Since 1988 Cycle Oregon has led thousands of cyclists through verdant valleys, remote countryside and Scenic Bikeways of the Beaver State, often showcasing the landscapes to riders for the first time so they might return with friends and family. Cycle Oregon’s rides are among dozens of annual bike events in Oregon ranging from short to long, quirky to hard-core and everything in between.
In 2023 cyclists have a chance to enjoy some of the most scenic and friendly foothills, farmland and coastline of the Willamette Valley and Coast on the weeklong fall Classic ride, dubbed “Wine. Waves. Wonderland.” Plus, check out the two-day, all-ages summer Weekender; the single-day, women-only Joyride; and the rugged and remote Gravel ride, with varying lengths for each.
What sets Cycle Oregon apart from other events is the sheer breadth of ground covered — nearly every corner of the state — as well as the amount of support they give to local communities.
Riders typically have the chance to customize their routes. They may choose to join an organized excursion, tackle a more challenging route or opt for a shorter route to leave time to relax (and recover) at camp. Each event is powered by hundreds of volunteers who sign on for the route or come from the hosting community to make the event a seamless one — from food service to moving baggage, organizing recycling stations and setting up the finish line.
Whether or not you consider yourself a cyclist, here are a few reasons to support Cycle Oregon’s mission.
Giving Back to Communities
Since 1996 the nonprofit has earmarked proceeds from its rides to distribute hundreds of community grants throughout Oregon. To date Cycle Oregon has awarded $2.3 million to 325 groups for projects to better their communities.
Recent grants have been awarded to the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture for Native American arts programming; to the city of Seneca for a new fire station; and to the Creswell Heritage Foundation to repair a historic schoolhouse and to build a bike-repair station in the town of McKenzie Bridge at the entry to the Aufderheide Scenic Drive, among many other projects. Cycle Oregon also gives direct grants to the hosting communities’ school districts and chambers of commerce to use as they see fit.
“At a time when we need to come together as a community, in my opinion, it’s the perfect opportunity to do something that’s good for someone else,” says Schulz.
In addition to supporting local communities, Cycle Oregon invests in major statewide projects as well. One project that recently came to fruition is the public purchase of a nearly 1,800-acre parcel of land at Wallowa Lake’s east moraine — the glacial crest of land framing the iconic lake on its eastern edge. Cycle Oregon has contributed $98,000 over the past decade toward the $6.5 million purchase of this property, which will now be owned and managed by Wallowa County and barred from development. It will be preserved as a working community forest, protecting native plants, wildlife habitat and cultural resources. For thousands of years, the moraine has been a refuge for wildlife and is sacred to the Nez Perce Tribe. Find more information on the project at the Wallowa Land Trust.
“It’s such an iconic landmark,” Schulz says about the Wallowa Lake site, which Cycle Oregon has traveled to a handful of times over the years. “The growth of the state is exponential. Our lands are being gobbled up. To be able to preserve that and work with the Nez Perce in management principles is just amazing.”
Looking to the Future
Over the decades, Cycle Oregon has had the opportunity to constantly evolve, adapt and innovate. When wildfires caused smoke in Oregon in fall 2017, Cycle Oregon was forced to cancel their weeklong ride for the first time in the event’s history. The pandemic forced a cancellation of the 2020 rides. Most years, however, Cycle Oregon’s contingency plans have allowed them to move forward without cancellation.
When it comes to adapting its policies, Cycle Oregon has evolved its events to be inclusive of electric-assist bikes. Allowing pedal-assist e-bikes will let more riders of all skill levels participate.
More women are participating in Cycle Oregon rides than ever. Nearly a third of the riders on the weeklong Classic ride are now women, Schulz says, and women make up more than half of the participants on the Weekender ride. In addition, the Joyride was added in 2016 as a ladies-only event, with 1,000 women of all ages riding through Willamette Valley wine country on routes of varying distances. As with all Cycle Oregon events, each ride ends in a party with food, live entertainment, massage therapists and physical therapists available for appointments.
“We’re building community through bikes,” Schulz says. “You just come and ride, and we do everything else. And we get to do good and have fun along the way.”
