For those who can’t make it, you can now watch a live video feed of the announcement at www.cycleoregon.com.

As a reminder, this year registration is being handled ONLINE ONLY. This includes registration for the weekend event, the week event and Tent & Porter service. Registration opens at 9:00 pm Pacific.  Based on the last few years, we expect this event to sell out very quickly — most likely in a matter of hours. If you want to make sure you get a spot, be online at the top of the hour. Here are some things you might also want to consider:

• The Nike Campus does not have a public wireless connection (though plenty of nearby places do — just make sure you pick a place and confirm they have service and will be open in advance).
• The registration system DOES work on mobile devices.
• There is no limit to the number of people a single person may register. However, the reservations aren’t made until payment is accepted at the end of the session, so dividing and conquering might be a better strategy than a single mass registration.

Although you won’t be able to sign up at the event, there are still plenty of reasons to be there these include — but are not limited to:

• Rekindling relationships with your extended Cycle Oregon family
• New friends
• Beer and wine
• Seeing photos of where we’ll be riding on the big screen (someone needs to be there to “Ooooooh and Ahhhhh” for the folks watching at home)
• Checking out this year’s jersey design in person
• Getting STOKED for training if you haven’t started already.

Who’s in?

Cyclists always need things like spare tubes (road bikes use 700 x 18/25 tubes), CO2 cartridges, sports gel, or chamois lube (like Butt Butter or Assos Chamois Creme for those who have been particularly good). Another great gift is an Earth-friendly and expensive-cycling-clothing-friendly detergent called Penguin Sport Wash. Obviously the lube and detergent lend themselves nicely to inappropriately worded cards to go along with them.

If you want to do something bigger and more special, the Garmin 800 bike computer is a spectacular choice. And if you really want to impress a hardcore bike snob, nothing says “I love you and understand you” like a the latest and greatest groupset from Campagnolo. Sure the Campy Super Record 11 will set you back about $2,500 but I’m (er, I mean they’re) worth it, right, Santa?

Another personal favorite, though not exactly useful on Cycle Oregon, is the Spaceman Flask Holster by Portland’s own Ahearne Cycles. And let’s not forget the cool line of Cycle Oregon clothing and accessories, which you can read all about in the November Newsletter.

For more ideas, I checked in with James Emond, the store manager of the Woodstock Bike Gallery right here in River City. For those who might not be aware, Bike Gallery is a HUGE supporter of Cycle Oregon and one of the finest bike shops on the planet.

One of the most popular gifts of the season is a set of very cool Portland/Bike Gallery pint glasses. The glasses sell for $5 each and one also comes free with the purchase of a $50 gift certificate, which is another great way to go when it comes to buying for the cyclist in your life. For the serious bike commuter, they’ve got a beautiful merino wool jersey by Bontrager that’s proving to be a big hit this year. At $79.99 it is something any cyclist would cherish.

Another fantastic choice would be a set of arm or knee warmers. Anyone who has read my training tips over the years knows what a big advocate I am of covering those knees below 65 degrees. These important items have a habit of getting lost and it is always great to have extras.

If you’re looking to go a little bigger, the Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifters would make a stellar gift. And if you’re looking to go bigger still, the Bike Gallery is discounting custom Trek bikes by $300 this month. Want a flamed-out Madone this year? No problem.

Speaking of flames, the Bike Gallery is offering a SMOKIN’ deal on complete bike overhauls right now. Normally priced at $275,  you can buy a gift certificate for this critical maintenance package today for just $130.

So, if you’re like me and have been putting off Christmas shopping until the last minute, it’s time to get rolling.

See an image you like? Most of them are on the Cycle Oregon 2011 Flickr page. While you’re there, please feel free to upload some of your favorites.

Enjoy!

One of the tasks I was asked to accomplish at Cycle Oregon was to go out and find someone with an interesting story and write about them. The plan was to case out Tent City or the beer garden and observe. The story, I kept telling myself, would find me – and find me it did. As it turned out, I didn’t even need to leave my post at the Blogmobile for it to happen.

It was there I had the good fortune to meet a journalist from The Netherlands by the name of Ronald Jacobs. Ronald is one of those rare people who knows exactly what he wants out of life AND has figured out what he needs to do to make it happen… while he’s young enough to enjoy it. In essence, he’s living his dream, which makes him an inspiration and an absolute joy to be around.

Ronald was covering Cycle Oregon for Fiets, the most popular cycling magazine in Holland (as it turns out, cycling’s rather popular in that part of the world). Although he was working on a major feature article, he wasn’t there with a crew. Riding, writing and photography duties all fell on his shoulders, though none appeared to be particularly problematic for him. As it turns out, there are few jobs he can’t do or hasn’t done.

One of his very first “real” jobs was as a professional soccer player, though he quickly concluded it wouldn’t be a long-lasting career and then enlisted in the police academy. He took up running and swimming as a way to keep fit. This led him to triathlons, which he enjoyed so much he was soon doing one or two a week. Cycling was his least favorite part of the three-leg competition, but once mountain biking came onto the scene that he soon realized the joys of the bike.

Later he began working part-time for a travel agency to promote scuba diving vacations. Part of his job involved visiting dive locations around the world so he could photograph and write about them. His work drew the interest of a travel magazine, and before long he was writing for several travel and cycling publications.

After 15 years of working as a law enforcement officer and a journalist, Ronald came to an important realization: He was spending too much time working and not enough playing. That’s when he decided it was time for a change. He immediately scaled back to working part-time and quickly discovered that by saying “no” to a bigger house, a new car and many of the material trappings that drive people deep into debt, he could do more of what he loved and still live comfortably.

Today he and his wife, who is also a journalist, are able to travel the world and write about their experiences and the people they meet. They set their own schedule, travel wherever they please and write the stories they want to write. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ronald believes this level of contentment is something anyone with the courage and commitment to pursue can attain. His formula is seemingly simple:

• Figure out what matters most and what you truly want to accomplish
• Make a list of goals
• Think spiritually instead of materialistically
• Focus on your strengths
• Start working on achieving your goals and dreams right now

Obviously it’s a lot easier to write about this philosophy than to live it, but I’m glad to have had the chance to see living proof that it’s possible. As I embark on my own career, I hope to be able to follow a similar path. In the meantime, Ronald and his wife will be living their dream. Their next adventure involves spending four months living in an RV, exploring, riding and writing about lesser-known cycling destinations throughout the western U.S. and Canada.

Sutherlin is ready as the first riders are already finishing. The last mile is lined with American flags and a massive version of Old Glory is suspended between two fire trucks just above the finish line. There’s something about the whole scene that serves as a fitting reminder of how very special rural Oregon really is. The forecast at the finish calls for chocolate milk and extra lumpy throats with a very high probability of ocular moisture. Don’t bother holding back — there’s simply no need.

Thanks to the Cycle Oregon staff, the army of volunteers, the host towns and, of course, the riders for making it all possible and another year to remember. See you in February.

In Riddle a huge cheering section was ready and waiting to greet the hammerheads who began arriving just before noon. That same group remained until the course closed and cheered for the stragglers as enthusiastically as they had the overachievers hours before and everyone else in between. In the evening Main Street teemed with activity. The few bars and restaurants were packed to overflowing but no one seemed to mind having to hang out a few extra minutes for their beer and burgers. Only a few more miles back to Sutherlin remain.