Bicycle Rides Northwest bringing 300 riders to the area as part of July 8-15 tour
Bend, OR, May 13, 2023 – Nonprofit tour operator Bicycle Rides Northwest, based in Bend, Oregon, is bringing a large-scale, fully supported road-bicycle tour through Cave Junction on Thursday, July 13, staying overnight at the Mallard Loop at Lake Selmac before departing the morning of Friday, July 14.
The event brings up to 300 riders on each tour, accompanied by roughly 60 crew members and vendors. The Oregon 2023 tour starts and ends in Winston, with overnight stays also in Bandon, Gold Beach Crescent City (2 nights) and Wolf Creek. The tour brings along its own caterer, shower truck, portable toilets, baggage trucks, bike mechanics and more.
The tour route comes into Cave Junction from Crescent City via Highway 199 on Thursday 7/13, using Reeves Creek Road to get to the lake, and will leave for Wolf Creek via Lakeshore Drive and Highway 199 on Friday 7/14. Riders typically arrive in camp between noon and 4 p.m., and depart between 7 and 8 a.m. Cyclists ride at their own pace, so the total group spreads out over the day. The tour operators position signage warning drivers of the event in places where they’re likely to encounter the riders, and the tour has five on-route support vehicles with signs and flashing lights. Riders are required to follow the rules of the road, and the event will not require any traffic control. The organization emphasizes being good visitors to towns along the route.
“We love taking our riders to the most beautiful places in the Northwest,” says BRNW Executive Director Jim Moore. “A big part of that is seeing new places and meeting new people. We want our riders to be respectful of local residents and businesses, and convey that cyclists are a positive presence in town and on the road. We find letting people in each town know we’re coming makes a better experience for everyone, because it’s not a surprise to see hundreds of riders strung out along a road.”
BRNW has been leading tours for more than 35 years, with routes in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Each year’s two tours are on new routes, with the goal of visiting as many towns and scenic destinations as possible. The organization pays communities and organizations site fees, offers fundraising opportunities for local teams and groups, sources food and supplies from local businesses, and provides host communities with grants each year to apply to whatever project or use will most benefit.
About BRNW
BRNW’s mission is to provide fully supported bicycle tours that deliver an exceptional rider experience, showcase the natural beauty of the Northwest, and benefit communities and businesses in the region. The organization has been operating tours since 1987, currently rotating between routes originating in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Montana. BRNW is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit run by a volunteer board of directors.