2023 Ride Guide Vol II – Cycle Oregon

This volume will take you to the next level of planning – things you may want to sign up for, a start on your packing plan and more. If you’re new to Cycle Oregon, it’s a great investment of your time to go over these details. Even if you’re a returning rider, peruse the guide as a reminder of the things you’ll need to make your journey a great one.

Click to view VOL I

The third Ride Guide will be sent in August with the final details you need to prepare for the ride including menus, GPS links and route maps, and community information.

Packing

Take a look at our recommended packing list here and click here for some expert tips on packing.

Gear Bag – All your stuff goes in one bag, including camping gear and personal items. We highly recommend using a fully waterproof bag and putting clothing items and your sleeping bag in a waterproof stuff sack as well. Having dry clothes makes a huge difference after a long ride. You can only bring one bag, and it cannot exceed 65 pounds. Please do not latch items together as they get separated.

Additionally, we provide wash buckets next to showers for washing out your cycling gear so you can pack fewer clothes! Detergent is provided, hang dry.

One last note and we cannot stress this enough: please put your name on your bag and distinguish it from the others in some way. Many folks use brightly colored ribbon or tape (don’t use pink, that’s how we know if you’re riding the bus at the end).

Weather on the Ride – September weather in the Pacific Northwest is usually beautiful, with average daily highs in the 70’s and 80’s and nightly lows from 30-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Bear in mind, however, that daytime temperatures could reach the upper 90’s and get as low as the mid-20’s. Be prepared for inclement weather — bring warm clothing and rain gear.

For the Bike – A helmet is required, and we recommend the use of a mirror. You must also bring a minimum of two 20-oz. water bottles (or an equivalent hydration pack). Bring some simple tools with you such as tubes, tire levers, patch kit, and hand pump.

With two layover days and several ‘urban’ camp areas, we recommend bringing a bike lock or some way to secure your bike at night or while you are in town.

Baggage

We provide numbered labels for your bags, but we also encourage you to attach your name and cell number as well.

Baggage Pick Up – Participants must pick up and deliver their own gear from the baggage truck at each overnight camping area (except Tent & Porter).

Community Porters – Local volunteers are available to help carry bags from the truck to the campsite and, again in the morning, from the campsite to the truck. We encourage you to tip the porters ($2 per bag is suggested), as this benefits local volunteer groups.

Baggage Truck Departure – Baggage must be loaded by 8:30 a.m. each morning and unloaded by 8 p.m. each night. Riders are responsible for getting their bags to and from the baggage truck by the designated times.

Tent & Porter

Tent + Porter is still available here, but there are only about 40 spots left, so don’t wait! (Need help adding to your order, click here.)

This is an additional paid service. A 9′ x 7′ Cycle Oregon tent will be set up for you at each location. You will get a tent number for the week with a corresponding sticker to put on your bag. The tent number and your rider number will be different – both stickers need to be on your bag.

Leave your bag outside the tent in the morning when you are completely ready to leave. Do not leave items in your tent as we have two sets of tents for different locations. Tents fit one or two people (we will not assign you a tent-mate if you are solo).

Tents are generally set up by 2 p.m. each day, marked with your tent number. Your bag will be waiting outside.

If you are part of a group who are all using Tent + Porter service and you’d like your tents next to each other, please fill out our group request form.

Transportation Reminders

As you start to think about getting to and from the event, let’s review the options you have, and some details for each.

Cycle Oregon Shuttle Bus – If you would like to purchase a bus ticket, you can get one here before August 23. Tickets will be emailed the first week of September. (Need help adding to your order, click here.)

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. The Sheraton is offering free week-long parking for all Cycle Oregon riders.

Staging for buses will take place on Saturday, September 9 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel at 11 a.m., departing at 12 p.m. Bikes will be wrapped in blankets and loaded directly into the baggage trucks. Be sure to bring your empty bike case with you, we will have storage at the start location. If your bike is still in a case, it can be loaded on the truck in its case.

Drive and Park – You will need a parking pass to leave your car in the nearby Cycle Oregon lot (click here to get one by August 21). There will be security on the lot from sundown to sunrise every day. Passes will be mailed in late August. Please leave your parking pass on the dashboard. If you do not receive your parking pass in the mail or did not order one prior to the deadline, we will have them for sale in Albany. (Need help adding to your order, click here.)

Public Transportation — If you live along Amtrak’s Coast Starlight route (Los Angeles – Seattle), there is a stop in Albany. Make sure to reserve your bike spot ahead of time and double check your station can accommodate them. It’s a scenic ride and great addition to the Cycle Oregon experience!

Alternatively, the POINT Bus runs daily and can accommodate bikes. This is a service operated by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Their Cascades route (Eugene – Portland) has a stop in Albany, and they have other routes within the state that can get you to Portland or the Klamath Falls Amtrak station.

From the Albany Amtrak Station it is a 3-mile ride to Timber Linn Memorial Park. If you’re unable to bike with your luggage, there are several Taxi services in Albany that can get you the final few miles.

