RIDDLES AND SPECULATION
The Kickoff for the 2019 season is coming up in January and people are getting anxious to find out where next year’s rides will take them. Steve gave us all a hint in the form of a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, shrouded in mystery that people have been puzzling over since Classic.
Cindy A. ventured this guess as to what it all means: “The spirits of earth & sky are Crater Lake. The story of the chiefs daughter is Multnomah Falls. The forest recently burned is the Columbia Gorge. A native’s trail could be the Oregon Trail. The battle cry? Perhaps the Ducks in Eugene. A ride between Crater Lake and Multnomah Falls would be about 340 miles. But how to return? Intriguing riddle.”
Hmmm interesting.
Jeffery C went in a different direction: “Working through this. I expect a lot of errors, but right now it's looking like a coast ride, possibly north to the Columbia gorge or south. The spirit of the mountain (Grande Ronde), The spirit of the sky (Rockaway Beach), A chief's daughter (Cascade Locks), A battle cry (Port Orford), A sacrificial offering (Maryhill Stonehenge), A native's trail (Yachachs), A forest lives on without fail (Multanomah Falls)”
And what about the other events? Would anyone like to take a shot in the dark, start a discussion, or stir the pot? Leave a comment on our FACEBOOK page and we’ll see how close you come to the actual locations on January 30th at the Kickoff Party.
Registration for all 2019 events will open January 31, 2019 at noon Pacific Time. Stay tuned to CYCLEOREGON.COM for more updates. |
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IT’S BEEN QUITE A RIDE
While we’re already well into our planning for 2019, we want to take a minute to reflect on 2018. For a whole bunch of reasons, this past year ended up being one of the most fun ones in recent memory. We splashed through some puddles, we drank wine, we partied with the Ducks, we pedaled through Hell, we Let ‘er Buck, and we got our first taste of Gravel.
While next year will be more of the same, and hopefully even better, it will also be a bit different without our grand planner of routes, noted safety enthusiast, and purveyor of corny jokes, Ken Chichester riding shotgun. Ken officially retired from Cycle Oregon after the Classic this year and we miss him already.
It’s hard to overstate just how much of an impact Ken has had on Cycle Oregon, but it’s safe to say that it wouldn’t be anywhere near the event it is today without his two-plus decades of devoted service. For those keeping score at home, this will be Ken’s fourth retirement and he’s hoping this time, maybe it will stick. READ MORE
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BIKING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
Most cyclists are explorers at heart. Finding unexpected gems and seeing unforgettable sights is a big reason why many of us climb into the saddle again and again. Just south and west of Portland awaits miles and miles of great roads, paths, and car-free trails to ride, including the picturesque 50 mile-long Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway (which features 21 miles of the Banks-Vernonia Trail). In fact, Washington County is an important sponsor of Cycle Oregon, and have helped us bring this years' GRAVEL and Joyride through parts of this beautiful and diverse county. And if you haven’t explored the Tualatin Valley and the northern Willamette Valley by bike yet, maybe it’s time you did.
One particularly nice ride that flies a bit under the radar is around Scoggins Valley Park and Henry Hagg Lake, near Forest Grove. There are actually two options here – road or trail. The road route is 10.5 miles of the paved stuff making a loop around the lake. There is a fair amount of ups and downs making for a total elevation gain of 1,800 ft., but the frequent views make it well worth the effort. If you’re more in a mountain biking mood, there is 13+ miles of well-designed singletrack that encircles the lake. Just be sure to pay attention to the weather, because these trails do tend to get really muddy.
Whether you hit up Hagg Lake, take on a section of the Scenic Bikeway or opt for any of the more family-friendly paths, there is plenty of riding to be done in Portland-adjacent Washington County and the Tualatin Valley.
To see more of what this area has to offer, check out tualatinvalley.org
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CYCLE OREGON GIFT GUIDE
The great thing about having cyclists on your list is that they always need (or want) more stuff. There is always something out there that will greatly enhance this all-consuming pastime we call riding bikes. The ever-helpful elves over at Cycle Oregon HQ put their pointy little hats together and came up with a few ideas.
Oregami Luggage: Some riders say that the hardest part of the Classic is the hills. Others insist that it’s fitting a weeks worth of gear in one enormous, awkward bag. Packing is an art form and the CO riders who invented Oregami luggage have mastered it. These bags hold a ton of stuff and have ample compartments and pockets to keep it all organized. Check them out HERE.
Bike Gallery: Not only does Bike Gallery have bikes and everything you could possibly need for a bike, they also have incredible people who work on bikes. So what better gift for a cyclist than a spa day for their trusty two wheeled companion? Let the techs at BG detail that bike and get it back to its owner cleaned, lubed and dialed in to spec. Schedule a tune-up HERE.
Foam roller: Time in the saddle often comes with sore muscles and an assortments of aches and pains. And for that, a foam roller is just what the doctor ordered. Side note: if it hurts, that means you’re doing it right. Here's two choices – AT HOME or TRAVEL SIZED.
Park Vulcanizing Patch Kit: This one goes in the category of “extremely thoughtful stocking stuffer”. Flats happen and if you don’t have the means to fix it, you could be in for a long walk home. Pick up a whole bunch of them HERE.
Zwift membership: Zwift is what would happen if an Xbox had a baby with your bike trainer. You can virtually ride world class routes and become part of a team all while literally getting a great workout. It’s riding a stationary bike, only fun. And a one month membership will only set you back $15. Check it out HERE.
Aftershokz Trekz Air: Riding with music is great and all but it’s just not that safe. You need to be able to hear what’s going on around you and traditional headphones get in the way. These futuristic headphones have come up with a pretty cool work around. They send the sound waves into your head via “bone conduction technology”. Your ears are left wide open without sacrificing any of the sound quality. Oh, and they are reflective – because safety. You can find them HERE.
 From all of us at Cycle Oregon, we wish you a warm and happy holiday season!
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WHY WE RIDE
At Cycle Oregon we talk about community a lot. The community of cyclists we have built and the communities we visit are the reason why we do what we do. This clip sums it up pretty well. It’s part of a longer video called Beyond The Ride that was made in 2012 to help celebrate our 25th anniversary. Click through to the blog HERE to watch the full-length video. |
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