Registration opened for Cycle Oregon and was sold out in 40 minutes, popular ride I'd say. The route in Southern Oregon looks very nice, for the complete route there is over 40,000 feet of climbing, and a loop around Crater Lake. I was on the computer just as registration opened and got my spot on the ride, how did everyone else do???
Route info here http://www.cycleoregon.com/
My wife got her spot. She's going solo- I'm aiming for the stratosphere at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge, held the same week (darn it).
Never been able to take time off from work during Cycle Oregon.Hopefully someday if/when I can afford to retire.
I'll definitely be looking over the route for ideas. Cycle Oregon does a great job finding great routes.
“If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out”
Three people I know from work got in. They were all watching on-line and where ready at 9pm to register. Turns out that was good planning on their part.
Someday, I'd like to sign-up for CO, sounds like a fun week.
If they are selling out that fast, maybe it is time for CO, or someone else, to start a second week. Doesn't the Colorado equivalent to CO do a two week option? They could repeat the previous year's route or maybe one from two or three years prior to reduce the effort of starting from scratch. From what I've heard and seen everyone seems to have a great time.
Colorado does have the Ride the Rockies (2500 riders) similar to Cycle Oregon, also the Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC). The BTC sometimes goes back to back with Ride the Rockies, but not always. The BTC limits the number of riders to 300 or 400 riders. Oregon has a similar set up with Cycle Oregon at 2200 riders and Oregon Bicycle Ride at 300 riders. http://www.bicycleridesnw.org/obr_summary.html
Maybe it's time for another big ride in Oregon similar to CO, but the logistics and details of a large group of riders is staggering, expensive and high risk if the ride is not sold out every time. The Oregon Bicycle Ride is sustainable by keeping the numbers (thus expenses) lower. I'm not sure what the future holds, maybe less appealing routes will discourage participation, last year and this year's routes are VERY appealing, so.
Yeah, I don't think our language has words that can properly describe what the CO organizers do. They really seem to cover every base. I guess that is made pretty obvious by the fact that they can sell out 2200 spots in less than an hour. If the same super-humans chose to do a second week, I don't think there would be much risk of not selling out, but there would might be a risk of the organizers burning out, which would be a very bad thing indeed.
I hope all this year's participants have another great week.
Cycle Oregon has learned a lot after 24 years of rides. It's like many complex organizations and pulled off by coordinating expert contract services. To me one of the most impressive is the port a potty contractor. Suddenly 3000 people ride into a camp in some little town of 200 and use the blue toilets with vigor, especially in the mornings from 4:30 to 10:00 am. They also provide facilities along the ride....awesome. I marvel at the speed and efficiency that these guys do the job of setting up, maintaining and dealing with the ....product. Other contractors are food services providing 3 meals a day for carnivorous and vegetarian riders and crew, shower contractors, so that warm showers are available when you want one, without long wait, in camp. Another standout contractor is bike mechanical and equipment support in camp and on the road. This is just a sample of the many who make this happen so smooth in some remote locations.
Indeed, the CO "Blue Rooms" are the stuff of legend, and provided one of my all-time favorite bumpers stickers.
Seen on a pumper truck in 2002: "We're number one AND number two!"
A buddy and I got our spots, will be first timers. We ride regularly already, but will focus our training more this year to tackle the 40,000 feet of climbing in the 2012 CO. We can't wait.
I think 15-20 or so of our camping group got in. I look forward to seeing you Shifty. Went through Sisters today and it brought back fond memories of our McKenzie Pass ride.
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