Volunteer effort makes Cycle visit a success

Cyclists prepare to head into Sisters from their high school base camp.

Hosting 1,800 cyclists and dozens of support people is no small task.

Yet Cycle Oregon representatives and participants gave Sisters enthusiastic praise for a job well done as the cyclists pedaled out of town Friday, September 13 on the way to their finish in Florence.

After months of planning and preparation by a team of local volunteers, things really began happening Tuesday evening as the first trucks arrived with eight large tents and all the materials needed for fencing off the camping area at the high school.

A dozen members of the high school cross-country team worked until dark helping a professional crew set up tents for dining, massage, bike repair, and rider services.

Another small group of team members pounded in metal T-bars and strung together temporary fencing for a bike corral and the camping area.

Another group joined a crew in setting up the main stage, an impressive portable structure replete with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment.

This was just a warm-up for what was to come. On Wednesday morning, six semi trailers arrived with the baggage for the cyclists and soon mountain ranges of bags lined the parking lot of Sisters Community Church ready to be claimed by cyclists who began to appear about an hour later.

By 1 p.m. the school and church grounds became a flurry of activity as cross country runners hurried to help port baggage to camp sites on the baseball and soccer fields.

Using wheel barrows, yard carts, four-wheelers and strong backs, the team spent the next seven hours helping cyclists -- tired from a grueling 98-mile ride from Mitchell -- to their tents.

"The three days prior to Sisters, the cyclists had camped in very dusty places, so the green grass and beautiful setting was very welcome," said Charlie Kanzig, who served as the volunteer site coordinator.

As a non-profit organization, Cycle Oregon is committed to giving back to the communities that help make the event possible.

In addition to paying for a large portion of a new events tent for the community, Cycle Oregon donated money to the community groups who helped during the week and has a grant program from which the community can apply for help on school and civic projects.

Jeri Buckmann and Shawn Taylor were in charge of hospitality, which included putting together welcome packets that provided each cyclist with a map of the city, information and advertisements from local businesses, and a copy of The Nugget.

Volunteers greeted and directed incoming cyclists throughout the afternoon and evening on Wednesday.

Jerry Norquist, the community volunteer leader for entertainment and activities for the cyclists, praised the many groups and individuals who worked hard before, during and after Cycle Oregon's stay.

"The community really stepped up," said Norquist.

"People enjoyed rafting, hiking, canoeing, golfing, shopping, and other activities on the layover day," said Norquist, "and many said they looked forward to coming back to visit Sisters again."

Wednesday evening brought members of the high school baseball team and a few parents in to help with serving dinner to the cyclists.

The team, lead by first year coach Joe Jones, worked all the meals Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

"It was hard to fathom until they actually got there what having 2,000 people on the grounds would really be like and it is amazing how smoothly things went," said Pat Lamoureux, overseer of all the volunteer groups.

"It was gratifying to hear over and over that the stay in Sisters was the best part of the trip."