Driving Directions – Directions will be included with your parking pass and in the third edition of the Ride Guide.

Ship Your Bike

Need to get your bike to Oregon? Use Bikeflights, the official bicycle shipping service of Cycle Oregon. Bikeflights built a custom Cycle Oregon Shipping Guide to streamline your event travel. All bookings are monitored by their expert team until delivery. Bikeflights also offers easy-to-pack boxes, packing how-to videos and excellent customer support. Ship the best way with Bikeflights.

Bike Assembly & Packing – Want a hand getting your bike assembled or boxed? The Trek team of bicycle mechanics will provide assembly at the start and boxing at the end. For those using BikeFlights, Trek will get a head start with assembly on Friday.

Please sign up for this service in advance here. The cost of assembly at the beginning is $50, boxing at the end is $75, and both services are $125. Payment will be accepted by Trek directly onsite.

Arriving

Check in and Packet Pick-Up – After your arrive in Albany and have settled in, you’ll need to check in and pick up your rider packet. Each rider will be asked to sign the ride waiver and show ID when picking up their packet. The ride packet contains a wristband, bike number, and baggage tag.

Once we affix your wristband, it 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 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. (Tent and Porter will be available Friday night, but no meals or other services will be provided)
Saturday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Dinner will be the first meal served in camp.)
Sunday, September 10 from 6 to 8 a.m.

Arriving Early or Late – If you would like to arrive early, camping will be available at the site starting on Friday night. 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. We will be around, so find a Cycle Oregon staff member or volunteer if you have questions. The first meal served will be dinner on Saturday September 9.

If you arrive on Sunday, you must have your bag in the baggage truck by 8:15 a.m., as the trucks leave by 8:30 a.m. 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 campground.

Food

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 vegetarian options at each meal; if you have other dietary concerns, please let us know in advance. Our daily menus will be included in our final Ride Guide.

Meal times

Breakfast: 5:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Dinner: 5 – 8 p.m.

Camp Services

Massage Services – Massage is one of the most popular services on Cycle Oregon. Massage appointments begin filling in May and June, so call ahead to be sure you get the times you want. Start with the Cycle Oregon Massage Team website, which lists individual therapists and their contact information. You can make appointments directly with your favorite therapist or sign up at the massage tent at each overnight site. They accept VISA, MasterCard, check or cash.

Yoga – Every afternoon we offer free yoga classes to all Cycle Oregon participants. Our yoga instructors are cyclists themselves and know what your body needs to feel better at the end of the day and prevent injury throughout the week. Mats are supplied on a first come, first served basis.

Check the schedule at Rider Services for exact times & location onsite each day.

Electronics Charging

The Community Cycling Center has been working over 25 years to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits in Portland. In that time, they’ve also helped you roll smoothly over breathtaking rural roads by offering on-site services at Cycle Oregon, to charge your phones, Garmins, lights and more.

This year, we are bringing back our charging trailer to help make your Cycle Oregon experience even better! We’ve switched to a punch-card model and will be bringing along an extra battery this year due to previous high demand.

Your purchase goes directly toward funding CCC’s free community Bike Camp. We all remember our first time on a bike and the magic and freedom that came with it, your support enables more children to experience the wonder and benefits of bicycling.

You will be able to pick up your punch-card on day 0 of the event if purchased online. Punch-cards purchased at the event will be available at time of purchase.

Services include:

Pre-Purchase your Charge Punch Card, $100: Provides 10 charges for you to use over the course of the event. Save by purchasing early!

Live Event Punch Card Purchase, $120 : Provides 10 charges for you to use over the course of the event, good from day one through day five.

Live Event Punch Card Purchase, $70 : Provides 5 charges for you to use over the course of event, good from day of purchase through end of event

Live Event Single Charge, $15: Provides 1 charge for you to use at purchase
You must bring your own cords and adapters (blocks).

What can I charge?

Phones, Garmins/Wahoos, bike lights and other smaller devices. Larger devices like a power bank can be accepted, but cost 2 punches.
The charging outlets accept USB-A, three prong and two prong adapters.
You must bring your own cords and adapters (blocks).

We are unable to charge e-bike batteries and drones, our most sincere apologies.

Click here to book now. Questions? Contact jacks@communitycyclingcenter.org

Helpful Hints

Gear Drop – Each day, you will have the opportunity to drop unneeded clothing; check with Rider Services for daily Gear Drop locations. To keep our disposable materials to a minimum, our Gear Drop team employs reusable nylon bags for gear drop each day.

License Plates – At check in, we will have small license plates that you can decorate and affix to your saddle. Tell people your CO name, where you’re from or whatever you’d like.

Passports – We will also have passports at check in. After each day’s ride, you can get yours stamped at Rider Services or the host community booth.

Cancellations

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 15, 2023

A $125 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 16 to August 12, 2023

A $300 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, Bus Tickets.
There is no refund for cancelling only Parking.

After August 12, 2023

There are no refunds for cancellations after August 12, 2023.

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.