At Cog Wild Bicycle Tours, we’re all about turning a bike ride into a memorable experience.
We believe that learning some mountain biking skills can significantly improve your experience and make you a better and safer rider. With nearly two decades of experience, we’ve developed a diverse range of lessons for all kinds of riders.
Our coaches love to teach and geek out on teaching strategy, outdoor classrooms and group dynamics. From PMBIA certifications to in-house trainings, our coaches continually work to improve their confidence and capacity to teach mountain biking. This spring, a bunch of our coaches are taking the PMBIA kids module while others are going for their Level 2 certifications.
Multi-week skills sessions and Cascadia Junior Cycling sessions start in April each year and are available through October.
Bend Progression Sessions
Progression Session Level 1 was our first foray into group skills lessons. After years of success with these multi-week skills sessions for adults, we’ve added Level 2 for riders who want to hone their jumps, drops, rock tech and cornering skills.
Our mountain bike camps, clubs and off-road teams provide young riders incredible opportunities to improve their skills, build fitness, and have fun riding with their peers and dedicated mentors.
We have established an effective pipeline for riders to follow as they increase their ability and set bigger goals. Whether that goal is to ride a new feature on a local trail or win a national championship event, our coaches work hard to prepare the riders and support their success.
is open for 2024 sessions for youth and juniors who love to ride bikes
Private Mountain Bike Skills Instruction in Bend & Oakridge
Cog Wild’s professional mountain bike coaches will help you become a more confident and skilled rider. Sign up for a full or half-day private skills clinic by yourself or with friends so that you are ready to tackle any challenge on the trail.
Interested in conquering Mt. Bachelor’s downhill park? Check out our Mt. Bachelor skills page here.
Take a mountain biking road trip through the Pacific Northwest to explore some of the best riding in the region. The PNW Shuttle Pass unlocks two shuttle rides with three outfitters, for up to six days of mountain biking in Oregon and Northern California.
Check out all the details at PNWShuttlePass.com or buy one below:
2 non-transferable shuttles with each of the participating businesses for a total of 6 shuttles. One pass per rider.
Shuttles must be redeemed before the end of the current season, no refunds.
PNW Shuttle Pass cannot be combined with any other promotion at any of the participating outfitters.
Shuttle service depends on environmental conditions at each location: shuttles typically begin on May 1, when the snow melts out, and run through October 31, when the snow tends to come back.
Outfitters will have shuttles live for booking around April 1.
How it works
$210 value for $129 Through 4/30/24 Increases to $150 5/1/24
STEP 1: Purchase the PNW Shuttle Pass
The PNW Shuttle Pass is purchased from and administered by Cog Wild.
In the confirmation email you will receive a code that is immediately active for Ashland — the Bend & Mt. Shasta codes must be approved manually and may take 24 hrs to become active.
Step 2: Book Shuttles
Copy your code(s) from your confirmation email to reserve your shuttle(s) for the time & date you wish with each outfitter.
As the season is winds down in the fall our clients inevitably ask, “What does Cog Wild do in the winter?” Increasingly the answer is winter recreation as we adjust our business model to account for climate change. While we have had to shut down in Oakridge for heavy rain we are most impacted by fire and smoke shut downs during the traditional summer mountain biking season when tourism used to peak.
Implications of climate change on mountain biking in Oregon:
We’ve noticed that once riders see a fire in the state, they stop coming. Understandably, no one wants to vacation near a wildfire. Folks stop coming to visit during the year when a fire is burning. Folks who are already here tend to want to change their plans on short notice when smoke rolls in.
We’re not alone in noticing a change in mountain biking due to climate change. Protect our Winters UK, recently published Downhill from Here, a report on climate change and cycling. They point out three areas where climate change is impacting cycling; results that we can corroborate locally.
#1 Threats to access due to increasingly intense and frequent extreme weather
Cog Wild has definitely seen threats to access due to increasingly intense and frequent extreme weather. Each year we have more and more days when we can’t ride due to “atmospheric rivers”, active wildfires and subsequent smoke. Who remembers when we had to shut down Oakridge shuttles for four weekends in a row in the spring of 2022 due to historic rainfall?
