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Theresa Scholz rode Cycle Oregon 2002
on her Petite Air Friday ... her butt did not
once complain, said she!
Click here for the latest Event Report.
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INFORMATION FORUMS
BF HOMECOMING FORUM NOW LIVE: Want to trade pre-ride BF-specific tips? Burning questions? Feel you are so tantalizingly interesting we should all look out for you on the ride? Post it on this special BF/Cycle Oregon forum.
GENERAL CYCLE OREGON FORUM: Refer to this chatter-fest for general non-BF-specific posts.
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UPDATE SEP 2, 2003:
Well apart from turning me 41 tomorrow (just had to drop that in) I just got an email from Pocket Rocket owner Linda Bothwell from Rota Spain, who'll be joining us! We'd all like to go to Spain, wouldn't we? Let's pick her brains! Thanks Linda for connecting with us. Now, got all your Stuff worked out? Halved it and halved it again? Lynette
UPDATE AUG 30, 2003: ORDER STUFF FOR CYCLE OREGON FROM BF!
I would like to let everyone know that if there is a particular Bike Friday item you want we can have it available for you when you arrive here at the factory or out in Baker City. Keep Pedaling! Markus Bethel, service@bikefriday.com, your Folding Wizard on Cycle Oregon Customer Service Manager
UPDATE AUG 29, 2003: LUNCH RIDE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5
*** PLEASE LET US KNOW no later than Monday September 1 IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THIS NOON RIDE so we can have your lunch ready for you. We will provide vegetarian if you specified that on your Cycle Oregon registration. Call 1-800-777-0258 or email gaylynnc@bikefriday.com
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THANK YOU to all you folks who have parted with hard earned/inherited cash to join us for Cycle Oregon/Homecoming 2003!
Around 77 BF owners from all over the planet will converge on Baker City, Eastern Oregon on September 6, unpack their TravelCases and whip out their packable, peddleable wonders, much to the envy of the other 1127 cardboard-box-the-size-of-the-Titanic riders. International BF owners include 5 from Japan, 4 from Australia and 2 from the UK.
Keep an eye on this article as we countdown towards Cycle Oregon/BF Homecoming. Most of you will have your Cycle Oregon rider's kits by now which should pretty well cover everything you need to bring (or rather, not bring). This article will give you BF-specific info.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN EUGENE:
Most folks coming to Eugene prior to the ride will be staying at the Hampton Inn (541-431-1225), a crank turn down the bike path from BF. It has an indoor pool. Tariff is around $100-130 a night.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
Early PM: Japanese and Australian guests arrive at Bike Friday.
6 PM: Meet at BF for dinner at a local restaurant (McMenamin's/5th Street Market, own expense). We'll ride or drive depending on how the group feels.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5:
Morning - Factory tour.
12:00 - Lunchtime ride and delicious local picnic lunch, followed by a stop at Euphoria Chocolate company for their incomparable better-than-Magnum ice cream bars. All courtesy of Bike Friday!
*** PLEASE LET US KNOW no later than Monday September 1 IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THIS NOON RIDE so we can have your lunch ready for you. We will provide vegetarian if you specified that on your Cycle Oregon registration.
Afternoon: Factory tour
6:00 PM: Meet at BF for dinner at a local restaurant(McMenamin's/5th Street Market, own expense). We'll probably ride, allowing enough time to get back and pack for the early departure the next morning.
TRANSPORT - SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
7:00 AM - Eugene bus departs from Bike Friday for Baker City. Some folks will want to pack their bike in the suitcase for the bus ride, others can fold it andput it in the soft bag, room permitting.
There are actually around 10 spare seats (as at Aug 18) for any participants in the Eugene area who want to ride the bus with us instead of drive. Cost is $75 each way, contact gaylynnh@bikefriday.com or call us to reserve: 1-800-777-0258. This item is also on the above forums. LUNCH, SNACKS & DRINKS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FEE, BOTH WAYS.
*** If you have any special requirements please email gaylynnh@bikefriday.com or call us on 1-800-777-0257 well in advance of the departure date.
Others will be taking the Cycle Oregon bus from Portland to Baker City and back.
Still others are flying to Boise Idaho, and from there it is a 3 hour Greyhound bus ride to Baker City. Or someone said, a 1.5 hour taxi ride. At least 3 riders, AirGlide owner John Chamberlain, and Reid & Judy Hansen from IL are doing this. Check the above forums.
