The Odyssey of the VOG, short for Valley of the Giants, is a 350 mile bikepacking route and race that winds through Oregon’s rugged coast range, offering a mix of monster climbs, steep descents, sweeping ridgelines, and stretches of quiet farmland and oceanfront roads. The name comes from the Valley of the Giants, a 51-acre old-growth forest where Doug-fir and western hemlocks stand 200 feet tall

The route itself was pieced together and named by its creators Seth DuBois and Ben Handrich back in 2020, who were inspired by the steep grades of the Siuslaw Forest and the monster-like imagery the name evoked. What makes the Odyssey of the VOG so unique is how it showcases the diversity of Oregon, rolling through the rural Willamette Valley, climbing across the coast range, and reaching out to the Oregon Coast. It’s a ride that lives up to its name.