We can, however, all work together to make a comprehensive photographic record of this year’s ride for everyone to enjoy. Everyone is encouraged to share their best snapshots on the Cycle Oregon Facebook page. You can post them during the ride via your phone or The Blogmobile, or from your computer when you get back.

More importantly, we’d also like to ask that riders upload their very best photos to the Cycle Oregon 2010 flickr group. Flickr is a great place to store and share high-resolution images. Using flickr is free and easy. All we ask is that you avoid adding skinny-dipping shots (at least to the Cycle Oregon group).

Videographers are also encouraged to share their video on the Cycle Oregon YouTube page. If you’ve got a video you’d like to see posted, please contact us at info@cycleoregon.com.

However, The Blogmobile is just one of the many ways to put content on Facebook or Twitter. If you’ve got a camera on your mobile phone, you can post photos you take to Facebook via e-mail.

If you’ve got a smartphone like an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry, you have a lot of options to interface with your favorite social media applications. Smartphone users are even able to post to the Cycle Oregon Facebook page from their mobile devices – and we sincerely hope a lot of you do just that.

If you’d like to learn how to do this and more, check out the tutorial on the KoiFish Communications blog.

The Blogmobile team will also gladly post images you shoot on your mobile or smartphone onto the Cycle Oregon Facebook page for you. Just e-mail them to pixco@koifishcommunications.com.

But the memories forged while deep in an endorphin-induced trance are a little more elusive. If not properly documented, they have a tendency to slip away. That’s one of the reasons I’m always glad when I take the time to stop and take photos. More recently, I’ve also used various forms of social media to capture these moments. And friends and family all seem to enjoy having a window into the ride with the real-time updates.

This year, Cycle Oregon is making it easy for all riders to preserve and share their memories. This year, Cycle Oregon is introducing The Blogmobile. The Blogmobile serves two purposes. First, it is a mobile platform to support the growing number of bloggers who cover the event on a daily basis. It will also be provisioned with a number of laptops that riders can use to update their Facebook profiles, tweet, post about their antics on their favorite cycling forums and, of course, add photos and thoughts to the Cycle Oregon Facebook page.

You’ll know The Blogmobile when you see it. It will be the RV parked in camp with the big sign attached that says “Blogmobile.” If it isn’t immediately obvious, we’re also going to post its location on the bulletin board. Rider Services will be able to point you out in the right direction as well.

The Blogmobile will be open from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, and it’s free to all. On Thursday and Friday riders will be able to get online at the school where we’ll be camped.

If you’re a complete social media novice, don’t fret: The friendly folks from KoiFish Communications will be there to help you through.

So this year, as you get ready for the ride, make note of your login and password information for your favorite social media site if you don’t have it memorized. And if you’re a photographer, bring your camera and whatever you need to hook it up to a PC.

The Round-Up activities alone are enough to provide a full day’s worth of entertainment, but those looking for alternatives won’t have to search very hard or travel very far. Just a few blocks away from where we’ll be camped is Main Street, which will be closed to traffic and full of street performers, vendors and good times. The Main Street Diner is a reasonable facsimile of a 1950s soda shop and a great place to replace all those calories you burned on the road at one fell swoop.

Right around the corner is Hamley & Co., which has been selling Western wear, custom saddles and other goodies for more than 100 years. Today they also offer a wide array of Western art, gifts and a very nice collection of period firearms.

For train buffs, there will be an authentic steam engine parked at the south end of Main Street, right across from the Pendleton visitors center. For beer buffs, there’s a brand-new brewpub just a few blocks up the street from Hamley & Co. called The Prodigal Son. I’ve personally tested the beer and food and give it two enthusiastic thumbs up.

The Pendleton Underground Tour provides a look into Pendleton’s infamous and entertaining past. The network of tunnels under the town was home to the Chinese laborers who built the railroads. It was also the home of thriving businesses including Hop Sing’s Chinese Laundry, the Empire Meat Market and the Empire Ice Cream Parlor as well as numerous card rooms, opium dens and bordellos. Space is limited and reservations are required (for the tour, that is – alas, the card rooms, opium dens and bordellos no longer operate).

The Pendleton Woolen Mills can be found several blocks to the north of Main Street, with tours of the facilities all day. A few miles east of town is the Wildhorse Resort & Casino and the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. The casino is pretty much what you might expect it to be; the Tamastslikt Institute exceeds expectations. It highlights the unique perspective and history of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes and absolutely warrants a good long visit. See the map below for details on how to get there by bike.

There are several bars that will feature live music and plentiful opportunities for rowdy good times until the wee hours. Riders are encouraged to review and take a copy of Saturday’s ride profile with them before heading out for the evening, as a gentle but constant reminder of the virtues of moderation.

Getting around town will be effortless. Most attractions can be reached easily on foot or by bike. But if you’re feeling lazy, there will be shuttles running all over town and out to the casino/cultural institute.

Frankly, a single day isn’t enough time to take in the complete Pendleton experience. If you decide you’d like to return for a longer visit, I suggest you consider Memorial Day Weekend, when the Century Ride of the Centuries (C.R.O.C) takes place. This is a great three-day biking event that, while very different from Cycle Oregon, is every bit as enjoyable.

