Oregon Cycling Magazine

Pendleton’s Century Ride of the Centuries

by Ellee Thalheimer

I knew I had to listen to a man who loves to dress up in a wig, cowboy hat, enormous mustache, set of naaasstty fake-tobacco-stained-snaggly dentures, and bright pink attire while calling himself ‘Pinky the Bandit from the Blues.’ His name is Herb Bitting, and he’s a tireless bicycle events volunteer, cancer survivor, and all around cutie-pants. ‘Pinky’ is his outfit—shall we say persona—for the Pendleton on Wheels (the bike club also known as POW) annual event ride: Century Ride of the Centuries (CROC). This three-day ride is his favorite. On it, cyclists have a choice of higher and lower mileage options and spend Memorial Day weekend touring through the Blue Mountain foot hills, roving past picturesque farms and ranches, and winding about the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

If you haven’t had a chance to cycle in Eastern Oregon, this might be a great opportunity. The crowd is good people having a good ole’ time. SAG stops are bound to amuse, and you’ll see some interesting costumes. Plus, the $140 fee is a deal. It covers full SAG support, food, and everything, basically, but lodging. Though the world-class Pendleton Rodeo receives far more press, POW and the Century ride of the Centuries prove there are other sorts of riding and whoopin’ to be had outside the ring in the heart of rural Eastern Oregon.

Sidebar: CROC highlights history and culture of Eastern Oregon

by Karl Benedek

Century Ride of the Centuries offers three days of support for your riding addiction in beautiful Eastern Oregon during Memorial Weekend, May 24-26, 2008. The ride will feature the inspirational sights and history of pioneer and Native American agricultural communities.

Pendleton Century Farms
Behind the beauty of the waving fields of grain that cover eastern Oregon are the stories of hardy early farmers. They saw the potential for farming in this wide-open landscape. Century Ride of the Centuries celebrates the families who founded the farms, and who still farm the same land through their descendents 100 years later.

CROC will take riders past a number of these beautiful farms and ranches, rising from Pendleton into the highlands of the nearby Blue Mountain foothills. Rides will also travel through the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. There, residents with even deeper roots, living on lands occupied by their ancestors for thousands of years, have their farming and ranching operations. There will be a choice of rides, full century, metric century or half-metric century.

Native American cultural heritage
This year, Wildhorse Resort & Casino will provide the starting point for rides on all three days. At Wildhorse, riders can also spend time at the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, the museum of the three Native Tribes who own and operate Wildhorse. There participants will learn about the Tribes’ culture and history.

Possibly Related

• August 2007: The Anthony climb: Oregon's clandestine challenge
• September 2008: Ride the Rogue draws the crowds
• May 2007: Flats: beyond the simple repair
• August 2008: Three tips and a trap
• April 2008: Lessons from California