2022 Classic Ride Guide Vol I
There are a million little details that make every Cycle Oregon event unique. Let’s look at the big picture first. Packing, getting to the ride, where to stay in Portland, booking a massage – it’s all here in the first edition of the Ride Guide. If you’re new to the Classic, it’s a great investment of your time to go over these details. Even if you’re a veteran, peruse the guide as a reminder of the things you’ll need to make your journey a great one.
Click to view VOL II & VOL III
Important Updates and Reminders
Parking and campsites will be available beginning Friday night if you would like to arrive early. If you’re signed up for Tent + Porter Service, those tents will be up and ready to use on Friday night. No food will be available so you’ll need to go in to town to get what you need.- Groups can be located next to each other in Tent + Porter. We will send a group request form in August to everyone registered for Tent + Porter.
- For assistance in adding products such as a parking or bus pass, Tent + Porter, or a jersey, please visit our events.com help page
Overview
| Day | Date | Start | End | Miles | El. Gain |
| 0 | Saturday, September 10 | John Day | Check-in Day | ||
| 1 | Sunday, September 11 | John Day | Monument | 59.3-64.2 | 3,756′-4,587′ |
| 2 | Monday, September 12 | Monument | Fossil | 59.6-68.6 | 3,226′-5,094′ |
| 3 | Tuesday September 13 | Fossil | Fossil | 38.8-59.7 | 3,844′-6,486′ |
| 4 | Wednesday, September 14 | Fossil | Mitchell | 43.9 | 4,030′ |
| 5 | Thursday, September 15 | Mitchell | Mitchell | 18-69 | 700′-7,284′ |
| 6 | Friday, September 16 | Mitchell | Dayville | 77.8-75.5 | 3,520′-3,700′ |
| 7 | Saturday, September 17 | Dayville | John Day | 32-62.5 | 750′-4,100′ |
Preparing for the Ride
Get Your Body Ready – Just the basics here, but people often forget the basics!
Get Your Bike Ready – Get fitted, tune up, and think about your tire selection.
Pack for the Ride – You only get one bag, so make it count! We’ve made it easy with a printable packing list.
Getting There and Back
Flying into Portland
The Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel is the official hotel of Cycle Oregon, offering a special rate on September 9 and September 17 for our riders (and free week-long parking for guests). For reservations contact Kimberly Lawson, the Sheraton Group Coordinator, at (503) 335-2857 (be sure to mention that you are with Cycle Oregon) or book online by clicking here. They do fill up, so be sure to reserve early.
Taking the Bus
You must purchase bus tickets by August 13 to guarantee a space. All buses depart Portland at 9 a.m. on September 10. Return buses will depart John Day on September 17 beginning at 3 p.m. The travel time from John Day to Portland is about 6 hours via bus, so please plan accordingly and for unexpected delays.
Buses will depart from and return to the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. If you’re staying elsewhere, check with your lodging provider to see if they will shuttle you to the Sheraton.
Tickets will be emailed the first week of September. Staging for buses will take place on Saturday, September 10 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. Volunteers will be available to help load your bike and luggage. To save time and minimize hassle, bikes will not be boxed but will be wrapped in blankets and loaded directly into the baggage trucks. If you traveled with a bike case and it is still packed up, your bike can be loaded on the truck in its case. If you have already assembled your bike, be sure to bring your empty bike case with you, we’ll store it for the week at the start/finish location.
Driving
Cycle Oregon provides week-long parking for riders near the start/finish site. Parking passes are available here for $30 until August 22. We will post specific directions to the parking area as we draw closer to the event. Driving directions will also be on the parking pass that will be mailed to you in late August. Security is provided from dusk to dawn.
Ship Your Bike
If you’re flying or don’t want the hassle of dealing with your bike on the way to the event, ship your bike with BikeFlights.com to and from our event.
Click here to get started. Be sure to click the John Day link on their page to set the delivery address. Your bike will be shipped to a nearby UPS location and delivered to the starting line in advance of the event.
Accommodations in John Day
Planning to arrive early or stay late? We’ve got you covered. Book with one of the many local options in town, all located within about a half mile from the overnight site.
