2021 Tygh Valley Rally Ride Guide
We’re excited that you’re joining us for the special-edition Tygh Valley Rally— ‘built for the moment’ unique back-to-back weekend cycling events. The basecamp for both events is the Wasco County Fairgrounds in Tygh Valley, where riders can camp under the stars far from any city lights.
Riders will have the whole Cycle Oregon experience – After a day of riding, cyclists can enjoy a warm shower, sip locally crafted beer and wine, participate in basecamp activities and share stories while listening to live music and enjoying a fully catered meal. Get all the details for getting to the ride, checking in, meals, and fun between events– it’s all here in the Ride Guide.
It’s a great investment of your time to go over these details. Even if you’re a veteran to Cycle Oregon, peruse the guide as a reminder of the things you’ll need to make your journey a great one.
UPDATE 9/1/2021: Cycle Oregon continues to amend our COVID-19 Mitigation Plan as the situation evolves in Oregon. Our most recent update to the plan, issued today, addresses protocols for anyone associated with Tygh Valley Rally, including COVID-19 vaccination / negative test requirements, mask wearing requirements, and COVID-19 mitigation measures for both the event site and on the route. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these protocols prior to arriving at Tygh Valley Rally. You can view this update here.
Preparation and Arriving
The Wasco County Fairgrounds will open to riders at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 10 and the event closes Sunday, September 19 at 5 p.m. Friday is a check-in day, riding takes place on Saturdays and Sundays.
The overnight site is located right at the Wasco Country Fairgrounds and parking is located on site. To ensure a smooth arrival, please follow the directions below when entering the site.
Camp Services
Our camp is filled with every thing you need for the weekend, from hot showers, to delicious meals, to great entertainment, and of course, beer. The idea is to have a relaxing, enjoyable weekend of riding. The key to that? Take care of as many details as possible before the ride. In this section you’ll find pretty much everything you need to know to make your Cycle Oregon experience a great one. Check out the site map here so you know where to find everything.
On the Course
Course Hours
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Riders must be on course by 10:00 a.m.
Course support services are available only during the course hours. If you start before the course opens or are still riding after the course closes, there will be no support services available. All Cycle Oregon riders must be on the course by 10 a.m. Those still on the course after 5 p.m. (4 p.m. on Sunday) 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.
Event Timeline
Between Weekends
Tygh Valley and the surrounding region has a lot to offer, including road and gravel riding (of course!), whitewater rafting, day hiking, wine tasting and more. Riders are welcome to stay between events or arrive early for WEEKEND #2. Below are some great options, including guided historic tours and hikes, area museums, restaurants and local businesses. Take the time between events and truly immerse yourself in the area!
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.
If you are on the road and in serious need of medical assistance, do not hesitate to call 911. In the case of a minor emergency, flag down any Cycle Oregon volunteer and they will dispatch a SAG van or ambulance.
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.
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. Class 1 and Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes are welcome on all courses at the Tygh Valley Rally.
2. Helmets and two water bottles (or equivalent) are required on Cycle Oregon events. 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 event courses are 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.
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 road. 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 events is highly discouraged. Safe group riding in an event such 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 and recyclables 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 events include 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.