Getting to the Tamastslikt Institute and Wild Horse Casino by bike is a very pleasant ride. Follow the map below. On Confederate Way, look to your right for the paved cart path, which leads to the back door of the institute as well as the Wild Horse Casino golf course.

Part of the new Round-Up remodel

For many, the Friday we spend in Pendleton will be one of the best days of their Cycle Oregon experience. And, while the Round-Up itself doesn’t start until the afternoon, there are related festivities that promise to keep a smile on your face from the moment you arise until the moment you (attempt to) go to sleep.

The day begins at 9 am with the Westward Ho! Parade, which pays tribute to the early days of the West and the pioneers whose descendants participate in the Round-Up. To commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the event, the parade will be led by 100 flag-bearing riders on horseback, followed by a procession of covered wagons, Mormon carts, buggies, surreys and all manner of authentic Old West transport.

Then it’s off to the Round-Up, where we’ll be treated to an afternoon of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, steer roping, barrel racing and bull riding. We’ll also enjoy a procession of the area Tribes and Native American dancing.

Each day the Round-Up will also feature a “throwback event” from years gone by, and on Friday we’ll also get to see the serpentine, which is a magnificent procession of horses that snakes its way through the grounds. The serpentine begins before the official 1:15 Round-Up start time, so plan to get there early.

Request a wine spritzer at your own peril

Those who want to mix it up with the crowd during the rodeo are sure to love the world-famous “Let ‘er Buck Room.” At this particular watering hole you can have any beverage you like as long as it’s hard liquor. Requests for beer will be politely declined and requests for wine or umbrella drinks are likely to end badly.

If this is your first experience with rodeo, you’re in for a treat. The basics of each event will be outlined in the Round-Up program. If you’d like to “learn the ropes” before you arrive, this primer is a good place to start. There’s also a lot of great information on the Round-Up website.

Just across the street from the Round-Up grounds is a gift shop and a great Round-Up Museum and Hall of Fame that is highly worthwhile.

The final event of the day is the Happy Canyon Night Show. This historical pageant tells the story of how the West was settled, from the perspective of the pioneers as well as the local Indian tribes, and it effectively showcases and celebrates both cultures. In many cases, different roles in the show have been passed down through multiple generations of family members. Happy Canyon is punctuated by a fireworks display and, for the daring, music and dancing at Goldie’s at the Canyon followed by general revelry that should be winding down at about the same time we need to saddle up for Saturday’s epic climb.

Let ‘er Bike!

No pavement? No problem.

There is a common misconception – particularly among those who are new to cycling – that road bikes are only supposed to be ridden on pavement. In reality, road bikes are supposed to be ridden on all kinds of road surfaces, including cobblestone, dirt and gravel.

Riding on gravel roads is easy, and developing the skill and confidence to do so is worthwhile. Below are a few helpful tips:

• Relax – The most important technique is the most simple. When you are riding on gravel, you may experience a little bit of lateral movement and your front wheel may want to wander slightly from side to side. This is normal. Just relax, let it happen and go with the flow. Keep your shoulders, arms and hands loose and maintain a normal grip on your bars.

• Maintain momentum – Keep pedaling and maintain enough speed and forward momentum to allow your front wheel to glide over the gravel and bumps in the road. A little speed makes it much easier to keep a two-wheeled vehicle upright, because the wheels act as gyroscopes. Use physics to your advantage.

• Moderate speed – Avoid excessive speed, particularly when descending. Gravel roads offer less traction than pavement. Brake early and often enough to maintain control.

• Brake carefully – Brake gently and try to prevent your wheels from skidding. Be particularly delicate with your front brake. If your front wheel starts to skid, release your front brake immediately.

• Choose your line – Look for the spots where cars have packed the gravel more tightly. It is often easier to ride in these areas. However, if other riders or oncoming traffic make this impractical, don’t hesitate to head for the loose stuff.

• Be considerate of fellow riders – Even if you are totally comfortable riding on gravel, be aware that other riders might not be. When passing, give others plenty of room (even if it means you have to slow down).

Before long, all this will become second nature. Give it a try.

Day One

Day one features six distance options ranging from 19 to 100 miles.  Every option features lush farmland, picturesque vineyards, beautiful old houses, magnificent barns, mature trees, rolling hills, a wildlife refuge and a ride on the Buena Vista ferry. The longer options include two loops that give new meaning to the phrase “bucolic splendor.”

The Hanna Covered Bridge Loop is the most challenging and the most spectacular. It is the only section that has any significant climbing, the majority of which happens on a single, stair-step hill. There is a second climb steep enough that it might make you cry, but it’s short enough that your tears will barely get a chance to dry before you reach the top. The Hoffman Covered Bridge Loop has a lot less climbing and is only slightly less scenic.

Day Two

Day two is a lot like day one in that it’s also awesome. More fertile farmland, rolling hills, trees, orchards and vineyards await. Outside Dallas, there is a great loop that penetrates the eastern edge of the Coast Range. This section offers a few short, challenging and rewarding climbs that are best described as steep. Fortunately, the section is so pretty that you might not even notice them.

