Training for a Multi-Day Bike Ride
If you’re gearing up for a multi-day ride like Cycle Oregon’s CLASSIC, training is key! But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be intimidating or boring.
Why train
Your body knows very well how to ride a bike, but it is probably used to hanging out on the couch and sleeping in a comfy bed after a long day of riding. If you’re participating in a multi-day ride, chances are your creature comforts aren’t what they are at home, so your evening rest may not be as restful.
And then there’s tomorrow and the next day
You get up and do it all over again tomorrow. And the next day. With little respite in between. Training builds up your body’s awareness of what it’s like to ride day in and day out and helps strengthen and stretch the corresponding and supporting muscle groups.
What is training
Many people erroneously think that training simply means clocking the miles leading up to your ride, but it’s about so much more than that. A good training routine includes nutrition to fuel your body and complimentary physical activities to strengthen and stretch your body. We suggest stretching, yoga and swimming for gentle movement that does a lot to strengthen a biker’s body. Focus on activities that build core strength and back strength and anything that just feels stretchy and good.
You can’t go wrong with exercises that feel stretchy and good!
Enjoy the ride
If you’re an experienced rider who regularly clocks miles, you could simply hop on your bike and hit the road for days on end and you’ll probably be fine. But if you want to truly enjoy the ride, spend a few days each month prior to your ride getting ride-ready.
At minimum, spend one day a week stretching and take a long ride every other week.
Cycle Oregon Training Rides
To make things a little more fun this year, Cycle Oregon is hosting a series of training rides. You can find out more about them on the Cycle Oregon Facebook page.
More Than a Bike Ride: A Party in the Gorge!
July 20 – Columbia River Gorge
The Gorge Pedal is a new event to celebrate the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge. The ride traverses a route that humans have traveled or 14,000 years.
Whether you are a little tyke, brand new to riding, a speed demon, adept rider or someone who doesn’t even ride, this event is for you! There are two routes, one on a paved pathway that’s short and flat, and the other that includes a stunning climb up to Vista House.
Post Ride Celebration
1 pm to 4pm
Eats * Drink * Passionate People * Advocates
The Thunder Island Brew Garden will host Oregon and Columbia River people and their passions in the Cascade Locks Marina.
Featured performers, vendors and partner include:
- The Sprocketts bike dance troupe
- Warm Springs Art Community
- Son of Man Ciders
- Route 30 Brew
- Aislinn Wildflower Prints
- Trailhead Coffee Roasters
- Cascade Locks Fire Dept
- Garnier Wines
- Buono Notte Wines
- Four Dam Guys Bar-B-Que
- La Gula Mexican Food
- Brigham Fish Market
- Anvil Academy and blacksmithing
Warm Springs Artists
Yummy Food, Tasty Drinks
A First Year Event
Crater Lake Training Camp – Ride Like A Girl
August 15-19 – Crater Lake
Hit pause on the daily grind as you focus on yourself and your riding.
Every year since 2016, Ride Like a Girl has invited women of various road biking abilities to get together for a multi-day training camp experience. This camp is a lovely opportunity to put your life on pause, take a few days to focus on yourself and your riding.
The supportive, professional environment is a perfect place to take your skills to the next level. Life is busy and hectic, but at Training Camp, you focus on yourself and they take care of the rest. Meals and lodging are all included. All you have to do is eat, learn, bike, sleep and repeat!
Through this fun-filled coaching experience you’ll make new friends and leave inspired, confident and excited to have a fabulous riding season. Participants consistently report that they learned more than they thought they would.
And with Crater Lake as the backdrop for your ride, you really can’t go wrong.
Slip Away to Canada – Washington – Idaho (WACANID)
WACANID | September 9-14 – Washington, Canada, Idaho
Simultaneously striking and unforgettable, the International Selkirk Loop is a stunning adventure. WACANID takes you on a six-day journey to traverse 370 miles of spectacular scenery – majestic mountains, beautiful lakes, rivers and North America’s longest free ferry ride.
It’s such a thrill to ride through two states and two countries on this exciting ride. The support is top notch and the other riders are friendly. WACANID is your chance to truly get away from it all on a ride you’ll remember for life.
- Designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as one of the “Top 10 Scenic Destinations in the Northern Rockies”
- Named “Best of the Roads” by Rand McNally Road Atlas
- Named the “West’s Best Scenic Drive” by Sunset Magazine
The weather is mild, the traffic is light and most of the ride occurs on secondary highways whenever possible. You may not see a car for miles and miles as you pass through friendly communities. If you’re looking for a new ride this year,
we think we’ve got just the one.
