Returning from Cycle Oregon
After daily moves between towns in southwestern Oregon with more than 2,000 riders, we are back in Portland sleeping in our own beds instead of grassy parks, resting up from an amazing and successful adventure at this year’s Cycle Oregon. We continue to be impressed by the tireless enthusiasm of our hard working crew of volunteers that help us out each year.
This year, 14 volunteers joined us to detail bikes and charge electronics, and an additional three Cycle Oregon riders stopped in every night to help us out. Together they contributed over 650 hours over the course of 7 days. We detailed 151 bikes, and many riders were so excited about their shiny bikes that they signed up for a second cleaning. We had 220 available electrical outlets that provided charging services for Cycle Oregon riders, and they were full the entire week. An added bonus was the return of Tom Ullman’s solar powered system that generated the green power to charge the devices over the course of the week. With the help of our volunteers and riders, we were able to raise just over $25,000 to support Holiday Bike Drive.
We experienced many beautiful rides all week long, but the highlight for some of our staff was the descent into the town of Powers, OR, where we had a site that overlooked a shimmering pond and an old mill. We met a father-son crew on the route, and they were riding the same tandem that the father had shared back in the day with his father. After talking to one of our mechanics, they brought their bicycle in for a detail.
Thanks to the folks at Cycle Oregon who organized the ride, our volunteers, the host towns and the riders for all of your support.
We found out when we returned to Portland about Mark Bosworth, a Cycle Oregon volunteer and friend of some of our crew, who has been missing since last Friday night in Riddle. We are thinking positive thoughts and hoping for his swift return. Please post a copy of this flier so we can do everything we can to ensure Mark returns home soon.
To view more photos from Cycle Oregon, please check out our photo album on Flickr.