There is a distinct texture to a GRAVEL weekend that lingers long after the dust has settled. When we asked our community to share their stories from this year’s event, the responses weren’t just about miles logged or the backcountry views; they were about the moments of connection that happen when a group of people shares an adventure. It takes an incredible amount of heart to build a temporary home for everyone in communities across Oregon. That care came equally from the riders who brought the good vibes and the village that supported them. Below, we’ve pulled together a collection of firsthand testimonials from the ride, alongside a grateful nod to the community organizations, sponsors, makers and musicians who kept camp humming from sunrise to the evening’s final encore.
“I showed up to Gravel this year and ran into several people I had not seen since the last event. People that live in a different country to me, that I don’t interact with outside the context of Gravel—yet immediately felt like connecting with close friends. We rode together for the weekend, chatted, shared experiences, advice, vacation suggestions, etc. That’s such an incredible thing and I deeply appreciate it.”
“I did thoroughly enjoy the OMTM shakeout :D”
For the Mechanical Miracles: A massive thank you to Trek Portland.
“SUPER appreciated having Trek there for support. I used them 3 times throughout the weekend.”
For the Camp Fuel & Gear: Shout out to Nossa Familia Coffee for the wake-up calls, alongside The Athletic Community and Spurcycle for keeping our ride smooth and sharp.
For the Ultimate Finish Line Energy: The incredible team from Wolf Creek Job Corps.
“The Job Corps kids greeting each finisher at the end were great. Loved their energy, enthusiasm, and loudness!”
For On Course Support: The ever-ready team at Adventure Medics and endurance hydration from Hammer Nutrition.
“Adventure Medics helped my buddy after a fall. Did a good job.”
For the Camp Vibes & Dinner Spreads: Deep gratitude to Spin Catering, Pelican Brewing, Heck Brewing, and Pinot Vista Vineyards for keeping us fed and refreshed in camp.
For the Stage Energy: Our unforgettable bands, Deepest Darkest, New Body Electric, & Camp Crush and Ross Madsen’s Sonic Art Audio for always creating the perfect listening experience no matter where we go.
“1st night the music was great. 2nd night, I loved Camp Crush!!”
For the Spirit of Gravel: The crew from OMTM.cc got things rolling with our first ever Friday Shakeout Ride. We’re blown away by how many of y’all showed up for this and we’ll make it even better going forward.
To Our Unmatched Volunteers: You are the heart and soul of Cycle Oregon. Thank you for making Tygh Valley a safe, welcoming, and unforgettable experience for every single rider.
“The volunteers were incredible. What great folks with wonderful life stories… I had a great experience with your staff and the volunteers and just really appreciate all of your kindness and planning.”
By The Numbers
94% of riders rated this year’s GRAVEL weekend as “Excellent” or “Very Good”.
84% scored their likelihood to recommend the event to a friend a 9 or 10 out of 10.
What Riders Had to Say About GRAVEL
Community & Vibe
“As a first timer I am struck with how really amazing the vibe was. Cool people being cool with other cool people. Cool!”
“Great conversations with people I just met on the routes, over meals, in the shower line. Complete strangers to friends in 5 minutes.”
“The staff was so friendly and helpful. It was great to see them around the camp and on the ride. I loved it and felt like it was a very large friend group. Well done.”
“The routes this year were great, and I loved not having to worry about the details. Cycle Oregon had it ALL covered.”
“A very comfortable event for solo introverts. :)”
Spirit of Volunteers & Local Communities
“We really enjoyed the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers at the Day 2 finish line . . . and their presence throughout the weekend.”
“The long route, day two rest spot at the bottom of extra loop was such an oasis with the hosts and local high school kids helping. I love that the community comes out to participate and share their towns with us. Being gravel it’s just that little extra off the beaten path and places not many get to experience.”
“Loved the end and the fun clapping and energy of the volunteers and local young people. That was super fun.”
“The volunteerism Cycle Oregon inspires is amazing.”
Adventure, Support & Peace of Mind
“I had an absolute blast at this event, and it has reinvigorated my passion for biking. I was initially hesitant due to the cost, but after the experience, it was well worth the money! Great staff all weekend, and great weather, couldn’t have been better.”
“There are very few events in this space that don’t revolve around racing or otherwise being competitive… It’s nice you’ve done the preplanning, and I know the experience will be awesome.”
“I’m one of the few riders who can crash going uphill. Didn’t really hurt myself but was bleeding from my knee. Within minutes the motorcycle came to give me some water for it, then the medical van came by and cleaned and bandaged it. At the lunch tent Trek recentered my brake and I went on to ride the long route and had a great day.”
“I drove from the San Francisco Bay Area and I would do this ride again. The value is incredible for what you offer. Kudos to Cycle Oregon for a great event.”
Where We Will Improve
Spend a weekend out in the elements together and you’ll quickly see where things are working and where they aren’t. While we got a lot of things right, our community gave us some honest reminders about where we missed the mark. The work to make improvements has already begun.
We know that some parts of the weekend didn’t flow the way they should have—from logistical hiccups at dinner to terrain on the Friday Shakeout Ride that felt a bit too intense without enough warning for some. We’re a passionate crew, and we care deeply about getting this right. We are using every bit of your feedback so that next time, the full weekend experience feels as seamless and welcoming as the landscape we’re riding through.
An event like GRAVEL is just lines on a map until people show up to breathe life into it. We are incredibly lucky to have a community that embraces the adventure, brings joy to the routes and camp life, and cares enough to share their perspective with us. We appreciate you for making the journey to Tygh Valley, for sharing your weekend with us, and for helping us keep the Cycle Oregon mission rolling forward. We look forward to riding with you again soon. THANK YOU!