Oregon Challenge Tours (August and September)

August 2nd - 8th  Best of Summer Tour, 2009     ALMOST FULL / 4 SPOTS LEFT!

September 6th-12th   Fall Tour, 2009  FULL WITH WAITING LIST

 

One Week Oregon Backroads Adventures

Join Rob and friends as he shares some of these secret paths that will challenge you with tough climbs but reward you with deserted, traffic-free riding; and scenery to take your breath away. We'll base the Oregon Backroads Adventures tours out of Eugene - you'll only need to unpack once after we pick you up at the airport since each day's ride starts/finishes in Eugene. Our "O.B.A." tours are held the first full week of each month starting in June. The Oregon Challenge tours travel to a new destination each day, featuring the best of the Oregon coast and local Cascades during the week of epic riding; the "O.C." tours are held in August and September.

Our one week Oregon Backroads Adventures (O.B.A.) tours are offered from June through September; all tours are the first full week of each month, from Sunday to Saturday. These tours will feature the best of the Willamette Valley, and surrounding coastal ranges. Mileage will run approximately 350-400 miles for the week (includes one 'rest' day of non-cycling fun, and daily ride options). Each day's ride begins/finishes in Eugene, allowing for a more relaxed schedule of sight-seeing and riding.

The Oregon Challenge (O.C.) tours are one week, point-to-point stages that feature more substantial climbing excursions to the coast and Cascades; as well as longer miles (approximately 400). These tours are designed with more experienced riders in mind; folks that are comfortable with completing their local 'fun' century in under 7 hours (or a 8 hour century solo).   Routes are modifed each year for variety.

Of course, round-trip airport pick-up is included in the Oregon tour fees. Eugene is located in central Oregon (which has a major regional airport). Eugene is a blend of many styles and attitudes: everything from ex-hippies and loggers to college students at the U of O.

Oregon Tour Fees

With the financial meltdown of '09, we've had a lot more folks asking for Oregon tours that would still offer plenty of cycling challenges but keep costs down with more economical lodging.   Our Oregon tours for '09 are designed for experienced riders looking for a cycling vacation with lots of scenic riding miles as the main focus.   As an incentive to book early (before June 1st), we'll offer a $100 discount off the $1,885.00 fee for the week.   $450 single supplement charge; but we'll try our best to match up those that want to share a room to avoid the supplement charge. We strongly encourage riders to think about arriving a day or two early so they can visit the West's most famous 'Saturday Market' where you can people watch, check out the local crafts, or try dozens of specialty foods; as well as allow for a more relaxed start to some epic rides (and getting all your gear set to go Sunday). We can assist with early arrivals or extra days after the tour week if interested.

Local Flavor

In 1846, New Yorker Eugene Skinner settled along the Willamette River. He built a small log cabin on a low hill, made peace with the Kalapuya Indians, raised a family and started a ferry service.

Today, the hill is called Skinner Butte, and the town that grew up to surround it bears the settler's first name.

While Skinner would look with wonder at the sprawling University of Oregon campus, the modern downtown and the many bicycles, much remains that he would recognize. The trout-filled Willamette and McKenzie river wend their way down from the Cascades; 19th-century houses peer out from behind massive fir trees; rich farmlands rolls out to the north; and on the proverbial clear day the view extends to the snow-covered Three Sisters rising about 60 miles to the East.

THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT EUGENE

The Eugene Chamber of Commerce receives hundreds of interesting questions - in person, via e-mail, and phone - every year from folks planning on visiting Lane County area. Here are some actual queries thrown at the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County, and the University of Oregon - with some, mostly, tongue-in-cheek answers:

-Where's the Animal House? In toga heaven.
-Do you have any toxic waste dumps? We have middle schoolers, and they have bedrooms.
-How many days of sunshine do you get? 12
-Can you see the ocean from Eugene? No, but we can visualize it, along with world peace, and whirled peas.
-What is the elevation at the coast? Sea level
-Do you have any campgrounds in Eugene? Sort of
-How many dogs are there in Eugene? 12
-Is it true they've cut down all the trees out there? Only the ones with people in them.
-How many earthquakes do you get? 12
-What day do the leaves change color? On the 12th
-What's cool about downtown? What downtown?
-Are people really depressed here all the time? Man, that question bums me out

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