Last updated: 03/30/2026 (AV)

SECTIONS

1. Introduction
2. Expectations
3. Safety
4. Before The Tour
5. During The Tour
6. Dealing with Problems
7. Registration & Fees
8. Additional Resources

Since 1976, the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club (MVBC) has sponsored an annual bicycle tour known as the Loop Tour. The Loop Tour Committee (LTC) plans the Loop Tours.  

MVBC offers the same Loop Tour twice each summer. Loop Tour 1 typically starts in late June.  Loop Tour 2 typically starts in late July. The tour occurs over a nine-day period starting on Saturday and ending on Sunday of the following weekend. Loop Tours are typically 350-450 mile loops with each day having between 35 to 65 miles of riding.  There is usually a layover day in the middle of the tour.

The LTC strives to design each Loop Tour with reasonable daily miles and elevation gains on roads that are both scenic and safe. Some days have services such as grocery stores and restaurants while other days may not.

Each Loop Tour is generally limited to 35 riders. Riders may choose to carry their gear or have it SAGed. The SAG fee is included in the registration fee. The Loop Tour is only open to current MVBC members.  If you are not already an MVBC member, it is easy to join.

This Loop Participant Guide provides the information needed to participate in a Loop Tour.  For specific information on the current year’s tour, go to Loop Tour Overview.

A Loop Tour is a cycling and camping experience. It is not a race. The tour provides its participants with a multi-day experience that involves personal endeavor, friendship and outdoor experience in the beautiful Northwestern United States.  MVBC and the LTC hope that this experience will motivate you to be an active and contributing member of MVBC.

MVBC has a strong tradition of its members being responsible, respectful and safe. MVBC requests that you uphold this tradition by following all road and camping regulations and leaving each area in better condition than when you arrived. The LTC expects that each Loop Tour participant will be accepting, kind and respectful to other participants and people who are encountered on the Loop Tour. Rider safety is critical. Riders must follow the Safety Guidelines. The LTC will direct riders who do not meet these expectations to leave the Loop Tour. Such riders will likely forfeit the opportunity to join future sponsored rides.

• Ride safely.

• Wear an approved HELMET at all times when you are riding, including in camp.
• Wear bright colors, hang a “slow-moving vehicle triangle” on the back of your bike and/or use flashing lights to stay visible.
• Anticipate and avoid problems (gravel, pot holes, excessive speed, etc.)
• Do not overlap the back tire of the rider in front of you.
• Allow sufficient space between you and the rider that you pass before cutting back to the shoulder.
• Don’t make phone calls, read emails, or text while riding. Pull off the road instead.
• Ride with at least one other rider.
• Avoid passing a rider on the right and riding in a pace line.

• Ride defensively and predictably.

• Always be alert for motor traffic.
• Never assume someone will stop for you.
• Move well off the road when stopping.
• Make it easy for drivers to get around you. Ride single file. Don’t ride in large groups.
• Ride on the shoulder when available. Don’t ride in the middle of the road.

• Ride patiently and courteously.

• Look for gaps in traffic when passing other riders.
• Be courteous to drivers. Appreciate the difficulty of driving on narrow, curvy roads with bicycles.
• Be careful when biking around pedestrians and their dogs. They may not move in the expected direction.

• Clearly communicate to other riders and traffic.

• When getting ready to slow or stop, call out “SLOWING” or “STOPPING”, point your left arm toward the road palm back, and wave your hand back and forth. Provide this signal ahead of time, not at the last second.
• Point out obstacles (glass, rock, stick, etc.) on the road to the riders behind you. Call out “GLASS”, etc., point at the object with your left arm and wave your hand back and forth. Provide this signal ahead of time, not at the last second.
• Call out ‘CAR BACK’ when a car is approaching from behind.
• Calling out “CAR UP” can be useful to alert riders to oncoming traffic in some circumstances.
• Call out “ON YOUR LEFT” when passing other riders and pedestrians.
• Point with your left arm extended when turning left.  Point with your right arm extended when turning right (not with your left arm bent).

• Be prepared

• Bring the needed supplies to deal with issues on the road (flat tires, scrapes, bad weather, no bathroom, etc.)
• Don’t assume SAG support will be available. Bring needed water and food.
• Ensure you have a fully charged phone with battery backup if needed.
• Make sure you understand each day’s route (length, hills, target stops, etc.).
• Get an early start on longer, hotter biking days.
• Avoid getting sunburned. Wear sunscreen and appropriate clothing.