Wildfire and smoke shutdowns were not a big deal when we bought Cog Wild in 2006. In the first decade that we owned the business there were 7 days when the AQI was unhealthy for sensitive groups or unhealthy. From 2017 to 2023, there have been 58 total days when AQI was unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse, 30 of which were hazardous AQI. For the past 6 years we’ve seen an average of 10 bad air days in Bend annually. The Bend Bulletin recently interviewed Cog Wild about the affect of smoke on our business, check it out. Last year we had more total smoke days than in the prior 5 years, although fewer of them were “purple air”.
Since we began operating in Oakridge in 2016, there have been only 2 years (2016 and 2019) when we were not impacted by smoke. In 2022, due to the Cedar Creek Fire, there were 37 days when the AQI was unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. We got lucky this year when wet storms over Labor Day Weekend extinguished the Bedrock fire and allowed us two months of glorious fall mountain biking to close out the season.
So many of us manage our mental health with outside recreation and still need & want to get out regardless of weather. However, riding in wildfire smoke and extreme heat is dangerous and not recommended!
The State of Oregon recently published the Wildfire Smoke Trends Report. In addition to information about methodology and the impact of AQI on health, it shows the number of days when air was unsafe for sensitive groups or greater for many cities and small towns in Oregon.
#3 Threats to experience and events:
Climate change will continue to affect the mountain bike experience Cog Wild can provide. Heavy rain can supersaturate the trails in Oakridge making the riding more stressful and dangerous. When we ride on muddy trails we leave ruts and degrade the trail quality, which has an additional negative affect on the experience for future riders. Trudging through the soft trails and over downfall after a forest fire is harder and way less fun than flowing down well compacted trail.
Last month the New York Times, put out an article called “Unpredictability in the System’, and other Travel Lessons from the Summer of ‘23 that offers some insight into how travelers can better navigate the changes. The big standouts for us were the reminder to be flexible and the increase of travel to cooler regions or in our case an increase in visitors during the spring and fall when the weather may be wet but when fire is less likely to impact the experience.
The takeaway:
So, what does this mean for Cog Wild?
With predictably unpredictable fire and smoke shutdowns each summer, we’re looking at how to stay viable and keep getting folks outside. To do so, we’ve extended the operations calendar and have added activities to the shoulder and off seasons.
In 2021 we added Cascadia Junior Cycling, a race and recreation program for ages 5 to 18. Spring and fall after school programs extend our operations calendar into April and November, giving our staff two more months of work. Anticipating weather shutdowns, we build in a week at the end of spring, summer and fall sessions for potential make up days due to smoke, fire, heavy rain or unseasonable snow. Last spring, we started after school cycling programs a week late due to snow in mid April.
In Bend we are permitted to mountain bike anytime the conditions are good, which can be any month of the year. During the winter, when conditions are less likely to be favorable for mountain biking, we shift to fat bike tours and shuttle service for the Three Sisters Backcountry Nordic Traverse.
In Oakridge we’re permitted to run shuttles earlier in April and later in November when the rain is light. This winter we’re excited to launch winter operations: guided bike rides on the low elevation roads & trails near town during the high pressure systems and even more exciting, we’re going to provide daily guided backcountry nordic ski and snowshoe tours from mid December through mid March. Come play in the snow with us!
Cog Wild is the place for skills instruction in central Oregon: our level 1 and level 2 PMBIA certified coaches in both Bend and Oakridge are geared up to help you achieve your mountain bike goals. This fall there are are number of opportunities to join group clinics or take a private lesson with our talented coaches.
Bend Skills
Progression Sessions:
Two levels of our popular Progression Sessions for Central Oregon locals are on the schedule this fall. Join a cohort of like minded folks for three, two hour “after work” sessions to work on fundamentals in the Level 1 session in September or tackle trail features like drops, jumps and fast corners with the Level 2 session in October. Coach Lev Stryker will lead both sessions, he’s a PMBIA level 2 coach and coach certifier, Cascadia Junior Cycling’s head enduro coach and the owner of Cog Wild.
