Cycle Oregon will showcase Sisters

When Cycle Oregon starts in Sisters on September 8, the event will be silent and fairly unobtrusive.

It will be a "green" event in more than one way: Riders are to leave a lot of green behind to boost the Sisters economy.

"Although we say there are 2,000 riders that will be coming to Sisters for Cycle Oregon, the actual number is closer to 2,500. By the time you add in the support crews and families that are tagging along, there will be well over 3,000 people that will be in Sisters for the start (on September 8) and finish (on September 15) of the event," said Tate Metcalf, president of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

Metcalf believes that Cycle Oregon is a great fit for the community.

"This is the perfect group for Sisters, by that I mean their socio-economic status and that most of the people are coming from the valley. I really feel that this is an excellent opportunity to showcase Sisters...," he said.

Cycle Oregon is piggy backing on two major events which will swell Sisters crowds and increase the opportunities for local businesses.

"We have the folk festival going on when they roll into town, and when they roll back into town later in the week, we have the jazz festival going on. There are opportunities for the shops to stay open a little bit longer, especially when they roll into town on that first day," said Metcalf.

The start of the event is an important time for Sisters businesses, as it sets the mood for the community.

"That first day when they roll into town, they (cyclists) are in the party mode. They have a week vacation ahead of them. They are on their bike. They are ready to ride 500 miles, and they are coming to party," said Metcalf.

To help cyclists get to and from town, the chamber has organized shuttles that will circulate between town and the FivePine campus where the ride is headquartered, so participants can frequent local restaurants and shops. The shuttles will run as far out as the Three Wind Shopping Center, enabling all community businesses to take advantage of the influx of people.

"All the restaurants are going to see great business from it. Downtown shops, if they stay open a little bit longer, should see some business from it," said Metcalf.

"A rough estimation is that 20 to 25 percent of these people will come back (to Sisters) within three months to visit again. I know that when I have done Cycle Oregon and Ride the Rockies, we went back to those towns and visited them, because you are exposed to them and it is usually a cute town, quaint or whatever they might be, so you want to go visit when you have more time," said Metcalf.

"That is the key message that I really want to get across to everyone. If we welcome them (Cycle Oregon participants) with open arms, I can guarantee that they will be coming back," he added.

The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce has also organized a special venue so that businesses in Sisters that do not have a downtown retail presence can be represented.

"Erin Deggendorfer, with Fast Creek Productions, is setting up a marketplace so that any business that doesn't have a retail presence in downtown can work through Erin and show their products here on the (FivePine) campus, and she will man the booth for them," said Metcalf.

"At the end of Cycle Oregon we are working with Jean Wells and are going to have the Avenue of the Quilts. There will be music at the end. It will be a big party atmosphere. We are going to have beverages out and hope that everyone comes out to support the finish line. It is big accomplishment for these riders, and about half of them are first time riders. We want to really make sure that we applaud their efforts. The finish will be on Saturday the 15th (of September). The first riders will probably cross around 10 in the morning, and they should be done around 4 p.m. The biggest crunch will come through sometime around noon," said Metcalf.

Every rider will get a small backpack, called a swag bag, that will contain the Sisters Oregon Guide and some small gifts. If local businesses want to include something in the bag that would encourage the cyclists to return to Sisters for a visit, the chamber will include it.

"I really think the key thing to put in the bag is a coupon, something that makes them want to come back," said Metcalf.

For more information, contact the chamber at 549-0251.