Dreamers Lodge: 144 N Canyon Blvd, John Day // (541) 575-0526
John Day Motel: 250 E Main St, John Day // (541) 575-9000
Sunset Inn: 390 W Main St, John Day // (541) 575-1462
Arriving and Packet Pick-Up
Each rider will be asked to sign the ride waiver when picking up their rider packet. The rider packet contains a wristband and bike number. Please bring a photo ID to show the volunteers in order to receive your packet.
Your wristband should not be removed unless you choose to leave the ride. Until you have checked in and are wearing a wristband, you will not be identified as a participant and will not have access to meals, course support, etc. If you leave the ride, it is important that you check in with Rider Services to let them know you are leaving.
Check-In Hours
- Friday // September 9 // 7 to 9 p.m. (Tent and Porter will be available Friday night, but no meals or other services will be provided)
- Saturday // September 10 // 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dinner will be the first meal served in camp.
- Sunday // September 11 // from 6 to 8 a.m.
Arriving Late
If you arrive on Sunday, you must have your bag in the baggage truck by 8:15 am, as the trucks leave by 8:30 am. You can pick up your rider packet that morning at Rider Services.
No camping will be available on the last Saturday of the ride. If you would like to stay in the area that night, consider getting a motel room in the area or finding a nearby park.
Food, Drink & Entertainment
Meals
Cycle Oregon provides hearty and well-balanced breakfasts and dinners at each overnight site. On the course, there are two to three Rest Stops with a variety of prepared and packaged foods and drinks to keep you fueled. We know that riding all those miles requires a lot of calories, and we don’t leave you short on that count.
We offer options for vegetarians, but you must sign up in advance. You will be given a vegetarian bracelet to wear throughout the event. Our daily menus will be available in the final Ride Guide sent in August.
- Breakfast: 5:30 – 8:30 a.m.
- Dinner: 5 – 8 p.m.
Nightly Announcements
Every evening at 7:30 p.m., the Cycle Oregon community gathers around the Main Stage. The evening meeting is part communion and part comedy. It’s a great opportunity to get the latest weather forecast, hear tips about the next day’s route, learn about the places we’re visiting and catch up on some local folklore. Best of all, it’s always followed by terrific entertainment.
Beer & Wine Garden and Whiskey Wagon
Each night’s campsite will feature a Beer & Wine Garden with beverages available for purchase. The garden highlights a selection of local craft-brewed ales, a selection of great wines, and daily cocktail specials. The Garden is open daily from 4 – 10 p.m.
Vendors
Other food available for satisfying those after-ride cravings includes the revered Nossa Familia coffee, Al Forno Ferruzza pizza, and local community specialties.
Entertainment
Cycle Oregon showcases some of Oregon’s most talented performers, from country rockers to clog dancers, blues divas to jazz greats. Performances are scheduled each day on the Main Stage. After the nightly announcements at 7:30 p.m., we bring out our headliner act – these are some top-notch performances you won’t want to miss.
Clinics & Lectures
On Saturday, September 12, we will lead a Cycle Oregon 101 from the main stage from 6:00 – 6:40 p.m. to help you have the best experience possible on the ride. Please join us whether you’re a newbie or a veteran. Throughout the rest of the week this time slot features lectures on local history, the communities we visit, and geology to add context to the route and our travels. Check the schedule at Rider Services for more details.
Camp Services
Showers
Hot showers will be provided at each overnight site. The showers come with dressing rooms, sinks, and even a laundry area to hand-wash clothes. Please remember to bring a towel or two, as we do not provide towels or toiletries.
Rider Services
Rider Services is the Cycle Oregon customer service department. You will find the Rider Services trailer in a visible location near the entrance to each overnight campsite. This is the place to ask questions, get help solving a problem, meet friends, leave a note on the message board or locate missing items at lost and found.
Cycle Oregon Gift Shop
The Cycle Oregon Gift Shop is where you’ll shop for Cycle Oregon merchandise including a limited number of this year’s ride jersey, cycling gear, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, jewelry, sundries, and much more. You can also buy extra meal tickets there. Look for the Cycle Oregon Gift Shop near Rider Services.
