Well I'm back from a week of peddling around the state. Another Cycle Oregon is in books. This year 485 miles in 6 days, ride organizers didn't scrimp on the hills, over 28,000 vertical feet climbed, nearly the height of Mt. Everest.

I've done several Cycle Oregon tours in the past but this I think was the best. First I had two great friends to ride with

Dave Haneman, is in the center, Bruce Kent is on the right. Dave, works here at the big 8 ski in our graphics department. Bruce is a broker for Edward Jones. The picture was taken on September 11th, at the top of Crater Lake. The Last time Cycle Oregon paid the lake a visit was 2004. That year we climbed to the 7800 foot elevation of the craters rim only to be forced off because of a surpise September snow storm!

This was the 20th anniversary for Cycle Oregon. Over 2300 riders from nearly all 50 states and several countries took part. Here's a picture of the group at La Pine, our day two destination.

You'll notice that a fair number of the riders are wearing stocking caps and warm coats - it got down to 28 degrees that night. Nothing like a little frost on the tent in the morning, let alone a frosty bicycle seat - gives new meaning to the term "cool ride."

Speaking of tents here's a look at tent city.

That's right 2300 of us living in tents for a week! Every morning tent city would break down and every afternoon it would pop up at another location any where from 60 to 100 miles away from the days starting point. Cycle Oregon riders out numbered the resident of all the towns we visited. Sisters, La Pine, Diamond Lake, Dorena Lake, & Rainbow. Sisters was the largest town at just under 2000 people.

In Rainbow, a tiny community on the banks of the McKenzie River east of Eugene, the residents put up a banner welcoming us. Not just Rainbow, but all the towns and villages we peddled to the welcome was warm and genuine.

Counting this year I have ridden in at least 7 Cycle Oregon tours. Over the years I've have become enlightened to a few things I would like to pass along with regards to Cycle Oregon and long distance bicycle touring.

1. If you set your mind to something you can make your body follow - specifically butt
and legs.

2. If I ride a 100 miles a day I have no guilt about eating 3 pieces of pizza drinking two
beers.

3. Despite wearing spandex, after riding 100 miles a day nobody calls you a wimp.

4. Bicycling is truly the best way to see the state. You see and smell everything.
You talk to and become friends people in the communities you visit

5. People in country are the same as people from the city. There is no them and us.
It's just us...