Jumping for Oldies
The early September session of Jumping for Oldies class sold out quickly so we added a second session for late September. Coach Erika Schmid will get you jumping for sure: she’s a PMBIA air instructor and travels the country as an advanced skills coach with Ladies Allride and has guided with Cog Wild since the early 2000s!
Cascadia Junior Cycling
There are skills rides for the kids too: Cascadia Junior Cycling’s fall programs start the week of September 11th; join us for after school race or recreation focused rides for ages 5 though 18.
Oakridge Skills
We’re excited to have Coach Kenny Stone guiding and coaching with Cog Wild in Oakridge again this year. He’s a level 2 PMBIA certified coach, pro downhill racer and travels the country to help with Soldiers on Singletrack rides. He’s available for private clinics daily and is coaching two group clinics in September. Dive into the nuances of riding with speed at the Downhill clinic on September 16 or get your flow on with the Flow clinic on September 30.
Skills sessions are available year round as the weather allows.
These days it feels like August and September have become wildfire season in the west. In mid July the Bedrock Fire ignited in a campground northwest of Oakridge and has been sending intermittent smoke across central Oregon.
We’ve been here before; each fire become a character in and of themselves that contribute to the year’s mountain bike season. Over the past few years we’ve learned a few things about operating when active fires are burning in the region and riding when or where the air is clear.
Read on for tips on how to maximize your ride time in clean air and for late summer adventure rides in the high country.
Think Regionally
Think about riding opportunities at a regional level. Since the fire started a week ago, we’ve seen days of clean air and periods of unhealthy AQI in both Bend, Oakridge and other towns in the region.
Flexibility is key to ensuring good rides during wildfire season. Be willing to adjust your activity’s start time, we often suggest an earlier or later start for tours and skills sessions based on the smoke forecast. If you are visiting, build in a down day to allow outfitters like us to reschedule for another day.
The smoke tends to sit heavier in some areas than others. When this happens we can move tours and clinics to areas where the air is cleaner. Last week we moved a group ride for a bunch of teenagers to the Madras Trail System since the air was clear north of Bend.
Check Yourself
This time of year many of us are out camping and playing in the woods. Consider your self a risk factor and please be fire safe. Keep Oregon Green has tips for safe outdoor behavior including campfires (it’s a good idea to skip them for now), vehicles in the woods, firearms and smoking. Think Out Loud posted a podcast last week that included an interview with the Oregon State Fire Marshall about the recent fires and how to recreate responsibly during fire season.
Oakridge shines in summer. While we are all about mountain biking, we do appreciate the other fun events that make Oakridge awesome.
We’re excited about the Community Farmers Market on Friday’s from 3-6 PM, stock up on veggies and fresh baked goods for your visit. Stroll Uptown Oakridge to see arts and crafts from local artisans at the next First Friday Art Walk on August 2nd. Like beer? The 15th Annual Oakridge Keg and Cask Festival is on tap for the afternoon of August 12.
Come play for a weekend or stay for a month; there’s so much fun to be had. The classic rides around town are great but there is so much more to discover in any direction.
Special Shuttles
Moon Point Hot Laps Moon Point/ Young’s Rock Trail is so nice, we like to ride it twice. Meet the shuttle at our location in Uptown Oakridge, where we load up and carpool south of town for two laps on this remote downhill trail. The shuttle includes an optional drop on Larison Rock on the way back into town. Pack a lunch; this is a full day of fun. The shuttle runs on Saturdays through October.
Middle Fork of the Willamette Shuttle Word from the Oregon Timber Trail 300 racers is that the Middle Fork of the Willamette Trail is in great shape. Shuttle out to Paddy’s Valley and ride at your own pace back to your vehicle at Sand Prairie Campground/ end of the trail. Interested in riding the Middle Fork down from Timpanogas Lake? Adventure rides to Timpanogas and other high country trails will be added to the calendar for August & September or join a late season multi day trip to Timpanogas and Upper Umpqua. This shuttle is scheduled by request for groups of 4 or more.
Heckletooth Trail After being closed due to fire damage from the Kwis Fire in 2021, Heckletooth Trail is now open and running great. We love this trail for the challenging rocky top, big views and super fun descents. Plus, it ends at our location where food and drink are available from the Middle Fork Bistro. Heckletooth shuttle runs on Thursdays and Sundays at 12:30.