ON ARRIVAL IN BAKER CITY:
You will unpack your bike and set up your tent for the night. Look for the BF Canopy.
RIDE FINISH - SEPTEMBER 13:
The Eugene-bound bus will depart Baker City at the finish (across Campbell St at Geiser City Park) at 4pm.
STAFF ATTENDING THE RIDE:
Alan & Theresa Scholz (BF Co-founder)
Hanz Scholz(BF Co-founder)
Marcus Bethel (Service)
Tim Link (Sales/Service)
Steven Strickland(Sales)
Candy Walker (Friend of Bike Friday/Jill of all trades)
Lynette Chiang(Hobnobbing and picture taking)
Ruthy Kanagy (Japan marketing attache)
Ian Scholz, of BicycleR Evolution, sporting his BikeRev trailer.
Most BF staff will ride the bus, which is equipped with video, toilet, aircon etc. There will be one scheduled lunch stop (own expense).
GOODIES:
Each Bike Friday owner doing the ride will receive:
- The best-selling BF "World Map" Jersey worth $75. If you already have one, you'll now have two - you'll need more than one jersey for the ride in that heat!
- A light blue badge stating your name and home state/country. All designed to get you acquainted faster! Wear this whenever you feel like being social. BF staff will wear a similar badge in yellow.
YOUR GEAR, AS TRANSPORTED EACH DAY BY CYCLE OREGON:
Jerry Norquist, organizer of the event, said: BF suitcases will be fine for storing rider gear. The weight limit is 65 lbs for each rider. If any BF participants want to use a duffle of other bag, we can store their cases and they can pick it up at the end of the week. Your heard it from da boss!
Actually, you can choose whether to use your suitcases or duffle to keep your gear together on the Cycle Oregon truck each day. I also find it useful to pack the Bike Friday TravelBag as an extra 'just-in-case', even if you don't use it; it makes for a rather awkwardly-shaped duffle when filled.
Make sure your tent, sleeping bag, and basically anything you don't want to carry, goes in the suitcase/bag so Cycle Oregon can load it as your one piece of luggage on the truck. Believe me, there won't be much time for playing your DVD's or a round of golf so resolve to make new friends on the ride rather than reading War and Peace III.
BIKE FRIDAY CAMPSITE: We'll try and snag a special area for BF owners to camp together each night. Look out for the Green Foldable canopy with 4 bright yellow BF trailer flags (available for purchase, $10) hoisted up at each corner.
Under there we'll be selling tubes, tires, t-shirts and other paraphenalia, including the first ever 2003 Bike Friday Headbadge, in a choice of two colors ($10 special price (normally $25) only for Bike Friday owners who are Cycle Oregon 2003 participants).
ENTERTAINMENT:
Cycle Oregon have your evening's diversions planned out for you.
Each night there'll be an optional short talk or demonstration given by a BF staff member, before the scheduled entertainment. The exact nature will be a surprise, but you might hear:
Alan Scholz tips on how to get the most out of a small wheeled bike
* Hanz Scholz on the ideas behind the design of the Bike Friday, and why it feels like a full-sized bike
* Marcus Bethel's tips on how to best fix a flat with small wheels
* A BF owner talking about a recent trip or area of expertise - any volunteers? There'll be a nice 'thank you' prize for you.
* BF owners talking about what it's like to travel in their country/state
* Tim Link talking about how he lost 30 lbs last year preparing to train. (If that does not interest you, aquatic plants and hi-end digital cameras)
* Stephen Strickland on mountain biking finesse, especially with small wheels
* Question and answer session
* Making a Q tandem go from a double to a single and back again
* Lynette Chiang reading a bedtime chapter from her just-published (in Australia) book, the Handsomest Man in Cuba...
RIDING TIPS (feel free to suggest more on the forum)
* If I'd sold a Kevlar tire for every person standing on the side of the road with a flat waiting for the support vehicle when I did the 7-day Big Ride in Australia earlier this year, I'd be, well, out of Kevlar tires. KEVLAR TIRES I believe, will have you on the road more and in the ditch less. Get them (Stelvio 406/451's, Comets) fitted before or bring cash for replacements on the first bend.
* Get up as early as you can and start riding - you will get in sooner to enjoy more socializing ...
* The distances are considerable. Part of the fun of these events is to ride with others, otherwise why pay $700-odd dollars to be a loner - you can do that every day of your normal middle class life, not to mention the headwind... get with other BF owners and ride together!
* Post/read more tips from old Cycle Oregon hands in the forums mentioned at the beginning of this article.