Last Friday, hundreds of people checked in for a Summer Bike Camp Weekend Ride here at Oregon State. The three-day event was one of the large events organized by Cycle Oregon to provide a platform for cycle enthusiasts to escape for the weekend cycling in the Willamette Valley.

The Weekend Ride began with check-ins on Friday.  Over the next 2 days, cyclists followed the route that brought them to different parts of the Willamette Valley, with Oregon State as the start and end point.

Labeled as the “Summer Camp- on wheels”, the camp was open to people of all ages, from young children to the elderly. The routes provided a range of different cycling levels – participants could choose between a shorter, more relaxed route or a longer, hard-core one. People could be seen cycling alone or in groups with their friends and families.

Participants could choose to sleep in a resident hall, stay in their RV or camp in tents in the field on 14th and Jefferson Way. In the morning, breakfast was served in the SEC Plaza by our very own UHDS. The cyclists would then start off on the ride and reconvene at the Memorial Union Quad after reaching the finish line, which was located at the SEC Plaza.

At the finish line, sponsors had different festivities lined up. Live Music, a Beer Garden, Wine & Cheese booths and Pizza were a few of the treats that awaited the cyclists. The sponsors included organizations such as The Oregonian, Bike Gallery and Travel Oregon amongst many others.

Cycle Oregon prides itself in being “The Best Bike Ride in America” that is not only dedicated to bicycle enjoyment but philanthropy as well. All proceeds go towards the Cycle Oregon Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation, which helps preserve and protect the special places of Oregon and supports community development projects.