Cycle Oregon is a non-profit organization best known for its week-long, non-competitive bike ride, called Classic, held as a fundraiser for the Cycle Oregon Fund. Cycle Oregon additionally hosts GRAVEL, a weekend cycling event, Joyride, a one-day cycling event for women only and WEEKENDER, a weekend cycling event often hosted on a college campus. Cycle Oregon also manages Jumpstart, Oregon's Safe Routes to School program focused on rural communities, and administers the Oregon Scenic Bikeways program.

Cycle Oregon 2012
Classic 2018 - Finish line of final day in La Grande, Oregon

History

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The first Cycle Oregon event took place in September 1988, covering 343 miles between the Oregon cities of Salem and Brookings. More than 1,000 cyclists participated. By 1994, there were more than 2,000 participants participating annually.[1][2]

 
Cycle Oregon Classic camp 2012

Cycle Oregon Classic Routes

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Year Edition Route Distance (Miles) Elevation (Feet)
1988 I Salem to Brookings 343 9,429
1989 II Portland to Ashland 438 21,000
1990 III Pendleton to Newport 413 22,000
1991 IV Beaverton to Hood River 540 25,200
1992 V Eugene to Medford 417 18,500
1993 VI Baker City to Oregon City 448 24,500
1994 VII Eugene to Brookings 473 19,700
1995 VIII Athena to Fossil 435 27,723
1996 IX Lakeview (Crater Lake Loop) 560 21,900
1997 X Nyssa to Yachats 526 22,700
1998 XI Myrtle Creek (Crater Lake Loop) 528 29,885
1999 XII La Grande (Wallowas Loop) 546 29,666
2000 XIII Paisley to Hood River 561 21,280
2001 XIV Prairie City (Frenchglen Loop) 503 16,200
2002 XV Nyssa to Florence 594 17,975
2003 XVI Baker City (Hells Canyon Loop) 541 22,788
2004 XVII Canyonville (Crater Lake Loop) 502 28,749
2005 XVIII Boardman to Astoria 513 24,738
2006 XIX Umatilla (Blue Mountains Loop) 508 28,750
2007 XX Sisters (Cascades Loop) 481 28,463
2008 XXI Elgin to Wallowa Lake 435 21,521
2009 XXII Medford to Grants Pass 436 28,202
2010 XXIII Elgin to Pendleton 481 27,133
2011 XXIV Sutherlin to Riddle 500 24,865
2012 XXV Bly to Klamath Falls 506 30,577
2013 XXVI John Day to Seneca 505 17,685
2014 XXVII The Dalles to Madras 490 34,893
2015 XXVIII Baker City to La Grande 450 22,397
2016 XXIX Tri-City to Gold Beach 484 24,360
2017 Cancelled due to wildfires
2018 XXX Baker City to La Grande 451 28,797
2019 XXXI Oakridge to Dorena Lake 486 31,330
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022 XXXII John Day to Mitchell 443 35,245
 
Community volunteers are integral to the operation and fun of the event

Description

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Cycle Oregon hosts four non-competitive, recreational cycling events each year to raise money for the Cycle Oregon fund and promote tourism throughout the state. Cycle Oregon events are supported rides; participants are provided with meals, camping facilities, shower and restroom facilities, and sag wagon support on course. Event locations vary each year with routes announced in January at a kickoff party and through a promotional video. The four events are:

Classic - A week-long bicycling journey showcasing some of Oregon's most spectacular vistas usually held in September

WEEKENDER: A two-day bicycling event most commonly held on a college campus with multiple ride options usually held in July

Joyride is a women-only one-day ride offering short, medium and long routes usually held in June

GRAVEL is a two-day mixed-terrain bicycle event with multiple route options usually held in May

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Cycle Oregon rolls to an end for 2,039 hardy participants". The Register-Guard. Associated Press. September 19, 1994. p. 3C. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  2. ^ Cardozo, Yvette (February 19, 1995). "A Party on Wheels Along Oregon's Trails" Chicago Tribune, Travel section.
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