Cycling Trip - Oregon

[srenda]

All,

Considering a trip to OR this summer. Can anybody recommend a decent cycling travel co. that may have organized tours that won't break the bank?

Thanks,
Scott

[coylifut]

All,

Considering a trip to OR this summer. Can anybody recommend a decent cycling travel co. that may have organized tours that won't break the bank?

Thanks,
Scott

I think you'll find that it's unlikely that anyone from Oregon has done an organized tour outside of Cycle Oregon. There are a couple of tour companies, but I have yet to meet anyone who has used one. Seems as if someone from outside the state in a similar situation as you could be a resource, but no one has chimed in.

If you are really looking not to break the bank, you could stay in a fixed location in Portland, rent a minivan for the bikes and select rides from this list of 40 rides.

http://www.rubbertotheroad.com/?page_id=514


The site has detailed descriptions of each ride. Most of them are classic Portland rides. If you wish to have a hard copy, all these rides are published in a book titled Rubber to the Road. There's a few different volumes. They start at different locations around the metro area. Many of them start close enough to the city center where driving to to the start locations are not necessary.

[krhea]

All,

Considering a trip to OR this summer. Can anybody recommend a decent cycling travel co. that may have organized tours that won't break the bank?

Thanks,
Scott

Hey Scott, I live in Portland and am also President/Director of Portland Velo Cycling Club. There are tons of tour/ride options depending on what you are looking for. We're lucky to have numerous in-state tour companies and a few that have excellent reps as well as affordable options.
Because cycling is such a huge part of the culture here you can really find anything your looking for without to much trouble.

If you'd like some ideas or have further questions hit me off list(krhea@portlandvelo.net) and I'd be glad to offer some advice, and when you're here please join one of our club rides, we'd love to have you.

KRhea

[srenda]

Thanks for the info...

[William]

I'm with Coy here....I could direct you to hordes of great rides in the Portland and central Willamette Valley areas, but I know nothing of ride companies in Oregon.


Sorry,



William

[cnighbor1]

I love riding in Oregon
Why do you need a tour company. Just motel it. One person drives in morning and another in afternoon
Send me an email and I send you a great seven day ride in southern Oregon
I even sag for you a bit and ride a bit
<cnighbor1@comcast.net>
ULTRATOUR JUNE 2005
SOUTHERN OREGON


Here is a synopsis of the route:

Day 1 – Travel to Canyonville, Oregon, Exit 99 on I-5. Stay at the Best Western Canyonville Inn, 200 Creekside Road in Canyonville. http://bestwestern.worldexecutive.com/directory/usa/canyonville/hotels/38153.html

Day 2 – Canyonville to Agness – 80 miles with some dastardly climbs and possibly some gravel. We will sag anyone across gravel sections if you want, but the scenery should be breathtaking, and very little traffic. This will be a memorable ride. They only get easier after this. Our overnight is at the Lucas Pioneer Lodge, a rustic place in the Rogue River Wilderness. No website.

Day 3 – Agness to Crescent City California – 84 miles. Most down the Rogue River to the coast at Gold Beach, then some rollers down to Crescent City. If we get good weather we get tailwinds. The opposite could also happen. Overnight at the Best Western Northwoods Inn. http://bestwestern.worldexecutive.com/directory/usa/crescent_city/hotels/05435.html

Day 4 – Crescent City to Oregon Caves – 73 miles with some climbs. We will leave early so we can take the cave tour in the afternoon. We start out riding through the majestic Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Our overnight is at the historic Chateau at the Oregon Caves. See http://www.oregoncavesoutfitters.com/

Day 5 – Oregon Caves to Ashland – 68 miles with some hills and maybe an interesting short stretch of gravel. Our overnight is at Bard’s Inn http://www.bardsinn.com right in downtown Ashland. If you want, make reservations to see a play http://www.orshakes.org/, or just enjoy the very touristy town. A great center of the bicycle industry too, being the home of United Bicycle Institute and United Bicycle Parts as well as some spin-offs.



Day 6 – Ashland to Prospect – 65 miles and I am sure we can find some hills there too. Our overnight is at a wonderful old hotel, the Historic Prospect Hotel http://www.prospecthotel.com/ We will have a celebration dinner there at the Hotel restaurant, which will be open only for our group, and is included with the tour.