• Help other riders both on the road and in camp

• If a rider looks like they might be in distress or in need of help, stop and check in with them.
• Don’t leave a rider who has fallen until it is absolutely clear that they are okay to ride or have SAG support.

Read this guide and think about your capabilities, both current and realistically achievable. Talk with people who have been on previous Loop Tours. Ride pre-tour to get into riding shape and confirm your bike is in good condition. Do a pre-Loop Tour ‘shakedown’ biking and camping trip to identify equipment and fitness issues.

Important Note: There will be a Loop Tour meeting in May to ensure all riders are up to speed on the ride logistics.  You should attend this meeting.

Here is a suggested packing list. Adjust as needed based on the route, expected weather and personal preferences. The key to packing is to only pack what is needed and not over pack.  As a rule of thumb, you should only bring the amount of gear that you could carry on your bike. So, no multiple-burner stoves, large tents, big chairs, etc.

You should have less than 50 pounds of gear excluding your bike.  Your gear must be packed in soft sided bags that individually weigh no more than 25 pounds. You will be asked to repack any bag that weighs more than 25 pounds. The gear bags get thrown around when being loaded and unloaded from the SAG truck so leave fragile items at home. Anticipate that your bags will get wet so use waterproof ones. Label each bag with your name.

All types of bikes can be used (road, gravel, recumbent, tricycle, etc.). The Loop Tour route will be paved with the possibility of some short sections of gravel. Make sure your bike, including the tires, is in excellent condition. It is always a good idea to have your bike checked out at a bike shop before the Loop Tour.

eBikes are welcome on the Loop Tour, but uncommon. Each rider is responsible for keeping their eBike charged. No special arrangements are provided for charging eBikes.  e-Bikers have used the following strategies in the past to charge their batteries: packed a spare battery, made arrangements with campgrounds ahead of time to charge at RV sites or campground offices, and stayed at motels, lodges, or other nearby facilities as needed.

You are responsible for your own food with the exception of the group meal(s). Many days, but not all, will have opportunities to eat at restaurants and pick up food at grocery stores. See the Rider Brochure for more details. It is useful to have a target food plan when riding each day to ensure needed food is available. You should carry quick energy food to enable you to get through the day. It is important to bring an “emergency meal” such as a freeze dried meal in case plans change.

There will be hot water available each morning in camp for making oatmeal, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. There will be some evenings when cooking in camp is the only option. Sharing the planning and cooking in camp with a small group of tourmates is a recommended way of lightening the load on each person.

The SAG truck will have a couple of coolers with ice for storing a limited quantity of fresh food with the following guidelines:

• All items that could leak must be secured in an airtight, screw-top container. Zip-lock bags may not be used.
• You may only store enough food in a cooler for an evening meal and morning breakfast, not a full tour. Please remember these coolers are shared between all participants.
• If an item is not going to be used, remove it and throw it away.
• Remove all items at the end of the Loop Tour.
• Sign up for a shift to drain and maintain the coolers during the Loop Tour. This is everyone’s job.

The SAG vehicles will have a couple of coolers with beer, Gatorade, soda, sparkling water, chocolate milk and orange juice. There will be a posted sign with the cost of each beverage. The registration fee includes a specific beverage allowance for the Loop Tour. Help yourself to the beverages and keep track of what you consume. If you go over the allowance, pay the designated person the overage amount at the end of the Loop Tour.

Sometimes our school camps have restrictions on alcoholic beverages. In those cases, you must refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages on the premises. Alcohol consumption in moderation has been the norm and is the Loop Tour expectation.

You can bring portable electronics (cell phones, e-readers, tablets, bike lights, etc.) on the Loop Tour. Ensure they are securely packed to prevent damage. Many riders carry a small auxiliary battery for charging their portable electronics, particularly their cell phone. One or two multiple USB port power stations will be available for charging most evenings. The power stations are shared between all Loop Tour participants so only use them for an appropriate amount of time.

You are responsible for getting to the Loop Tour start. The LTC may suggest hotel or camping options for Friday night for Loop Tours which start away from Corvallis. The LTC recommends setting up carpooling with other participants. The LTC will provide a contact list to facilitate this. The Loop Tour meeting in May provides a good opportunity to arrange carpooling and cooking groups.

