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Date: Thursday, 16 March 2006

Title: Bike Summit Sets Sights On Baby Boomers

Source: http://www.registerguard.com/

Remarks: By Diane Dietz

They're middle-aged but not grown up. They like to play outdoors but like their creature comforts come nightfall - and they can afford to treat themselves well. They're baby boomer bicyclists, and state-level recreation and tourism officials see gold in promoting Oregon as the premier place for them to ride. These are people who can drop $1,000, $2,000 or even $8,000 on their two-wheeled chariots. "We've all grown up, and bicycling is one of the most affluent sporting activities out there right now," said Jerry Norquist, executive director of Cycle Oregon, a nonprofit cycling organization. "The majority of (boomer cyclists) no longer like to just go out and camp in a tent and cook on a stove. "They like to stay in a bed and breakfast or a hotel and they like to eat at a good restaurant. ... We call it credit card touring." Hoping to capitalize on the phenomenon, state parks, tourism and bicycling officials have organized a first-ever Oregon Bicycling Summit on April 1 in Eugene. They're pushing to improve Oregon roads for cyclists, get cycling routes marked and mapped, grease the tourism communications, "brand" Oregon cycling and market it nationally and internationally, Norquist said. He wants to raise funds for a full analysis of bicycling's contribution to the state's economy - so he can use it to sell the idea of bicycle tourism in Salem and Washington, D.C. Besides Norquist, summit speakers include: keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield; National Bike Dealers Association President Jay Graves; Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson; and Oregon Parks and Recreation Director Tim Wood. The state has a lot to capitalize on: Bicyclists the world over order machines and their parts from Oregon, from businesses such as Bike Friday, Co-Motion and Burley Design Cooperative in Eugene and Chris King in Portland. Some of those businesses have started a trade route of their own as customers from around the globe come to Oregon to pick up their purchases. "They say, `Oh, wow, Oregon is so beautiful,' '' Bike Friday Marketing Director Hanna Scholz said. "We're really used to how gorgeous it is here because we live here, but this is a pretty special place and pretty unique." The state similarly draws from around the globe for bicycle touring events.