Greg Lee owns and operates Log House Plants in a little town called Cottage Grove, Oregon. Greg also happens to be a very talented photographer AND happens to shoot for Cycle Oregon. His photos from yesterday and today to a very nice job of telling the story of Day One (other than the fact that it was pretty hot out and there was a climb that caught a few people by surprise).
So today’s blog post is courtesy of Mr. Greg Lee. Thanks Greg for all you do.
It was a hot day in Sutherlin as the bulk of the riders made their way to camp. With high temperatures forecast for tomorrow, the smart ones are now tucked away in their tents and ready for an early morning. The Bike Gallery crew worked all through the afternoon assembling bikes. They won’t be getting to bed any time soon. Nor will they get a chance to catch up on their sleep. They keep a grueling schedule, but, thanks to their tireless efforts, the circus will be ready to leave town shortly.
Thanks Bike Gallery!
Even though you’ll be putting in a LOT of saddle time over the next few days, it’s important to remember Cycle Oregon is about much more than the ride. Learning a little about the host communities and meeting the locals is a crucial part of the complete experience, and something not to be missed. These rural communities serve as a refreshing reminder of things that seem to have been long forgotten in many urban areas. Kids have manners, mom-and-pop shops are the norm, architecture matters, and people say “hello” when walking down the street. The people in these towns are genuinely connected to each other in much in the same way cyclists are connected. Perhaps that’s why the two communities always seem to mesh so beautifully.
There’s a wealth of great information on each community in the Rider Handbook (if you haven’t taken a good look at it yet, you can download it here). And, of course, every town has been featured in depth through newsletter articles.
Just in case you missed them, here are some highlights:
Sutherlin
Sutherlin is located in one of the many valleys between the Cascade Mountain Range and the Costal Range and is a sportsman’s paradise. Its proximity to rivers, creeks and ponds makes it a serious draw for fishermen, boaters, hikers and campers. It’s also enjoyed by oenophiles, with many of Oregon’s best wineries within striking distance (including Abacela, which makes mind-blowning Tempranillos and is the namesake for my dog).
There’s even a boxing event scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, put on by the Sutherlin High School’s booster club and the James Gang Boxing gym, at Sutherlin High School.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is nestled in the forests and farmland at the southern end of the Willamette Valley. In 1926 silent film actor Buster Keaton directed and starred in The General, which he shot in Cottage Grove. The film is considered to be one of the greatest in movie history. The highlight of the film was the destruction of a locomotive as it steamed onto a burning bridge. Long before the days of CG and special effects, the scene was shot on the Row River and the train remained there until it was recovered for scrap during WWII.
While the train and bridge are gone, there are plenty of other bridges to enjoy around Cottage Grove. Just want to stay in town? No problem. Downtown Cottage Grove is a National Historic District, so there’s plenty to take in right there.
Reedsport
The ride from Cottage Grove to Reedsport will make for one of the longer, tougher (and most spectacular) days on this year’s Cycle Oregon. The reward at the end of the day is a fantastic coastal town that begs to be explored for a few days rather than a few hours. There are many great coffee houses, restaurants and attractions close to camp, so there are plenty of options for those that want to venture out. Winchester Bay is only three miles from Reedsport, so if you’re itching to dip your toes in the Pacific for the first time, that’s where you’ll want to be.
Bandon
Like Reedsport, there’s no shortage of fun to be found in Bandon. Golfing, horseback riding, fishing, birding, art workshops, wine tasting, hiking and local theater are all viable options. Information on all these activities and more is available in the Rider’s Handbook as well as the Bandon Chamber of Commerce’s website. The optional ride on the layover day is a nice one, but no one can fault you if you choose to do the tourist thing instead.
Powers
Like Sutherlin, Powers is a powerful draw for hunters, fishermen and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It’s a small community, and the entire downtown can be walked in a matter of minutes. But it’s still a downtown worth exploring, and the high school and Senior Center are providing bus service from camp for those who don’t feel like making the one-mile trek. You will have done a lot of climbing to get to Powers, so there’s no reason to feel bad about giving your getaway sticks a quick break.
Riddle
More small-town goodness awaits in Riddle. A river runs behind the fields/park where we’ll be camped, for those who want to take a dip. The old Hanna Nickel mining/smelter site is on the route to town, and if you’re into sawmills there are several within two miles of camp (modern sawmills are actually pretty impressive).
