While there is something to be said for riding every single day of Cycle Oregon, sometimes it’s nice to give your butt a break and simply enjoy the hospitality of our host towns. And with so many interesting things to do and see in Pendleton, the decision to become a non-rider for a day is one you are unlikely to regret.
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 100th 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!
The following comes from the June newsletter. The views expressed are those of riders and do not represent those of Cycle Oregon. What do you think? Feel free to post your comments here.
When passing, safety should always be your primary concern
This month our esteemed panel of Dave Zollner and Oscar Lucas, (“front of the pack”) and Dean Rodgers and Andrea Carlson (“back of the pack”) take on the broad topic of safety on the road, with specific focus on three P’s: passing, pacelines and iPods (hey, close enough…).
What are your thoughts on passing riders – and being passed: techniques, timing, considerations, pet peeves?
Dean: As a rider who is passed frequently – particularly on long climbs – I have a lot of thoughts about the passing style of others. While there are lots of times where calling out “On your left!” makes a lot of sense and is the correct and safe thing to do, there are other times where it’s completely unnecessary and even a little obnoxious.
It’s an important thing to do in high-traffic areas, or if the person you are overtaking is wobbly or obviously not paying attention. It’s also necessary if you’re at the head of a large paceline. It’s an absolute necessity if you’re overtaking someone on a fast downhill – particularly if the person you’re about to pass is in a position where they might decide to overtake the person in front of them and may not remember to check their six. In those instances, YELL it out and make sure they can hear you (and, if you’re being passed on a downhill, it’s a good idea to let the person passing know you’ve heard them).
But if you’re in a low-traffic area and have plenty of passing room – and if the person you’re overtaking is holding their line – then just pass. It’s in these areas where it seems like people who shout “On your left!” are more concerned with letting you know they can pass you than anything else. People with bells – and particularly bored stokers on tandems with bells – are even worse in these instances. One ding at the appropriate time is acceptable. Four is not.
Then there are the long climbs. Slow climbers know they’re going to be passed over and over and over again. We expect it. At slow speeds, it’s easy to hear someone approaching from behind. There’s no such thing as a stealthy climber. Hearing “On your left” consistently on a 3- to 4-hour epic climb gets really old really quickly, and eventually becomes a little demoralizing. If you want to let someone know you’re there, sometimes a simple “hello” is a whole lot nicer.
Also, resist the urge to tell people you don’t know who are OBVIOUSLY struggling on these long climbs that they’re doing great. Really skinny and fit riders probably can’t fully relate to the monumental struggle a large, slow rider might be going through on nine miles of 5% to 10% hell. Getting to the top is sometimes more of a test of will than anything else, and getting there is NOT always half the fun. Even if you’re well-meaning and genuinely impressed by their effort, telling someone who is having a hard time what a swell job they’re doing might not be taken as a compliment. That’s because they know if they really were doing great, they would be keeping up with everyone else and fellow riders wouldn’t feel compelled to comment.
Dave: Passing other riders is pretty basic – get around other riders without freaking them out or causing a crash or near-crash. Alert the rider(s) you’re overtaking with plenty of advance notice with “on your left” or a bell ring. Look back to be sure there aren’t others passing you. Pass with plenty of space between you and the other rider. The faster you’re passing, the further back you alert when overtaking. If you don’t do these basics you’re cruising for a big crash… it’s just a matter of time. Caution: Riders tend to remember your jersey color and get a bit testy when you cause a near-crash or freak them out by sneaking up on them at 40 mph. Oscar: Good points. I think it can safely be said that I seldom sneak up on anyone at 40 mph. One additional comment and a pet peeve of mine: Be sure to leave room when you pull back in after passing another rider. No one enjoys having to brake in order to avoid hitting the rear tire of a passing rider. On a similar note, once you pass, don’t drop your pace so the rider passed is forced to come off their pace.
Andrea: Before I decide to pass someone, I check to see that the lane is clear – that no cars or bikes are coming up beside me. I won’t pass anyone unless I can sustain my pace for awhile and I am fast enough to overtake them quickly. Playing leapfrog, which happens when someone passes you and then slows down, is no fun. Silent, swift riders who pass me are one of my pet peeves. If you don’t know someone is coming up beside you, just a small swerve to the left could cause a huge crash.