Photo Gallery
Harvest Century
Harvest Century | Sunday, September 22 – Hillsboro Farmland
We love this ride for so many reasons. The routes feature the scenery and notable locations of many of the season’s rides, offering a recap of the year and a chance to do one last big ride with all your favorite riding buddies, before the rains set in.
Each of the routes offers splendid scenery and a mostly flat profile. Not enough challenge for you? We can almost guarantee a headwind in at least one direction (or as we like to call it “the invisible hill”).
The ride always provides have well-stocked rest stops, mechanical support, breakfast, a catered lunch, and live entertainment. They set up the event, but you make the memories.
Team ORbike will be out there! Come ride with us.
A Gorgeous Willamette Valley Bike Cruise
LUMINOSA | August 10 – Champoeg State Park
Rollin’ Out for an Amazing Cause
Many of us live lives of relative ease, but for plenty of Oregon families, that’s not always the case. That’s why Morrison Family Series has spent the last 72 years providing services to assist families facing adversity and hardship.
Morrison Family Services makes Oregon a better place to live.
Last year to support these efforts they launched the brand new Luminosa Metric Century, and the crowd went wild. The event returns this year with a new venue and all new routes, plus the detailed service that garnered them high praise in their first year.
This ride’s a keeper! Head out to see for yourself.
Blackberry bRamble!
BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE | August 4 – Eugene
Who can say no to Blackberry Cobbler and a Finish Line Swim?
The Blackberry bRamble, hosted by the Greater Eugene Area Riders, will be 21 years old this year! A perfect time to drink up the beauty of the Southern Willamette Valley’s cycling mecca.
This year, the ride is celebrating with exciting changes: a new routes through the Oregon Country Fair’s home, Veneta, Willamette Valley wine country,
There are a variety of route options for riders of all skill levels, each one featuring delicious food stops and reliable support. Back at the finish line, refresh with a micro brew from Claim 52, a glass of wine and enjoy a gourmet meal catered by Carte Blanche. And yes, of course, the day features their signature blackberry cobbler and Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream.
Watch some live music, visit vendor booths, or take a dip in the pool to top it off. With Pre- and Post-Ride Parties, attractions in and around Eugene the Blackberry bRamble is a delightful vacation destination.
Explore Central Oregon by Bike
CLASSIC | September 7-14 – Central Oregon Cascades
When it comes time to decide how to spend your time off, don’t settle for the usual. Choose the extraordinary.
Come September, Cycle Oregon is setting off on a not-to-be-missed ride through the geological wonderland that is Crater Lake and the Central Oregon Cascades. They’ve handpicked for the pedaling an unforgettable journey through lava-hewn landscapes, cascading river and ever-present peaks. You’ll ride through colorful communities that welcome visitors like family on your way to the legendary rim of Crater Lake – the sapphire jewel of Oregon’s only National Park.
Oregon is a stunningly diverse place when it comes to geology. Where else can you chart a few-hundred-mile loop that encompasses three of the country’s most scenic rivers, a stoic mountain range bedazzled with high country lakes, and a National Park whose crowning jewel is a crater filled with sapphire-blue water?
Central Oregon has it all – that’s what makes this year’s Classic such a unique opportunity. And it’s an opportunity not to be missed. Right up there with rafting the Grand Canyon or through-hiking the Appalachian Trail – this is the kind of experience that will forever be a part of you.
Ride to Defeat ALS
RIDE TO DEFEAT ALS | July 20 – Mt. Angel
Cruise the Willamette Valley for those who can’t
Take a tour of the Mt. Angel region just outside of Portland on this splendid annual tradition filled with friendly volunteers gorgeous routes. The finish line party takes place at the Festhalle, home of Oregon’s famous Oktoberfest.
Lederhosen for your after ride hang out clothes? Why not!
ALS is a devastating disease that slowly degrades a person’s ability to move, speak, eat and finally breathe. The ALS Association of Oregon is doing impressive work to support people living with ALS and those who love them. This ride is a special opportunity to pedal for those who can’t.
Pedal Through Blooming Fields of Flowers
PETAL PEDAL | June 22 – Silverton
Pedal through blooming fields of flowers
There comes a time in everyone’s ride life when a dose of sunshine and color is in order. We’ve slogged through the winter, now it’s time to celebrate.
Every year, Petal Pedal takes riders on a meandering journey along hushed farm roads and alongside fields bursting with flowers eager to show off their best colors of the season.
We love that this event features perfectly selected route distances. Those who want a gorgeous challenge can climb up to view the majestic waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park. Those who want a chill ride can cruise along rewarding shorter routes.
Everyone gets to bask in the finish line glory at The Oregon Garden for a summertime celebration, complete with all the fixins.