The road itself will play an important role on day two. There is not a speck of chipseal to be found. With the exception of a few gravel sections, the whole ride takes place on silky, smooth, sexy asphalt. There is nothing better than riding a properly tuned and lubricated road bike on this type of surface. The only thing you hear is the hum of your tires as the miles fly by. Those of you with squeaky cleats or bikes that rattle will be extra noticeable – and possibly a bit lonely – on day two.

Which day will you like the most? There’s only one way to find out. Good thing July is nearly here. In the meantime, if you’d like to see more photos, check out the Cycle Oregon 2010 flickr group.

Morry Fealy ready to ride

Morry Fealy has been an athlete most of his life. Until his early 60s, he was an active marathon runner and coach.  At age 65 he completed his seventh marathon, just minutes shy of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. A year later, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and his doctors told him his days as an endurance athlete were over – and that wrestling a cat on the couch would be about the most strenuous activity he’d be able to sustain. Morry didn’t see it that way, and two years after giving his cancer a swift and definitive kick in the backside, he crossed the finish line of the Portland Marathon.

After the race, Morry was given a road bike by his son, who wanted to encourage his father to try a new sport that was a little less jarring. So began Morry’s love affair with cycling. It didn’t take long for him to set his sights on Cycle Oregon.

Morry followed the advice of many cyclists who say the best way to train for a big event is to log as many miles as possible. He discovered that a regimen of running 25-30 miles a week combined with riding 40-50 miles a week was enough to allow him to complete his first Cycle Oregon, but not quite what he needed to enjoy it as much as he had hoped.

The next year, Morry set some new goals for Cycle Oregon. These included getting to camp with enough time and energy left over to check out the host towns and to be able to snag a good spot in the beer garden. That’s when he contacted Michael Choate from Colorado Premier Training, a company that has partnered with Cycle Oregon to build customized programs designed to help riders get the most out of their training.

On the road with Morry

Michael, a certified U.S. Cycling coach, worked with Morry to develop a program tailored to his specific needs based on his experience, strengths and weaknesses. Morry’s program was geared toward making him a better climber and a faster rider. Michael used an online training program to outline individual workouts for the week. Morrry used this same program to “log” his workouts so Michael could monitor progress and plan for the next week.  Each and every workout was designed to ensure Morry was able to maximize every moment spent on the road or at the gym.

Did it work? Of course! On a bike, Morry is now a force with which to be reckoned. If you want to know more about his training, you can ask him yourself at Cycle Oregon 2010 – that is, if you can catch him.  If you can’t, look for him in the beer garden – he’ll be guy with the premium spot already staked out. Or you can just call Michael Choate at (503) 708-2997.

Podcasts have been around for several years, yet had never been of much interest to me. But last month I discovered The FredCast, and that has all changed. The FredCast focuses on anything and everything cycling, including gear reviews, news, advocacy, professional bike racing, training, safety and myriad other topics that anyone reading this blog is sure to find compelling.

I like The FredCast so much that I’ve gone all the way back to the first episode from December 2005 and started working my way forward. In a few short weeks – and a number of long plane rides – I’ve consumed two years’ worth of shows. Much of the content is timeless and is just as relevant today as it was then. The pro racing news is dated, but I’m finding it interesting (though a little depressing) to hear about the feats of racers like Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis or Jan Ullrich days or weeks before they get caught up in their various doping scandals. It’s also fun hearing the host rave about things like the first Garmin GPS-enabled cycling computers. I get very excited for him because I know full well how awesome the later versions of this particular product have become.

Just in case you don’t have the time to go through every single show, here are a few episodes that riders getting ready for Cycle Oregon might find particularly helpful:

Shows #5 and #7 feature tips on getting ready for your first century. Most of these tips apply directly to training for Cycle Oregon.

Show #29 features an inspiring story about a young cyclist who is winning the fight against cancer, and has the very real potential to bring you to tears. There is also a good segment about the value of professional bike fitting.

Show #51 features a long and informative discussion about nutrition with cycling trainer Graeme Street.

How to Listen

If you’ve never experienced a Podcast before, you’re in for a treat. There are lots of ways to listen to the FredCast. All of them are easy, and all of them are free. iPod or iPhone users can go through iTunes. MP3 users can download shows directly from the FredCast Web site. You can also access episodes directly from your PC. For more details on how to enjoy the FredCast using any of these methods, click here.

The event itself is only part of the journey. That journey begins today.

That’s because Cycle Oregon rises above the cliché – it really is about the journey and not the destination. It’s about a commitment to a lifestyle, and months of training, preparation and hard work. It’s about the great days in the saddle as well as the not-so-great days where you need to reach deep to keep on going. It’s about celebrating the rural Northwest and reveling in one the most beautiful places on Earth. And it’s about old friends, new friends and being part of a unique community with a shared passion.

So, whether you ride year ‘round or you’re just getting ready to get back on the bike for the first time this year, welcome to a new riding season – and welcome to Cycle Oregon 2010.