We’ve touched on pacelines a bit in previous issues, but what are your thoughts on safety in a paceline – what to look out for, good habits to have, tips for those who want to join one, more pet peeves?
Pacelines are a lot of fun, but require extra attention. There are times on Cycle Oregon where they make sense, and others where they don't.
Dean: Participating in a paceline is one of the greatest joys of cycling. If I find one going a speed I think I can maintain, I’ll latch on whenever I can. And if I do latch on, the first order of business is to let the rest of the group know I’m there (and to ask if they’re cool with it). Part of participating in a paceline is taking a turn at the front. If you can’t chip in, you shouldn’t drop in. This holds true for a big paceline or a small one. I’m 6′6,” and in windy areas my backside is highly prized “view real estate.” I don’t mind people tucking in for a rest as long as they let me know they’re there and as long as they’re willing to drag me along for a bit as well.
Some people hate pacelines and think they have no place on a ride like Cycle Oregon. Unfortunately, a lot of people feel this way because they’ve seen WAY too many examples of pacelines exhibiting rude and dangerous behavior. Perhaps the biggest insult is that some of the worst offenders are groups of riders who are OBVIOUSLY experienced enough to know better. Passing too close, refusing to break up and merge with the rest of the riders in high-traffic areas and other antics simply should not have to be tolerated.
Dave: Pacelines are fun but inherently riskier riding. The amount of time to react to something happening in front of you is significantly reduced since you’re cruising along at higher than your average speed and a few inches off your paceline partner’s rear tire. To reduce some of the potential risks, a good team member in a paceline will warn you with voice and hand signs of any possible road junk, potholes, tree branches, bodies from other pacelines, etc. This is more than a courtesy, because any quick move to slow, stop or swerve can result in a major “yard sale.” It’s a common courtesy to ask to join a paceline, and if you join you are expected to do your rotation in pulling – taking the lead. If you can’t keep up, signal that you are moving out of the line and let them run. For me, there is a contradiction in wanting to be a part of a safe paceline and not having significant experience in riding with the others on the paceline. My pet peeve is pacelines that pass too closely at a fast speed. Give me some space! Oscar: Pacelines can be a very efficient means of covering the miles. Riding with a well coordinated/communicative group can be almost like a dance, with riders rotating smoothly in and out of the lead and keeping everyone aware of the environment. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to mess up the dance. If you’re not experienced in riding pacelines, I suggest starting small (two or three riders), and not at the end of a long day when we all get dull-witted.
Andrea: Because of the high speeds and the close tolerances in pacelines, a small mistake can lead to a disaster. Everyone in the line has to pay strict, constant attention. I want to be able to trust that everyone in the line will ride a steady pace, watch the wheel in front of them, not make sudden movements, and signal obstacles, turns and stops. I am very reluctant to join a random paceline that just happens to pass by. Can I trust them? Can they trust me? Is going a little bit faster worth the risk of a possible train wreck?
Both my best and worst paceline experiences happened during the CO ride across the state in 2002. A group of us were trying to decide whether or not to attempt the 110-mile optional route from John Day to Mitchell. The strongest one in our group graciously offered to pull three of us for the first 40 miles. We cruised along the gradual downhill to lunch at the John Day Fossil Beds. By conserving our energy that way, we all were able to complete the long climb into Mitchell. A few days later, we were riding on a narrow, busy road on the way to Coburg. An acquaintance joined our paceline but rode erratically and sometimes rode two abreast. With the heavy traffic and narrow shoulder, this was extremely nerve-wracking for us. He didn’t heed our requests to stay single-file. Not wanting to jeopardize the safety of not only our group but the people around us, we eventually asked him not to ride with us.
The increasingly hot topic of music on the road: Do you ever listen to anything while riding? (Meaning, using headphones – and that includes all types of riding, from indoor training to solo rides to small groups…) Why or why not? When? Is your perspective different for a large ride versus training?
Dean: Most of the time, I do without it. It’s nice to hear the sounds of nature and great to chat with other riders. However, I’m a big fan of using music on long climbs. It helps pass the time, it can provide extra motivation, and it drowns out the continuous chorus of “On your left.” Oakley makes great glasses that incorporate headphones and an MP3 player into the setup. It allows you to keep the earbuds outside your ears so you can still hear what’s going on. Riding with speakers on your bike is a safer choice, but then you run the risk of interfering with the enjoyment of your fellow riders, who might not agree with your musical tastes.