It’s quiet around Cog Wild during the winter, quiet enough to hear the resident great horned owls calling to each other at our headquarters in Bend. We tend to get excited about owls and the other flora and fauna that make Oregon such an outstanding place to live or visit. While mountain biking is great, it’s even better when you are connected to the place where you ride. Whether you are a local or are planning to visit this year we invite you to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the region to deepen your connection to place.
The days are getting longer and the sun feels a bit warmer, which means mountain biking season is almost here.
Are you ready for adventure? We’re ready for adventure too.
After a few years of being on hold we are super stoked to bring back multi-day adventures on the backcountry trails across Oregon. These are the trips we live for: long days on the bike, concentrated time with a few quality people and total immersion in nature.
These are the trips we live for: long days on the bike, concentrated time with a few quality people and total immersion in nature. These adventures take place on some quality back country tails from the northern to southern Oregon. Choose from preset dates starting in late June through the end of September or collaborate with us to organize a custom trip for your private group.
Mt. Hood Region: become one with everything on confidence inspiring trails from Hood River to the flanks of Mt. Hood.
Adventures out of Bend: multiple days of riding on the amazing trails around Bend. Stay at LOGE Hotel for bike in bike out accommodations and a pool!
Oakridge Region: two sandwich epic rides and shuttle fests; Oakridge has it all including a lodging option!
Upper Umpqua & Timpanogas Region: get your fill of adventure with high country rides around Timpanogas Lake, deep river canyons and the best sections of the North Umpqua Trail.
Now that the trails are buried we can ride fat bikes!
Bundle up with us to experience the crisp, clean winter air and the beauty of the snow-covered Cascade Mountains on a fat bike. Routes are determined by the snow conditions so give us a call to talk about which areas are riding well for a tour.
What a beautiful November! One day we’re skinning to the top of Mt. Bachelor to ski powder and the next day we’re riding through golden fall foliage and foraging for chanterelles in Oakridge. Life is good.
Shoulder season tends to feel a bit awkward and there is so much to do besides riding bikes. How about live music at the Three Legged Crane Pub or First Friday Art Walks in Oakridge? It’s a little cold for mushroom foraging but go look anyway, you may get lucky like we did last week.
Bend is always a good time; try something besides outdoor sports and brew pubs. Maximize the long nights and take in the stars at Pine Mountain Observatory or the Oregon Observatory. There is plenty of dark sky around here, drive 15 miles east or west of town for an evening of star gazing. NASA puts out a fun little video about what’s up in the night sky each month, check it out then go outside and see if you can find what they are talking about.
This newsletter has information about shoulder season operations in Oakridge, fat biking in Bend and as always, an invitation to work on trails. Thanks for reading!
Operations Continue in Oakridge
We’re working with our USFS partners to extend operations into the winter and will be open during extended dry periods. Despite last week’s atmospheric river, the low elevation trails are still dry so we’re clear to operate. Guides and coaches are available for late season rides and clinics and shuttles will run on the low elevation trails close to town. Drivers are available for private group shuttles too.
The schedule below is open for booking one week at a time. We’ll add more days if the weather continues to be dry enough for us to ride with out damaging the trails.
10:30 AM Dead Mountain 12:30 PM Dead Mountain 2:30 PM Larison Rock
Cog Wild in the Community
Last weekend a motivated and talented crew of Cog Wild employees and OROR locals tackled some drainage projects on Alpine. It was fun to be in the beautiful fall light and to grill out in the woods.
Here’s another chance to work on trails and be a part of the Oakridge mountain bike community: Alpine Trail Crew Association, MBO and Disciples of Dirt are teaming up for an Alpine Dip and Drain Ride and Hike on Sunday, November 20, 2022. The more the merrier! Meet at the Office Covered Bridge/ Portal Park at 9AM. Please bring a pack with warm layers, GLOVES (bring extras if you have them), and water. It is going to be cold, and possibly wet – please wear synthetic or wool socks and water resistant/proof clothing. We also recommend leaving a set of dry clothes and shoes in your car for afterwards. Tools, hand warmers, hard hats and a post work hot meal will be provided.
