Oregon
Cycle Oregon’s popular weeklong ride is ending amid rising costs, recruitment challenges
File photo from June 2, 2020. At it’s peak, upwards of 2,500 riders participated in Cycle Oregon’s week-long ride event. After 35 years, the organization has decided this year will be the last time they offer it.
Cheyenne Thorpe / OPB
After 35 years, Cycle Oregon’s weeklong ride event, known as the Classic, is coming to an end.
This will be the last year the organization will be offering the cycling excursion. At its peak, the event gathered around 2,500 riders from Oregon and around the nation who would travel hundreds of miles through small towns in different parts of the state.
It originally began in 1988 as a way to bring people to rural communities for tourism and economic gain. Over time, proceeds from events would funnel into the Cycle Oregon Fund, where the organization would award grants to various organizations and rural parts of the state.
Steve Schultz is the executive director of Cycle Oregon. He has fond memories of his first Classic ride back in 2001, which ultimately led him to pursue a career with the organization
“It was a surreal experience to be disconnected from the world,” he said.
“Being in a rural community like that …it sorta hooked me.”
Ultimately, there were various factors that led to the shuttering of the week-long event, such as change in rider interest, volunteer recruitment and the lingering effects of the pandemic, which caused the cancelation of rides in 2020 and 2021.
“With all the challenges and the rising costs, we’re not able to provide that impact like we did,” Schulz said. “We’re not able to give that money back or invest that money in the fund like we used to.”
Schulz believes the Classic helped bridge the urban-rural divide in the state but that work will still continue even with the ride’s end.
“It is until people get face to face with communities and with each other, that you understand … there are commonalities,” he said.
Cycle Oregon’s last ride will be held September 9-16 and take cyclists through a loop in western Oregon, including Albany, Carlton and Toledo. Registration for the event can be made online and costs $1,450 per individual rider.
Steve Schulz joined OPB’s Think Out Loud to discuss the end of the classic ride. You can listen to the full conversation here: