Meet Your Guide

Anka Martin
Anka started mountain biking in 2000, and since then off road bicycles have pretty much consumed her life and the paths she has chosen to follow. With her passion focused on downhill racing, she has been fortunate enough to travel all over the world racing at the most beautiful mountain resorts and also representing her country at numerous World Championships. Although downhill racing is her main focus, she is an avid trail/xc rider and has competed in various xc races like the grueling Cape Epic event in South Africa. She has been a coach at various women's mountain biking clinics and is looking forward to a busy summer filled with bike tours. She has a small clothing line that she sells in various local Bend stores.
Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson started mountain biking during college in Eugene, OR, vacationing routinely to the sweet trails snaking around Bend. After a stint in Seattle to give the 9-5'er a shot, he moved to Bend or take advantage of the great trails and outdoor lifestyle.  Ben has been involved in the local cycling scene since arriving and is looking forward to sharing his local trail knowledge and dedication to singletrack.  He prefers the long epic XC rides around Metolius-Windigo, Oakridge and McKenzie River to train for mountain bike stage racing.  Having raced TransAlp and La Ruta de Los Conquistadors, he's constantly looking for the next epic race to test mind, body and bike!
Chris Bowman
Chris has been involved in the bicycle industry for almost 20 years, having worked for a few of the top bicycle dealers in Colorado, Utah, and Oregon. He spent a few years as a sales representative for a regional bicycle parts distributor, and was the NW territory manager for GT Bicycles. He has finally found his niche in guiding bike tours all over the continent, spending each season following the good riding conditions from Bend, Oregon to Moab, Utah, to Baja California Sur, Mexico. He specializes in organizing and guiding our multi-day backcountry trips. When he's not out riding the mountain or road bike Chris enjoys windsurfing, kiteboarding, telemark skiing, and spending time with his faithful, four-legged companion Ginger.
Erika Schmid
Erika Schmid rode her first mountain bike in 1989 and she has been a self-described "extremely enthusiastic recreational rider" ever since. Erika first hit Central Oregon dirt, both figuratively and literally, in 1994. She has over 10 years of experience guiding mountain bike tours in the high deserts and mountains in and around the greater Bend area. As a high school science school teacher, Erika brags that she has been riding longer than her students have been multicellular life-forms. Not to outdone by the young whipper-snappers she teaches, Erika has embraced the new wave of free-riding mountain biking. Ms. Schmid enjoys the billing, "Most Extreme Teacher" at her school. This doesn’t mean, however, that she isn’t up tp a whole day epic on her cross-country bike.
Kellie Abel
Kellie has been guiding for many years and Cog WIld is very excited to have her joining our team. She is currently guiding in Moab for Rim Tours and will get her bio when she returns.
Kirin Styker
Kirin is a middle school science teacher who loves to guide tours during her summers off from school. She gets all excited about the natural history of Oregon and is always game to stop and check out the critters or scenic overlooks. Her favorite rides are those that end at a good swimming hole.
Lindsey Voreis
Lindsey Voreis grew up in Portland, Oregon where outdoor activities were just part of the daily routine. For most of her life her family spent Summer and Winter vacations in beautiful Bend, Oregon where she spent her time riding horses, skiing, snowboarding and riding her bike. Currently Lindsey does all the marketing and PR for her husband, pro mountain bike legend Kirt Voreis, and his Santa Cruz Syndicate Allride Tour. Lindsey is very enthusiastic about sharing her love of the sport with anyone who wants to ride, especially when they want to ride around her now hometown of Bend.
Mark Dejohn
Mark DeJohn has been biking prior to moving to Oregon in the early 90's. His passion for cycling increased from the early days of BMX and road biking to the avid mountain biker that he is today. Mark has become involved in advocacy on the national level representing Oregon for IMBA as the Central Oregon State Representative. While you ride the many trails that Central Oregon has to offer there is a good chance you have ridden a section built by Mark. As a Bend local since 1995 Mark joined COTA and has been active in helping create many of the challenging trails in the Phil's Trail area. Taking a tour with Mark is all about learning about the history of the trails and the experience of your time in the forest.
Seth Graham
Seth is a single-track junkie. Originally from Pennsylvania, his first love was classic east coast rides that were wet, rocky, and root-filled. His riding adventures have traversed seventeen states, all while he pursued his other love, teaching. Skinny, fast trails landed him in Oregon in 2002. Seth teaches third grade and is involved with youth bike education and community awareness programs in Central Oregon. He is also an avid snowboarder and cross-country skier. Seth has been guiding a wide range of bike riders, with various ability levels for five seasons.
Woody Starr
Woody started mountain biking when he was twelve, well sort of. He bought his first modern mountain bike in Bend in 1990, later that day he rode Phil's trail, his very first single track ride. Woody's favorite type of ride is the all-day, self-supported, explore the back country kind of thing. If it's more than a four hour ride, it must be Epic! Woody is also the founder of Cog Wild and loves it so much he is still on board after selling the business to Lev and Mel in 2006. Woody is a certified Wilderness First Responder and a certified bicycle mechanic.
More guides to follow as the season nears...