The morning routine is typically as follows. Get up, make coffee/tea, eat if desired, pack up, put gear on the SAG truck (if SAGging), check tire pressure, leave camp. Most riders are biking by 8:30am. On long, difficult and/or high temperature days, most riders are biking by 7am. The SAG truck carries a propane burner and a large pot for making hot water in the morning. This will be set up in the evening and started in the morning by a group of interested riders. If a cafe is nearby, riders will often go there for breakfast.

The biking routine varies. You may choose to ride with the same people or different people each day, whatever works best for you. Some riders head straight to the next camp so they can relax in camp. Others stop along the way at scenic overlooks, historical markers, etc. Regardless of your strategy, make sure you reach camp by the late afternoon. While riding, make sure you get the needed food by stopping at a restaurant or market or bringing your own lunch and snacks. If there is no restaurant near camp, make sure you bring enough food for dinner into camp.

The afternoon routine is typically as follows. Arrive at camp, get your gear from the SAG truck, find a place for your tent, set it up, get a beverage, relax, do laundry if needed, plug in your portable electronics for recharging, shower or dip your toes into the local creek, river or lake, eat in camp or go out to eat, go to the tour evening meeting if there is one, relax around camp, go to bed. The Riders Brochure and RWGPS will list the designated campsites at each camp.

Important Note:  You must attend the required group meeting in the evening of Day 1. There may be other evening group meetings to review the next day’s route and other logistics.  These meetings are typically optional..

The layover day is typically used to rest and relax, do some local sightseeing, do laundry, etc.

The SAG drivers are volunteering their time and effort to help make the Loop Tour safe and enjoyable. They are on vacation, just like the riders. They are not valets or chauffeurs. They are not the Loop Tour organizers. Please direct questions and concerns to the LTC members on your Loop Tour whenever possible.

The SAG drivers’ top priority is rider emergencies and safety. They will attempt to deal with emergencies in the best way possible at the time. They are typically not EMT’s or even first aid certified. In case of injury or serious illness, they will make a reasonable effort to transport the affected participant to nearby facilities, if available.

Here is the typical daily SAG routine:

• Morning

• Riders load the SAG truck with their gear.
• The SAG car leaves camp.
• Late leaving riders help the SAG truck driver load the group gear into the SAG truck.
• The SAG truck typically leaves camp once the majority of riders have left camp.

• During the ride

• The SAG truck and SAG car will typically stop a couple of times along the road to make water and Gatorade available.
• If there is a grocery store close to camp, the SAG truck may stop and wait for a period of time at the grocery store to enable riders to purchase food and put it in the truck coolers. Once again, do not count on that.

• Afternoon

• The SAG truck will head to camp earlier than the SAG car. Note: early arriving riders may reach camp before the SAG truck.
• Early arriving riders unload the rider gear from the SAG truck onto a tarp. This is the riders’ chore, not the SAG truck driver’s chore!
• Early arriving riders unload the group gear from the SAG truck and help the SAG truck driver set it up.
• The SAG car will typically arrive in camp once the majority of riders have arrived.

Important Notes:

• SAG support during the ride may not happen due to rider emergencies, lack of road pulloffs, need to get to camp, etc. Do not count on it. Bring all necessary water and electrolyte beverages needed to ride the full day with you.
• The SAG vehicles do not sweep the route to provide rides to weary riders. It is your responsibility to prepare, ride sensibly and get to camp on your bike.
• Communicate to a SAG driver that you are good with a thumbs up and that help is needed with a thumbs down. Do not communicate by raising your hand or waving since it is not clear what that means. The SAG drivers stop when they see the thumbs down signal and soon as they can find a safe place to stop.
• Always treat the SAG drivers with respect and courtesy. Treating them to a meal is a good way to say “Thank You.” The LTC provides the SAG drivers with a monetary “Thank You” at the end of the tour, so a tip from the riders is not needed or appropriate.
• Have the SAG drivers’ phone numbers at hand so that you can quickly contact them if necessary, noting that the route may go through areas that lack cellular phone service.

The SAG drivers try to keep track of all riders. You must contact a SAG driver to avoid unnecessary worry and searching if you decide to take an alternative route. You will not have SAG support if you go “off route.” Contact a SAG driver if you are going to be late arriving at camp.

The Loop Tour campsites are reserved for registered Loop Tour participants (i.e. riders and SAG drivers) due to insurance requirements and to maintain group cohesion. Participants who want family or friends to stay with them should reserve their own campsites.  If that is not possible, contact the LTC ahead of the Loop Tour to determine if an alternative arrangement is possible.