Medical Services
A medical tent will be set up at the overnight site. There is no charge for medical services on the course or at the overnight site. We will not transport you to a medical facility unless it is a critical situation. If you require services from a local medical facility, you will be financially responsible.
Electronics Charging
The Community Cycling Center has been working for over 25 years to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits in Portland. In that time, they’ve helped you roll smoothly over breathtaking rural roads by offering on-site services at Cycle Oregon, such as solar-powered charging for all your phones, garmins, lights and more (They are NOT able to charge e-bike batteries). In past years, your purchases and donations have helped raise an astounding $20,000 per year to support their community programs. Thank you!
We are happy to announce the Community Cycling Center is bringing back their electronics charging services via their solar powered charging trailer. Sign up in advance to guarantee that your gadgets will be powered up all week — click here to sign up today!
Please note: The Community Cycling Center Electronics Charging service CANNOT support the charging of e-bike batteries.
Services include:
- Pre-Purchase your Charging Pass, $100: Good for all week (days Zero through Six). This charging pass allows you to charge all your personal devices, two at a time.
- Live Event Purchases
- One-time charges can be purchased on-site for $10.
- Power banks bigger than a phone will be charged $12 for a one-time charge.
- Extend your support and donate towards Youth Bike Programs: We know you love your Summer Camp-like bike experience… So why not share the joy of wheels with a kid? The Community Cycling Center serves underserved youth all throughout the year through no-cost bike programs, teaching kids how to ride safely and confidently on city streets. Support the next generation of bicyclists today!
Click here to book now. Questions? Contact brittany@communitycyclingcenter.org
CPAP Service
We will designate a camping area adjacent to the medical tent with electrical hookups for those who use equipment such as a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or sleep machine. The medical crew will carry your CPAP equipment from site to site; the cost for this service is $60 for the week. This does not include the use of a tent – you must provide your own or register for Tent & Porter. You will still be responsible for delivering your gear bag to the baggage truck. This service is limited to the first 30 people who sign up. (For more help adding to your order, click here.)
Massage
The majestic mountains of Oregon seem mighty tall when you’re pedaling up them and knowing that a massage awaits you can make that climb a lot easier.
After a long day in the saddle, bring your tired legs down to the massage tent. Our therapists use a variety of Swedish, deep-tissue and sports massage styles to keep you riding strong all week. Massage relieves muscle pain and tightness by stimulating circulation, helping you recover after extreme exertion and stopping spasms before they stop you from riding. Massage can be tailored to your pressure preferences and to the areas where you need it most.
Pre-booking is available for all rides beginning April 1. To pre-book appointments, please visit the Cycle Oregon Massage Team’s website, click on the ride that you would like to book an appointment for, choose a therapist and contact them directly.
Massage rates are $110.00 for a 50-minute appointment and $155.00 for a 80-minute appointment. We accept all major cards or cash. A limited number of 30-minute appointments may be available the day of the ride. Come to the massage tent directly to inquire.
A little hint, when you’re choosing where to pop your tent for the night, you may want to set up away from the massage tent, as our music is loud and lively and we’re open until 11 p.m.
Yoga
Each day you will have the opportunity to stretch out the muscles that get tight during cycling. These yoga classes will help you stay close to your breath this week. Not only will this help you feel better, but stretching can also help prevent injury. And you’ll meet other great people who like to do nice things for their bodies too. Mats are provided and times are subject to change. Days 1,2,4, and 6 will have sessions at 3:30 & 4:30. Days 3 and 5, the layover days will have a single session at 4:30. Check the schedule at Rider Services for updates.
Physical Therapist
Megan Moseley, PT, LMT, of Bodywise Physical Therapy, will be available every day after the ride for complimentary Physical Therapy consultations. These action packed 15 minute sessions include education about the underlying cause of your issue, instruction in stretches, exercises and self-care techniques, hands-on treatments i.e. myofascial release, graston, cupping, mobilization, taping, bracing, and insole adjustments to get you feeling better, and back on the road! Additionally, Megan will make bike-fitting recommendations, and help you coordinate care with your massage therapist. Sign up at the orange Bodywise tent, located near Rider Services.
