Cycle Oregon pedals history

SALEM, Ore. – Lewis and Clark only could have dreamed of a camp-out like this.

Catered meals. Snack breaks and rest stops. Water from bottles, not creeks. Tents transported ahead each day to an established campsite. Hot showers. Free mechanical assistance. There’ll even be a massage therapist.

The 18th annual Cycle Oregon will resemble Lewis and Clark’s expedition 200 years ago only in that it will follow some of their footsteps through the Columbia River Gorge and in its name, “Discover Oregon: Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.”

“They probably had about the same amount of horsepower, but we have more efficient machines to get there with our limited horsepower,” said Ken Chichester of Salem, who will be riding in the weeklong event for the 14th time. “And they didn’t have everything provided, start to finish.”

Cycle Oregon is at least three-fourths of the way to filling to its capacity of 2,000 for the Sept. 10-17 bicycle ride, which starts in Boardman and ends in Astoria. Anyone who procrastinates beyond early spring runs the risk of not being able to get in.

“With the big tie-in this year being the Lewis and Clark bicentennial, we wanted to stay as close as we could to the Lewis and Clark Trail,” Chichester said. “That’s pretty hard to do if you want to stay on paved roads.”

Chichester has been Cycle Oregon’s head scout the past 11 years, chairing the committee that selects and inspects each across-the-state route.

Hence, Cycle Oregon will do some zig-zags to Condon and to Champoeg State Park – deviations from the Columbia corridor.

“I think it’s going to be a great route with the whole Lewis and Clark thing, especially going up and over the old Rowena Road (the Historic Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway),” said Kay Weipert of Salem, who will be doing her 11th Cycle Oregon.

“These Cycle Oregon things really showcase Oregon – their choices of routes are really good – and the Columbia Gorge is like a masterpiece. It should be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, in my book.”

Mark Williams has ridden in all but one Cycle Oregon.

“It probably looks to be the easiest course I’ve ever seen in Cycle Oregon – not a lot of climbing, and relatively flat days.”

The basic route is 428 miles, an average of 71 miles a day, with options that could extend the total mileage beyond 550.

The unknown factor will be the wind. On hot autumn days it can whistle down the Gorge from the east, providing a tailwind. On cooler days it blows from the west, hence a dreaded headwind.

“All these people who dilly dally about getting into shape for this event, then right before the event they think, ‘Oops, better get started.’ Those people are going to get pretty sore, and some of them are going to use the sag wagon more than once.”

The support is part of why Williams keeps coming back to Cycle Oregon year after year.

“They do a great job of organization,” he said.

“It’s the people, the quality of the routes. It’s just a great week of adult summer camp. They choose great courses and there are wonderful people who go on the rides.”