Cycle Oregon – "The Best Bike Ride in America"

So here's the deal. There are thousands of organized rides all across the United States. Day rides, centuries, hottest, steepest, longest, best cause, and every other superlative you can think of. But there is something magical about Cycle Oregon. How about joining us in 2007?

Why Talk About Cycle Oregon?

Because I want to have a TallRides contingent at the upcoming 20th anniversary ride next September 2007. What I am proposing is that a group of us organize a riding group of from 2 to 20 (or whatever) riders. I don't necessarily see us riding together – we all have different riding styles and needs – but I would like to see some of my TallRides friends, especially from out-of-state, make plans to do this ride. I promise you you will never regret it.

What is Cycle Oregon?

From the Cycle Oregon website:

Cycle Oregon is: part scenic tour ... part test of will ... part chance to help preserve and protect all that is special out where the West is still Wild.

Across 7 days and roughly 500 miles, Cycle Oregon is a ride, not a race. The rider who has the biggest adventure wins - and you get to define "adventure."

I did Cycle Oregon this past September and although I have not been on other "big" rides, those 7 days were incredible. Rather than retell all about the 2006 ride I will provide links here and let you do the research. I will give you the key facts in a nutshell.

This annual ride has a rich history. The 2007 ride is the 20th anniversary and is being promoted as the best one yet. No one but the core organizers know the route yet. That will be announced at a kick-off party here in Portland on February 13, 2007, and that's when sign-ups start.

There is also an optional weekend ride with the dual goals of (1) exploring a new section of highway that has been adapted and approved as a viable trans-state route for cyclists, and (2) serving as a test ride for new Cycle Oregon riders and those of us who just can't get enough. That ride is June 23-24, 2007.

The dates:  September 8-13, 2007
Location:  To Be Announced Feb. 13
The cost:  $799
The accommodations:  We sleep in tents...we get served 3 good meals a day...we have hot, private showers (!)
Our duties:  Ride...eat...sleep (and enjoy the pizza, beer and entertainment each night if we wish)

What TallRides Will Do

I will help anyone from out-of-state with local logistics.

How to get here
Where to stay before and after the ride
How to get your bike here and checked out, or help you locate a bike here to use
Provide people to ride with to the Cycle Oregon start campsite
Introduce you to other riders
Get a block of tents for all of us. Our group will use the tent & porter service which costs an additional $300, but is so worth it or if there are enough of us I might hire someone to handle our tents and gear and the cost will be less.
Generally be a local resource so this becomes very doable for you

What You Need To Do

Read up on Cycle Oregon and decide to do it
Let me know you want to be part of the TallRides group
Train
Start putting together your kit of gear
Get excited

So you have the rest of Winter to think about it, make plans and train those legs for climbing. Then you have all Spring and Summer to get in top shape. The early September date is perfect! The vacationing drivers are off the roads, the weather is still beautiful, we all have had all summer to train and take part in all of our favorite local rides all the time knowing that the big ride is coming up.

Here is what one new rider, Jonathan, reported on CO 2006:

It was both harder and more fun than I expected. It's the sheer number of miles; I've raced and ridden seriously in the past, but for this I thought, 'I have all day; I can ride anything.' But all that climbing showed me that I didn't have that many miles in my legs this year.

But as far as a social perspective, I knew that I wouldn't know a ton of people – going in I felt like the new kid in the school cafeteria: 'Where do I sit to eat?' But it was easy to strike up conversations, and I really enjoyed talking to people over such a range of ages. On a tour like this, people take a vacation from their ages, and everyone's kind of a kid, living free and feeling young.

The biggest surprise was the logistical scope of the event. I had some idea of what went into it, but when you see it all happen, when you walk through the camp and feel the buzz… then you know what it really is. I can't believe they pull it off every day. And the volunteers take to their jobs like the riders hit the road: with vigor and an adventurous attitude.

Jonathan's advice to a prospective rider for CO 20. Find out for yourself. "Don't let anyone tell you what it's going to be like for you. Go in with no preconceptions. Take an open mind and just do it, and let it happen."

You can find Jonathan's posts and photos at bikeportland.

Just FYI, the youngest rider this year was 5; the oldest was 77.