatilla Oregon. I’ve never been this far out into the Gorge. I feel like I’m out on the frontier. It’s Day 0 of the 19th annual Cycle Oregon … Read more
The 19th edition of Cycle Oregon begins this Saturday. I’ll be joining the famous week-long tour and reporting back with photos and stories from the road. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I’m woefully unprepared for the journey. Sure, I’m still young(ish) at 31, but I can’t even remember the last time … Read more
[Jonathan Nicholas atlast year’s ride.] Last year Metro and Cycle Oregon teamed up to host a bike ride from the Eastbank Esplanade to Champoeg State Park. They informally called it the “Policymakers Ride”. It was an invite-only affair to showcase a future Portland-to-Champoeg leg of Oregon State Parks’ Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway Route. On the … Read more
For the past three years, the Community Cycling Center has sent a volunteer crew on Cycle Oregon to detail (yes detail) bikes after each days ride. All the proceeds from the bike detail service (I think it’s around $30 a bike) go directly to the CCC’s Holiday Bike Drive. Last year this money helped 250 … Read more
[Art meets sport] It was fitting that the Cycle Oregon crew unveiled the 2006 route at a classy place like the Portland Art Museum. I’ve never seen such a big hoopla just to announce a ride. It was really impressive. From the covered and guarded bike parking to the 20 or so smiling, official-T-shirt-clad volunteers … Read more
I never realized Cycle Oregon had its headquarters right here in North Portland. I visited them today to talk top secret business stuff and was impressed by what I saw. I especially liked this nifty bike rack. Here’s a photo of their top guy, Jerry Norquist (thanks for lunch!). He’s been in the bike industry … Read more