Get your CO adventure rolling early by attending Megan’s stretching, and injury prevention class from 4-5 p.m. on Saturday, your first night in camp. This a fun, interactive class geared toward balancing and stretching your whole body to counteract the forward positioning on the bike, stretch over-used muscles and re-aligning joints that are stressed with cycling long distances.
Bike Repair
The Trek Bicycle PDX (formerly Bike Gallery) team of bicycle technicians provides mechanical support at the overnight site. Technical support is available for emergency repairs of well-maintained equipment. It is your responsibility to make sure your bicycle arrives ready to ride and in good condition.
Baggage
Over 60,000 people have made the week trip with one 65-pound bag; you can too! Here are three simple rules for bags:
- One bag per person. Everything goes in that bag – tent, clothes, etc.
- 65 pound limit. We hand move over 2,000 bags, twice a day. Please abide.
- Do not strap/lash bags together. This may injure baggage volunteers.
Baggage Pick-Up
Participants must pick up and deliver their own gear from the baggage trucks at each overnight camping area. Truck trailers are labeled and fitted with stairs. Remember to note which trailer you load your gear in to so you can locate it easily at the next site.
Porters
Local volunteers are usually available to carry bags from the trucks to the campsite and, again in the morning, from the campsite to the trucks. We encourage you to tip the porters ($2 per bag is suggested), as this benefits local community groups.
Baggage Truck Departure
Baggage must be dropped by 8:30 a.m. each morning and picked up by 8 p.m. each night. Riders are responsible for getting their bags to and from the baggage trucks by the designated times.
Make Your Bag Easy to Identify
We can’t stress this enough, please mark your gear bag with additional personal identification tags (including a phone number). A distinctive tag, such as fluorescent tape or a colorful ribbon (don’t use pink, we use that for bus bags), will also help you locate your bag among the 1,999 others.
Course Support
Cycle Oregon prides itself on providing a fully supported ride. Our goal is to help you finish each day’s ride. To that end, our course is complete with the following services and amenities.
Course Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m (4 p.m. on Saturday)
Course support services are available only during the course hours. If you leave before the course opens or are still riding after the course closes, there will be no support services available.
All Cycle Oregon riders still on the course after 6:30 p.m. (4 p.m. on Saturday) will be offered a ride to camp. If you choose not to take the ride, you will be on your own to get back to camp. Additionally, Cycle Oregon retains the right to move riders ahead who are unreasonably far behind during appointed course hours..
Food and Drink
Rest Stops & Water Stops: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Two to three rest stops will be available along the route each day to provide water, beverages and nutritious and delicious snacks, restrooms, and bike mechanics. Typically the second rest stop of the day will offer more hearty options to keep you fueled. Rest Stop signs alert riders when one is just a mile ahead (or look for the banana on the route map). In addition to the Rest Stops, one or two Water Stops per day will provide water and restrooms (indicated by a water bottle on the route map). Many of our rest stops are in beautiful parks, so take your time and enjoy the setting.
Gear Drop
Each day, typically at the first rest stop, you can drop off a limited amount of clothing to be taken to the evening’s campsite. This service is for small items such as jackets, tights, leggings, gloves, etc. No half-eaten sandwiches, half-stuffed panniers or other oddities will be transported. Gear drop can be picked up near Rider Services, generally between 4 and 5 p.m.
SAG Vans
There will be multiple SAG vans on the course each day. They are available to transport cyclists as needed due to mechanical problems or medical injuries. They also have extra water, snacks, and sunscreen if needed. If at any time you need assistance, please signal a SAG van with a “thumbs down” signal. If you do get into a SAG van, you may not be transported directly to camp. SAG vans typically wait until they are full to go to camp.
Bike Mechanics
Trek Bicycle PDX (formerly Bike Gallery) will have mechanics in camp and on course. They will make basic repairs in order to get you through the week. Cyclists will incur any charges associated with parts or extensive repairs.
Medical Service
Adventure Medics provides around-the-clock medical support on the course and in camp. If you require medical attention on the course, you should notify a SAG, ambulance, or staff vehicle with the “thumbs down” signal.
