Oregon Cycling Magazine

Two annual events on the Oregon Coast beckon cyclists to the sea

by Karl Benedek

The dog days of summer are almost here, so why not head out to the coast where the tail end of summer usually means spectacular weather for cycling? Two late-summer  events at the coast have been luring visitors from inland and beyond for the past few years with great success: Newport’s Yaquina Lighthouse Century in August and the Oregon Coast Cycling Festival in Gold Beach.

The Yaquina Wheels Bicycle Club in Newport puts on the Yaquina Lighthouse Century Rides, held this year on Sunday, August 17 in Newport.  All rides begin and end at the Yaquina Lighthouse Visitor Center.  The courses open at 7 am and close at 5 pm.  Four rest stops along the route provide water, a variety of fresh fruits, cooked food items and other snacks.  Mechanical support will be available on all routes.  Bike ride participants also receive free admission on the day of the ride to the Visitor Center and the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area thanks to the Bureau of Land Management.

The Yaquina Lighthouse Rides include the only organized Century ride covering the gorgeous Central Coast of Oregon.

Riders can choose from three distances: 25, 62.4 (metric century) or a 100 miles on a course that connects two lighthouses, weaves through Newport’s historic Bayfront, follows the Yaquina and Siletz rivers and passes along the coast. Along the ride, you’ll have the chance to discover some of Oregon’s most diverse coastal scenery and roadways. The spectacular ocean vista from Cape Foulweather will be a reward unto itself, and if you’re observant you may spot whales, herons, egrets or even bald eagles along the way.

The cost is $30 per rider ($15 for the short 25-mile course).  Registration forms can be found at www.yaquinawheels.org or just show up and register on the day of the ride. Proceeds from the rides go to Newport’s Friends of the Lighthouses, Waldport’s Green Bikes Program and other local, regional and national non-profit cycling organizations. For more information call Ken Dennis at (541) 272-2578.

On Saturday, September 6, the small town of Gold Beach on the south Coast opens its doors to hundreds of bicyclists from around the country who will come to be a part of the fifth annual Oregon Coast Cycling Festival. The event is a fundraiser for the Curry Health Foundation and Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center. The Oregon Coast Cycling Festival is all-inclusive—there is a route for anyone regardless of age, ability, level of fitness or type of bicycle. Riders can choose from five different supported routes ranging from an easy three-mile ride all the way to a challenging 100-mile route.

Cyclists will be riding throughout the central and south parts of Curry County from Ophir to Brookings and east to Lobster Creek Bridge across the Rogue River. All the routes start and finish at the Curry County Fairgrounds in Gold Beach. The Curry Showcase Building will serve as event headquarters. There are rest stops featuring fresh fruit, baked treats, salty snacks, water, and sports drink for riders along all routes.
The rest stops as well as registration and the rest of the myriad tasks needed to stage an event of this size are run by local volunteers. “This is our fifth year hosting the Oregon Coast Cycling Festival,” said Chip Weinert, founder of the event, “and it’s getting easier every year. We’re excited to again be working with Active.Com to facilitate our online registration and help getting the word out about raising funds and awareness for these two great causes.”

The Curry Health Foundation supports health care organizations that provide services and programs to residents from Langlois to Brookings. The Foundation also provides continuing support to the Curry General Hospital Health Network with facilities and services in Brookings, Gold Beach and Port Orford.

Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center, located near Grants Pass, provides care and treatment for sick, injured, and orphaned birds and animals indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, while giving the public an opportunity to experience wildlife first-hand. They offer many educational programs for the public, through on-site activities as well as through educational outreach programs.

The Oregon Coast Cycling Festival is held every year on the weekend after Labor Day, traditionally a time of the year when cyclists can count on perfect bicycling weather on the coast, less traffic on the roads, and more room at area motels, hotels, and campgrounds. The Oregon Coast has become one of the most popular destinations for bicyclists worldwide. “This might be the most beautiful place to ride a bike on the planet and we make it a lot of fun for everyone,” Weinert said. “And I don’t know who enjoys it more, the riders or the volunteers!”

For more details, go to:
www.oregoncoastcyclingfestival.com
or call (541) 251-0063

Possibly Related

• March 2008: Vol 17 No 1: March 2008
• July 2008: Vol 17 No 5: July 2008
• December 2008: Racing bikes illustrated
• September 2008: Vol 17 No 7: September 2008
• October 2008: Vol 17 No 8: October 2008