Debby Richter has practiced for months in anticipation of this year's Cycle Oregon, riding about 400 miles in one week over some of the toughest terrain Southern Oregon and Northern California have to offer.
"I turned 50 and said, this is your present to yourself," said the Medford resident.
Richter is one of 2,200 riders from 40 states and 10 countries who have paid $850 to participate in the Cycle Oregon tour that begins and ends in Medford Sept. 12-19.
The 2009 ride will take cyclists down Highway 99 over the Siskiyou Summit and dip down to Yreka and Happy Camp in Northern California, then head up to Grants Pass and swing through Glendale before finishing where it started in Medford. This is the first time the tour will head into Northern California and is being billed as a ride through the mythical State of Jefferson, referring to the failed separatist movement in this area.
Riders will climb a number of mountain passes, offering a new challenge each day while traveling through local communities such as Jacksonville and Wimer.
"It's a pretty challenging route in some places," said Richter, who last rode in Cycle Oregon about 10 years ago. "I think some people will be surprised how many hills we have in Southern Oregon."
While many riders will be taking the roughly 70 miles a day at a leisurely pace, Richter said she expects some elite riders will use the tour as a training exercise.
Cycle Oregon is more than just a ride. On the first and last night, many cyclists will camp in Fichtner-Mainwaring Park in Medford, where they will receive food and entertainment. Other riders will stay in local hotels or eat at local restaurants.
"Our mission is economic development in rural communities," said Jerry Norquist, ride director for Cycle Oregon. "We will bring cyclists into Southern Oregon for the first time, and many of them will return year after year."
A shuttle service will ferry riders to downtown Medford while they're here, and they can participate in wine-tasting events at RoxyAnn and EdenVale wineries, where they also can sample local cheese and chocolate.
Cycle Oregon will spend $125,000 to set up the event and handle everything from food to camping to portable toilets and showers.
Cycle Oregon's last ride through Southern Oregon, in 2004, was marred by the death of a West Linn woman who lost control of her bicycle on a twisting mountain road near Williams. It was the first death since the ride began in 1987.
Tara Corbin, community relations and logistics director for Cycle Oregon, said this year has been the most popular yet for the ride.
"We sold out in the fastest time ever this year — in less than four weeks," she said.
Most of the vendors are from out of town, but teams of local volunteers will be helping out all week long, Corbin said. Crater FFA students will handle baggage, for example, and meals will be served by the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Southern Oregon Visitors Association. The Britt Festivals will take care of entertainment.
Cycle Oregon has teamed up with local Lions Clubs to put on a barbecue, providing those organizations with money they will use for projects that will benefit the community.
Corbin said the route chosen this year is completely different than in 2004 and will require riders to head down a portion of Interstate 5, from about Hilt to Hornbrook, Calif.
Sue Stephens of the Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau said Cycle Oregon is hoping local residents turn out to cheer the riders on as they leave town and when they return.
"We would like this to be a great opportunity to showcase our area and to hopefully create the potential for many of these visitors to return," said Stephens, who has been instrumental in bringing the ride back to Southern Oregon.
Local businesses and volunteers are preparing to help with the ride, though in some cases not directly.
Dave Patterson of Marty's Cycle & Moore in Medford said he will be assembling a couple of bikes sent from riders on the East Coast before they arrive next week.
"Then when they're done, we box them up and ship them back," he said.
Mike Smith, president of the Siskiyou Velo Club, said he will be volunteering to help feed riders.
On Thursday, he will be in Wimer helping dish out beverages and snacks during a rest stop for the riders.
"That sounds pretty hilarious to me," he said. "That's a pretty sleepy community to me and in comes 2,200 riders in their finest Spandex."
On Saturday, he will be helping the Lions Club pass out food. His organization will get about $50 per man for volunteering, but he said the money will be used to help fix up the Bear Creek Greenway or benefit a helmets for kids program.
"It's kind of fun being there with the music and people to talk to," he said.
John Ford, owner of Bear Creek Bicycle in Ashland, has had a lot of inquiries about the ride, but the question he's received the most is how will cyclists ride over the Siskiyou Summit.
"For almost $1,000, to ride on I-5 is strange," he said.
Ford said he knows of only one Ashland man who will be making the ride. Ford said his store installed new tires for the man's bicycle.
"It's pretty expensive, and it takes quite a bit of time," he said.
Debby Richter said she doesn't think it strange to ride on I-5 for a small portion of the tour.
"It's actually got a fairly wide shoulder and it's a pretty easy part of the ride," she said.
She said she is familiar with most legs of the tour.
"I've ridden on about 90 percent of it at various times," she said.
Reach Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.