Safety Patrol
Motorcycle safety patrol volunteers drive the Cycle Oregon course each day. They are a great source of information and assistance and enhance the overall safety of the ride by interacting with riders who may pose a hazard by unlawful or unsafe riding.
Rules of the Ride
The number one priority of Cycle Oregon is your safety. Therefore, here are a few rules we insist you follow:
1. Only bicycles propelled by human power are allowed to participate in a Cycle Oregon sponsored event. (In 2022, up to ten e-bikes will be allowed to participate in a pilot program in Classic. These bikes must be approved prior to registering for the event.)
2. Helmets and two water bottles (or equivalent) are required on Cycle Oregon. The use of rear-view mirrors is recommended as a safety measure.
3. Cycle Oregon uses a group of Safety Patrol volunteers on motorcycle who provide an on-course presence and are a good source of information or assistance during the ride. They enhance the overall safety of the ride by interacting with riders who may pose a hazard by unlawful or unsafe riding. Heed their advice.
4. By Oregon law, bicyclists are operators of vehicles and must comply with all traffic laws. Cycle Oregon reserves the right to expel any participant who demonstrates a reluctance to ride in a safe and lawful manner. Riders who violate safety laws in the Oregon motor vehicle code are also subject to citation by law enforcement officials.
5. The Cycle Oregon course is open for designated hours. Course support vehicles and other support services are available only during course hours. Any cyclist(s) still on the course after the designated closing time will be offered a ride to camp; if you choose not to take it you are on your own to get into camp and no course support services will be available for those who choose to stay out.
6. SAG support is to be used for mechanical and/or medical reasons only. Excessive use of SAG support (3 or more times) for any other reason may exclude participants from registering for future Cycle Oregon events.
7. The course will be clearly marked. If you leave the official course, you are not part of the ride and will not receive any services or support.
8. We try to direct as much vehicle traffic as possible off the route. Nevertheless, the tour travels on public highways. Therefore, ride no more than two abreast. Ride beside a pal only where it is safe to do so, and where you do not block traffic or force other riders to swing far out to pass.
9. Never draft behind a vehicle. Pace lines are prohibited in areas of high vehicle or cyclist traffic and are limited in size to a maximum of seven riders. Be especially careful at railroad tracks, cattle guards, and busy intersections. Course monitors and safety vehicles may be stationed in areas of special concern.
10. Call “ON YOUR LEFT” to alert a rider you intend to pass. The call “CAR BACK” passes the message forward when a vehicle is approaching from behind. Use arm signals to indicate turns. Point out potholes, broken glass and other hazards to those behind you. Signal your intention to stop, and pull off the roadway.
11. Use of headphones while riding on Cycle Oregon is highly discouraged. Safe group riding in an event such as Cycle Oregon depends on communication between cyclists. Headphones interfere with that process and make it difficult for people to hear instructions such as “CAR BACK” and “ON YOUR LEFT.” Headphones also make it difficult to hear approaching cars or trucks, negatively impacting the safety of cyclists and motorists.
12. Cycle Oregon enjoys a reputation for leaving our campsites, lunch spots, rest stops, and course spotless. Please dispose of all trash, recyclables, and compostables in the appropriate places.
13. Cyclists must keep the roadway clear when stopping at an event-designated stop or any other location. Please ensure that bicycles are parked off the road and that cyclists do not congregate on the roadways.
14. Cycle Oregon includes at least one roadside water stop each day, along with assorted drinks at meals and all rest stops. Still, the responsibility for carrying sufficient water and remaining properly hydrated is yours. Make sure you drink extra fluids before, during, and after the ride to reduce the risk of dehydration. While in the saddle, you should consume an average of one liter of fluid for each hour of riding. Drink before you become thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already slightly dehydrated. Muscle cramping can also be a sign of dehydration. If at any time you run low on water, signal a SAG van with a “thumbs down” and ask for a fill-up. Do not be tempted by roadside rivers and streams, as the water may contain bacteria or parasites.