Dave: I listen to the sunrise, the wind, cows, birds, horses, friends talking. (Oscar: Dave, or should I say “Moonbeam,” you’re starting to sound like an old hippie.) To each his/her own, but I didn’t go all the way to the boonies of Oregon to listen to Lady Gaga on my iPod. However, I do listen to news at the gym when I train in the winter, which is basically a distraction from the boredom. I have some of my best times riding on CO in the morning with someone a half-mile ahead or behind me and hearing nothing but the wind (if I lubed my chain the night before). Just like distractions when driving, cell phones, ear buds, texting, etc. are taking away from the experience and are potentially distracting to the point of being risky. Let’s be real: How many times have we all had a near-crash just trying to dig out a cell phone while riding? Come on… really! I say let the sucker ring and call back at the next Blue Room. Oscar: I recall back in the late ‘80s seeing a guy with a rather large “blaster” mounted to the rear rack on his bike. At least cars could hear him coming, even if he couldn’t hear traffic. Seriously, I have not tried earbuds or other devices to be in a position of offering an opinion on how distracting they may or may not be.
Andrea: I never listen to my iPod while riding, primarily for safety reasons. I want to be able to hear if someone shouts a warning or says “On your left.” I want to stay alert and focused. Distractions like cell phones and iPods can take my attention off the road at critical moments – a pothole, a crack in the road, or the approach of an oncoming vehicle. Why take the risk?
Any other safety-related topics that you have encountered or feel strongly about?
Andrea: A rearview mirror is just as important to me as my helmet or bike shoes. If for some reason I forget to wear the mirror, I immediately notice it’s not there and turn around to get it. Because some people don’t say “On your left” and some cars are very quiet, I rely on my mirror, not just my ears, to know what’s behind or beside me. The mirror lets me see the receding road without breaking my cycling rhythm. Turning my head around to look takes more time, can throw me off balance, and can’t be done as often as a quick glance at the mirror.
And a few random/combined thoughts from Dave and Oscar:
- When you stop in the path of riders, signal that you’re slowing, and get off the pavement quickly. This is especially important if you’re riding as a group.
- If you’re passing on a high-speed descent, give others a wide berth with vocal alerts early, often and loudly.
- Stop at stop signs. Two thousand riders blowing through stop signs frustrates a lot of drivers.
- Riding two abreast is nice when there’s no competition from traffic and/or other riders. It’s irritating to see three to six riders taking up the lane.
- Once you pass someone, signal and move back to the right.
- One word of warning: Some riders when passing will call out “Five on your left” or however many riders are in their group. While I much prefer this to no warning, if you’re getting ready to jump on the back of their paceline, turn and take a good look before pulling in. Pacelines have a habit of growing and shrinking on a regular basis, and what may have been a five-rider group may now be six or seven riders. Of course, one of the reasons I keep coming back to Cycle Oregon is that the grade of riders is generally a notch or two above your typical charity ride. Few people sign up for a week of riding who aren’t serious about the sport.
And a reminder that the Cycle Oregon “Rules of the Road” are available in handy video format now – take a few minutes to enjoy this visual representation of our safety rules.
The following post is the fourth in a monthly series from Steve Schulz. Steve serves as course director on Cycle Oregon. He is also the owner of STRADA, a fitness and adventure training center in Portland, Oregon. STRADA offers specialized training rides and programs designed to help riders get the most out of Cycle Oregon.
Climbing -- you don't have to like it, you just have to do it.
After working on efficiency in your training last month, you should have a much improved (or maybe just refined) pedal stroke and cadence. Now it’s time to build the rest of the house.
One of the most common challenges you hear from cyclists is climbing. Fortunately there is a great way to get better at this: go climb some hills! I’m not saying you need to go out and find the biggest hill in your area and ride it every day. What I’m saying is that it’s time to include hills and rollers in your training. If you’re riding four days a week, two or three of those days should include some hill climbing. Find a route in your area with some hills and go work on your climbing.
Only have one hill? Do hill repeats. Trust me: The more you work on this, the happier you’ll be at the top of Tollgate Pass on Day 7. And while you’re ascending hills, think about your gearing. Start finding the gears that work for you, keeping in mind that you should be trying for a climbing cadence of at least 60 rpm if possible. Keep your body relaxed, your chest high and open, and your stroke consistent.