Day 7 – Prospect to Crater Lake – 37 miles. OK, so I waited too long to get us in to the Crater Lake Lodge. I probably would have had to make reservations a year ago. We are staying at the other Crater Lake accommodation at Mazama Junction, 7 miles down from the rim. Since it is a short day, you can go ahead and ride up to the rim and maybe around the North side if you want, but we will be riding around the East and South sides the next day. I will reserve space for dinner in the Lodge for anyone who wants, and we can shuttle people up there in the sag. Crater Lake has to be one of the most spectacular places on earth. If you have never been there you are in for a treat. See all you need to see at http://www.craterlakelodges.com/static/12.htm and http://www.nps.gov/crla/

Day 8 – Crater Lake to Steamboat – 90 miles, but take your time going around Crater Lake because once we have left the rim it is all downhill, following the beautiful Umpqua River. Whee! A very nice road too, with wide shoulders mostly. There is a great waterfall to see part way down so we will make one of our stops there. Our overnight at the Steamboat Inn is another great little spot. Howie first told me about it 20 years ago. http://www.thesteamboatinn.com/home.html

Day 9 – Steamboat to Canyonville – 62 miles. We will finish off the nice downhill on the Umpqua and then have a few good rollers to end our trip back at Canyonville. We are driving home that day too, so if anyone needs to get a head start, the sag can take drivers the last half to get their cars.

Total miles 625 in 8 days of riding. With about 30,000 feet of climbing

[cnighbor1]

Go to web sites for Cycle Oregon and Oregon cycle. Each has past and current routes for seven days of great riding.
Once when doing their ride starting at 7:00 am it was in high 20's. I put on many layers to keep warm. Has I climbed out of the valley we had stayed in that nite and was going over a low pass I got some very funny hot flashes. I said to myself what the heck is wrong with me. I stopped and looked down at my temperture gage. It was 65 degrees and sunny. Climbing over the pass I had ridden into a chinook warm wind coming from the south and of course was over heating. removing many layers I was back to my normal self.
Enjoy

[John M]

Several years back my wife and I did a trip in the Washington Cascades with Bicycle Adventures. They also operate several trips in Oregon. Not cheap, but very well organized and well qualified guides. They have a few different pricing levels.

[canali]

congrats on choosing oregon...and while you're at it also consider adding northern california to san fran (or even further south) ...all along the stunning old 101 coastal highway.

i rode from toronto ontario canada to vancouver bc in '82...then decided to continue along through gorgeous washington state and out to the oregon - californian coastlines after someone put a bug in my ear...best choice i made...that part of my 2.5 mo venture ROCKED.....as other posters have said, there is no need to hook up with any tour company given all the bed n breakfasts/motels etc all along this sublime coastal landscape...pure heaven man and with a strong tailwind all the way down (north to south is the only direction to go, unless you're a masochist and like to fight strong headwinds going south to north).

since your timelines are much more limited, i'd consider starting in southern oregon and moving into northern califrornia but again only along the old 101 coastline (hilly sure but jawdroppingly gorgeous on a bike)...so many choices, so many wonderful places to consider....riding through the 'valley of the giants' in northern california taking in all those wonderful sequoias and redwoods is just magnificent...then road leads back out the stunning ocean coastline.

the oregon tourism industry also has bike specific maps for this area of coastal riding....are detailed and show hills, etc...all very bike user friendly and greatly informative.

[noflysonme]

Take one day off and mountain bike the Mackenzie river trail (http://www.mckenzierivertrail.com/mckenzie-river-trail-1) .

It is one hour east of eugene. Belknap (http://www.belknaphotsprings.com/) hot springs is on mile 4 or 5 of this 26 mile trail. It"s a great place to overnite and has geothermal hot springs.
The trail is an out and back which criss crosses the highway. You can't get lost. It's not very technical and has a gradual climb.
It's yer typical pacific north wet old growth forest, with a couple of blue [2000 flushes blue] lakes and waterfalls thrown in. The middle section is bumpy volcanic rock so might as well rent a dualie. Otherwise you'll waste a lot of time poking around on this section when you could be enjoying the buffed single track. Old growth forests and volcanic rocks are now endangered species so if you crash please replace all divots.

You'll kick youself later if you skip this!!

[skijoring]

Take one day off and mountain bike the Mackenzie river trail (http://www.mckenzierivertrail.com/mckenzie-river-trail-1) .

It is one hour east of eugene. Belknap (http://www.belknaphotsprings.com/) hot springs is on mile 4 or 5 of this 26 mile trail. It"s a great place to overnite and has geothermal hot springs.
The trail is an out and back which criss crosses the highway. You can't get lost. It's not very technical and has a gradual climb.
It's yer typical pacific north wet old growth forest, with a couple of blue [2000 flushes blue] lakes and waterfalls thrown in. The middle section is bumpy volcanic rock so might as well rent a dualie. Otherwise you'll waste a lot of time poking around on this section when you could be enjoying the buffed single track. Old growth forests and volcanic rocks are now endangered species so if you crash please replace all divots.

You'll kick youself later if you skip this!!

That trail always led to some bleeding, especially ripping around Clear Lake up above, trying to avoid sharp lava. :beer: Right nearby is McKenzie Pass, my favorite road in Oregon..on a road bike.