Emergency Information
In extreme emergencies, family members can contact a rider by calling the Oregon State Police at 541-776-6111. Please ask them to send an urgent message to Cycle Oregon officials. Bear in mind that it may take up to 12 hours to locate a rider and relay a message.
On-Course
If you or someone near you is having an emergency, do not hesitate to dial 911. Often one of our medical team will pick up the call on their radio.
Extensive Communications
Cycle Oregon has lots of help on the road in case of an emergency. HAM radio operators provide emergency and logistical communication for Cycle Oregon. HAM radio operators ride in most Cycle Oregon vehicles so that event managers, medical services, and staff are in touch at all times. If no one is around to assist in the event of an emergency, call 911.
Motorcycle Police
Officers accompany Cycle Oregon each day. These officers have full authority to enforce the motor vehicle code. They can be contacted by Cycle Oregon staff for any emergency issues on the course.
Ambulance Service
Adventure Medics provides Advance Life Support ambulances that give around-the-clock medical support on the course and in camp. If you require medical attention on the course, you should notify a SAG van, ambulance or staff vehicle with the “thumbs down” signal.
Please note: There is no charge for medical services rendered by Adventure Medics on the course or at the overnight site. Adventure Medics will not transport you to a medical facility unless it is a critical situation. If you require transport using Adventure Medics, a local ambulance, or helicopter, you will be financially responsible for any resulting charges. You are also financially responsible for any services provided by local medical facilities.
You can help in an emergency
If you witness an accident on the course, please do the following:
- Do not move the injured rider, especially if you suspect a head or spinal injury.
- Notify a passing ambulance, SAG van or staff vehicle with the “thumbs down” signal. If there is no one around to help, call 911.
- Take care of yourself. Do not step into the path of vehicle traffic.
- Keep the injured person calm.
- Once a Cycle Oregon official is on the scene and you have given a statement, please continue on the ride.
In-Camp
Medical
Go to the medical tent, as a medic will be on call at all times. If no one is in the tent, knock on the trailer door.
Evacuation
PA announcements throughout the campsite will alert the riders to prepare for evacuation. Please go immediately to the Main Stage for instructions.
Severe Weather
Harsh weather may warrant the use of contingency facilities for shelter, if available. Details will be announced from the Main Stage. In the event of lightning, seek low ground and get away from metal.
Cancelling a Registration
Submitting Cancellations: Please submit cancellation requests to info@cycleoregon.com. Please note we do not make exceptions in our cancellation policy (including COVID-19 related issues, family, medical or employment situations). Refunds will be processed through the credit card you used to register when possible. Processing fees incurred at the time of purchase are non-refundable. Please allow up to 30 days for processing.
Through July 16, 2022
- A $100 fee for each rider registration (including accompanying products – Tent & Porter, Bus Tickets, Parking).
- A $30 fee for cancelling only these services: Tent & Porter, Bus Tickets or Rider Guest Registration.
- There is no refund for cancelling only Parking.
From July 17 to August 13, 2022
- A $275 fee for each rider registration (including accompanying products – Tent & Porter, Bus Tickets, Parking).
- A $50 fee for cancelling only these services: Tent & Porter, Rider Guest Registration.
- A $75 fee for cancelling only Bus Tickets. There is no refund for cancelling only Parking.
After August 13, 2022
- There are no refunds for cancellations after August 13, 2022.
Cycle Oregon may cancel or reroute an event due to the occurrence of any force majeure event or credible threat thereof, including but not limited to any Act of God, fire, earthquake, acts of civil or military authority, casualty, flood, war, terrorist attack, epidemic, insurrection, civil unrest, strikes or other labor activities or any other similar cause beyond the reasonable control of Cycle Oregon Inc., including environmental conditions that might threaten the health and safety of Event participants, volunteers or staff. I understand and agree that my registration fees and other costs will not be refunded by Cycle Oregon, Inc. if all or any portion of a Cycle Oregon Event is cancelled or rerouted due to a force majeure event. I will release and hold Cycle Oregon Inc. harmless for any costs or damages incurred as result of cancellation or rerouting of a Cycle Oregon Event due to a force majeure event.