Your Guide to Cycle Oregon’s 2023 Classic Ride

Riders and supporters will celebrate this last legendary weeklong ride in mid-September.
Cycle Oregon,  Photographer
July 26, 2023 (Updated September 26, 2023)

Editor’s note: The last Cycle Oregon Classic Ride in its current form wrapped in September 2023, but executive director Steve Schulz promised the organization will be back with more rides in 2024 and beyond. Stay tuned for announcements by following their social media pages. 

Some come for the landscapes — a chance to experience the ocean, forests, high desert, mountains and all of Oregon’s sheer beauty at a slow pace, on two wheels. Some come for the camaraderie — an opportunity to ride with friends through some of Oregon’s friendliest and most out-of-the-way communities. Some come for the physical and mental challenge of being on a bike for a week, the grand adventure of it all.

It’s all of those reasons that have inspired me to join more than a thousand cyclists in riding the legendary Cycle Oregon Classic ride (September 9-16, 2023) before it ends its 33-year reign. The organization will shift to focus on smaller, shorter rides.

While it will be my first time on this epic 7-day adventure, many riders have returned year after year. There’s no shortage of spectacular organized cycling events in Oregon, but the Classic is the granddaddy of them all. The event is famous for its expertly curated routes with a focus on community. With proceeds from rides donated to the Cycle Oregon Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation since 1996, Cycle Oregon has awarded grants totaling $2.76 million through their community and signature grants. Another $150,000 is set aside each year for community groups that provide services on Cycle Oregon’s events.

Many longtime riders are drawn back to the grind by this stewardship ethos. “I appreciate the work Cycle Oregon does to create as light a footprint as possible on the land while spreading money around small towns with great needs,” says Kendall KIC, a Portland cyclist who’ll ride her 19th weeklong Cycle Oregon event in September 2023. She and other riders of all ages appreciate that it’s not a race, it’s a go-at-your-own-pace ride. “Slow people get to hear and see more,” she says. “Pedaling quiet miles through the woods puts me in a meditative state.”

Cycle Oregon encourages riders to spend their dollars in the local communities they pass through — from purchases of coffee and ice cream to carved Bigfoot statues, Pendleton blankets and other keepsakes (which they can ship home). Each ride ends in a party with food, live entertainment, massage therapists and physical therapists available for appointments. Not to mention the peace of mind of having technical and medical support available on site in case of any issues encountered along the way.

“We’re building community through bikes,” says Cycle Oregon executive director Steve Schulz. “You just come and ride, and we do everything else. And we get to do good and have fun along the way.” Here’s a look at this year’s Classic ride as it takes its final bow.

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three cyclists up close on road with trees and sky in backgroundWine Country Bliss

The weeklong ride kicks off in the heart of the mid-Willamette Valley in Albany, warming up with a flat and fast roll along parts of the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway past farms, orchards, hop fields and acres of wildlife refuge. Take a break in the friendly town of Independence — with Willamette River vibes and a multitude of sweet Main Street restaurants, tasting rooms and shops — before continuing north to Carlton, in the North Willamette Valley. Oregon wine enthusiasts can sip the night away and purchase a few bottles to ship home.

cyclist on hill with forest in background

Farm to Ocean Roads

This day’s ride heats up a bit as it heads west from Carlton to the Oregon Coast, tracing the Wild and Scenic Nestucca River under a forest canopy on single-lane roads. Breathe in the scent of the forest as the sunlight streams through the trees, legs pumping on the rolling hills until you reach the Coast Range and the Pacific ocean appears on the horizon. Your destination is Cloverdale, just outside of Pacific City.

ocean with rocky bluff, grass and boardwalkThree Capes Scenic Loop

Today riders have two choices. One is to rest and enjoy a well-deserved layover day, perhaps popping into town to support the local businesses. The other is to put in some bonus miles along the Three Capes Scenic Loop, also known as the Tillamook coastline along Oregon’s North Coast. Traveling by two wheels lets you experience the stunning scenery at your own pace, stopping whenever a tide pool, trail, sandy beach or dramatic overlook calls your name.

 

wildflowers in foreground and ocean and rocks in background

Coastal Views For Miles

Legs rested, mind free, today is dedicated to picturesque coastline views from Cloverdale to Toledo, just east of Newport. That’s followed by a serious climb east of Highway 101 in the Coast Range, making a sweeping descent into Toledo, on the banks of the Yaquina River.

people in silhouette looking at the orange sunsetArts, Cafes, Seafood and Sunsets

Day 5 is another optional layover day. You can spend your time perusing the specialty shops, art galleries and cafes in the friendly waterfront community of Toledo, or hop on your bike for a short joyride to Newport to do the same there. The Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hatfield Science Marine Center, dining hot spots like Local Ocean Seafoods and more along the Historic Newport Bayfront are a big draw.

Beach to River Vibes

Today you’ll rejoin the Oregon Coast Bike Route along Highway 101 and pedal past landmarks like South Beach, Ona Beach and Seal Rock on your way to the thriving Central Coast town of Waldport. Then you’ll bid farewell to the Coast and head east to the town of Alsea, following the Alsea River as it flows through the Siuslaw National Forest. This stretch of the Alsea Highway is known as one of the most fun and scenic to ride, with gorgeous forested views and plenty of stops along the sparkling river.

 

A Tranquil Valley Finish

On your final day, treat those legs to a rejuvenating ride along the south fork of the Alsea River. Descend through the forest canopy and thick firs through the communities, fields, farms and vineyards of Philomath and Corvallis on your way to the finish line in Albany. The flat country roads will be a meditation space as you reflect on the journey of the past week and your life journey ahead.

About The
Author

Jen Anderson
Jen Anderson is a longtime journalist and travel writer/editor who is now Travel Oregon’s Content & Community Manager, helping to align content for visitors via social media, print and web. She’s called Oregon home for 25 years and loves finding the latest places to eat, drink and play around the state with her husband and two boys. Brewpubs, beaches and bike trails top the list.

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