The best way of dealing with mechanical problems is to avoid them. Make sure that your bicycle is in good working order. It is a good idea to have your bike checked out by a bike shop before the Loop Tour. You should carry the parts (patch kit, spare tube) and tools (tire wrenches, tire pump) and have the expertise needed to make an on-the-road tire repair. The SAG drivers and other riders may be available to help, but that help is not guaranteed.

The SAG truck carries some bike parts and tools for making in-camp bike repairs. These parts may not be applicable to your bike. You should carry spare parts unique to your bicycle (e.g. long cables for tandems, small tires for recumbents, etc.). Be aware that many Loop Tour routes do not pass near bike shops.  

The best way of dealing with medical emergencies is to avoid them. Make sure you are in good shape. Have a physical before the Loop Tour to confirm that. Loop Tours may go through remote locations that lack cellular phone service and professional medical service. Loop Tour participants do their best to help each other deal with emergencies,  however few, if any, participants are professionally trained to deal with serious medical emergencies.

Important Note: All riders MUST carry a completed MVBC Medical Information Form in their handlebar bag or other easily identifiable location to enable other loop tour riders to help first responders to quickly find your information.

You must bring any needed mediations. If you have an allergy which might require the use of an EpiPen, notify the people you ride with and the SAG drivers as to where they will find your pen in your pack. You should carry a small first aid kit with you to deal with minor issues on the road. The SAG truck carries a more complete first aid kit for use in camp which is available for your use. Use adequate sunscreen and clothing to avoid sunburn. Use adequate bug spay and clothing to avoid insect bites. Deal with minor chafing immediately to prevent it from worsening.

MVBC carries Loop Tour insurance. The insurance coverage is in excess of your own personal coverage. It is very important that you have your own medical insurance. You will need to complete an accident form if you sustain an injury.

Gear is unavailable once the SAG truck departs camp until it is unloaded at the next camp. You must carry the supplies with you that you need while riding. This includes water, snacks, lunch if needed, medical supplies (sunscreen), tools, spare parts, money, change-of-weather clothing, etc. If you purchase something during the day such as food for dinner, you generally will need to carry it to camp.

You must notify a SAG driver any time that you are leaving the route, either temporarily or permanently. The SAG vehicle may transport you to the nearest medical facility in the case of a medical emergency. Once delivered to a medical facility or in any other cases of early departure, you must arrange your own transportation home or back to the tour.

Loop Tour registration is carried out on-line.  Registration typically opens around April 1st.  See Loop Tour Notices for key Loop Tour notices including when registration is opening. An email announcement prior to the opening of registration is provided to all MVBC members via the club’s email distribution list.

Priority Registration opens first and lasts for approximately one month. During Priority Registration MVBC volunteers are provided with a higher registration priority. After Priority Registration, Open Registration starts if space is still available. Open Registration continues until all spaces are filled on a “first come, first served” basis and then a waitlist is created to fill spots from in the event of cancellations.  Loop Tour registration is described in more detail here.

Important Notes: Anyone who is sure that they want to participate in a Loop Tour should register during the Priority Registration period, regardless of whether or not they have volunteered that year. So, even if you have not done any volunteering during the prior year, if you want to go on a Loop Tour, you can and should register during the Priority period.

It does not matter when during the Priority period you submit your registration. For two people with equivalent levels of volunteering, the one who registers first on April 1 has the same chance of a spot as the one who registers last on April 30 (given a Priority Registration period of April 1-30).

The registration fee includes camp sites, SAG support and group meal(s).  There is a reduced registration fee for children (17 and under, must be accompanied by an adult) and Students (18 and older and enrolled in a full-time college degree program). See Loop Tour Notices for further fee details. Note: the reserved camp sites are available only to registered Loop Tour participants. Non-Loop Tour participants must reserve their own camp sites.

If you notify MVBC that you need to cancel out of the Loop Tour before it starts and someone takes your place, you will be provided with a full refund. If not, your refund will depend on final Loop Tour financial status. Note: The Loop Tour registration fee is set to enable MVBC to break even on each Loop Tour, not make money. The refund policy is described in more detail in Loop Tour Notices.

See the following links for additional Loop Tour information.

• Loop Tour Overview: High level loop tour info including link to registration, route details, etc.
• Loop Tour Notices: Loop tour notices including key dates.
• Participant Guide: General loop tour guide.  This is a MUST READ for riders new to Loop Tour.
• Packing Checklist: Gear packing suggestions.
• Additional Rider Information:  Ride With GPS instructions, Medical Information Form, etc.