And if you’ve had enough of the small-town thing, the Seven Feathers Casino is five miles away. There’s a wine tasting there from 5-7 on Friday and, if you didn’t get enough rodeo last year, there’s one right at the casino on Saturday afternoon. Something tells me it’s not going to be as amazing as Pendleton, though.
Only a few more days to go until the chorus of clicks begins at the start line of Cycle Oregon on Day One. It’s an event that will be worth remembering, and something you’ll want to share with your friends and family. The good news is that you don’t need to wait until the ride is over to tell your tales and share your experiences.
Through the magic of smartphones, it’s pretty easy to access the Internet and get on Facebook or Twitter – or at least take a few photos. But there’s only so much you can do on a phone (and, of course, some phones don’t work so well out in the sticks).
Fortunately, there’s The Blogmobile, which is back and better than ever. Every day from 3 until 9:00 p.m. we’ll have a table full of laptops available for riders to update their Facebook profiles, tweet, blog, post about the day on their favorite cycling forums and add comments to the Cycle Oregon Facebook page. The Blogmobile will be staffed by the friendly folks of KoiFish Communications, who will be able to answer any questions you might have.
Working Together to Chronicle Cycle Oregon
Cycle Oregon has a few professional photographers on the course who ride and shoot. Many of these images will be shared after the event. But this year there will NOT be a photographer shooting and selling rider photos. The best way to chronicle our collective experience is to do so collectively. This means sharing with your fellow riders as well.
When you see someone taking a group photo, consider stopping to ask the photographer if she’d like to be in the shot too (then ask her to do the same for you). And if you wind up with some great photos, consider sharing them with everyone. If you get a good one on your mobile device during the ride, you can email it to copix@koifishcommunications.com and we’ll post it to the Cycle Oregon Facebook page that day.
After the ride, be sure to visit the Cycle Oregon 2011 Flickr page and the Cycle Oregon Facebook page. If you’re a Twitter junkie, please use the #cycleoregon hashtag.
Together we can make a collection of photos that will allow you to relive the ride whenever you wish. Don’t worry if you’re a little late to the party from a technology perspective but think you’d like to give it a try. This beginner’s guide to mobile social media can show you the way. Or stop by The Blogmobile and we’ll give you a short tutorial.
Contrary to popular belief, this year’s ride has a fair bit of climbing. And since we’re doing a loop, the ride has a roughly equal amount of descending. For most people, descending is a reward for a long, hard climb, and the most fun part of the day. There are a few people, however, who take little pleasure in the downhill ride. In fact, they find it a bit frightening. Courteous riders will do what they can to help by not making a bad situation worse.
On any given hill during Cycle Oregon, both types of riders will be sharing the road, and it’s important that each take a moment to consider the other’s mindset.
For an accomplished rider, a fast downhill is something special. It’s a little bit like riding a motorcycle and a little bit like flying. Being in the zone and in control as the miles fly by is one of the best parts about riding in places that have long climbs and descents. Getting behind a slow, nervous rider is a lot like getting behind an RV in a national park: It’s a total buzzkill. If you’re a slow rider, be aware that others likely want to pass you; accommodate them as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. If you hear someone behind you calling “On your left” or “Passing,” acknowledge them with a nod or by giving them a little extra room.
Conversely, if you’re a fast rider, realize that there are some people who are terrified by going downhill and ripping by them at 50 mph in a tight, steep corner when they don’t even know you’re there is a pretty serious party foul that puts you both in unnecessary danger.
When you’re overtaking someone else, make sure they know you’re there, and hang back until you get to a spot where you can cruise by safely. Be particularly leery of passing two riders at once. It’s entirely possible that the second rider has just caught up to the first and is in the process of getting ready to pass as well. They might not be focused on uphill traffic (though they obviously should be).
As the faster rider, the onus is on you not to endanger your fellow rider or make a bad situation worse. You’ll have other opportunities to grip it and rip it, so if circumstances dictate, take a minute to enjoy the view.
For more on this topic, check the discussion about safe descents on the Cycle Oregon forums. And for those of you who are looking to improve your downhill skills, read on.
Tips for slow/tentative descenders:
This video, from Lance Armstrong’s former coach, offers some additional tips. Give them a try, and before long you’ll be bombing hills with the best of ‘em.
