Ride Director Comments

We have a solo female looking to share a room with the same. If interested, email Carolyn or Albert.

Ride Description

Best of Bend, Breweries & Bicycling in Central Oregon Ride

Ride Description

Overview:

Searching for countless miles of paved roads that hold scenic treasures around every corner? Then come indulge in a 12-day loop ride on challenging and exhilarating routes amid magnificent scenery in rugged Central Oregon's high country. Immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the Oregon Cascades on two wheels and experience some of the world’s most awe-inspiring rides. Oregon has some of the most beautiful places in the nation for biking and it is one of the most Bike friendly states. It is the first state in the country to have the official scenic bikeway.

Our routes will take you on extended climbs, exhilarating descents, stunning mountain and lake scenery and open sage-scented, high desert roads. This ever popular tour was last done in 2023 and this was quoted by one of the previous riders:

 “One of the very best BAC rides I have done. Having 2 to 3 days at each of four hubs was great... no packing and unpacking every day. The four hubs provided a big variety of cycling routes and scenery in the Oregon Cascades and eastern lava lands. Great hiking opportunities. We often cycled our route in the morning and had time for hikes to waterfalls after riding.”

This biking adventure is a semi-roaming tour which allows us to spend three nights each in Redmond, Sisters, Bend and Sunriver, Oregon. We will start and end our tour in Redmond Oregon.

Redmond: Our first two days will be in Redmond.  Nestled in the heart of Central Oregon, Redmond is a quaint high desert community with panoramic views of the snowcapped Cascade Mountain Range. Redmond combines a rich community heritage and small-town charm with a zeal for the great outdoors. For those who are flying the Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) is located just a few miles away.

We will meet at 5:30 in the Lobby of the SCP Hotel on Monday, September 7th, 2026 for an introductory happy hour and group dinner. The next day we will ride to spectacular Smith Rock State Park, one of the most renowned rock-climbing spots on the continent, where you can enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons, massive rock walls and miles of hiking trails. Take a moment to enjoy the views of the Crooked River as it winds its way beneath the beautiful sheer cliffs, keeping an eye out for golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer and river otters.

After a day of exploring, you’ll have the evening to enjoy Redmond. The following day we will ride 34 miles to the "artsy" western town of Sisters. 

Sisters: This town derives its name from the three prominent Cascade peaks that grace the southwestern skyline, collectively known as the Three Sisters (North, Middle and South, individually).  Sisters is a vibrant, artsy community with a charming 1880s facades and small-town ambience.

The next three days you will be able to explore the Sisters area with an option to ride along the Metolius River to Camp Sherman, a fun, fairly flat, and scenic ride. This ride will include the mysterious origins of the Metolius River as it emerges from underground.  Weather permitting, you will also have the option to ride Oregon’s famous iconic McKenzie Pass. Not only is McKenzie Pass considered the most spectacular ride in Central Oregon, it also leads you to a lava-rock moonscape at the top that spreads out before you for miles. It is stark, barren and awe-inspiring. It’s unlike anything you’ll probably ever encounter on a bike ride again. From the Dee Wright observatory at McKenzie pass you will enjoy breathtaking views.  Afterwards enjoy a post-ride pint at a local craft brewery or explore the quaint shops, galleries and cafes in Sisters.

Bend: Our journey takes us next to Bend, a gem of Central Oregon, which is nestled in the heart of the stunning Cascade Range. Bend is renowned for the majestic Deschutes River, a central feature that enhances the city’s natural charm. With miles of hiking and biking trails through town and Mt. Bachelor nearby, Bend is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Combine that with a richly diverse cultural landscape, award-winning dining, theaters, community events, a multitude of breweries, and boutique shopping, and you might not want to leave Bend.

On the scenic outskirts of Bend, you will pedal along smooth roads with grand views of the Cascades in the distance.  We’ll provide a variety of rides and activities for our three-day stay with an option to visit the renowned High Desert Museum. Ride the lightly trafficked forest service roads through the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and Deschutes National Forest. Climb up to Mt. Bachelor’s ski park through pine forest and alpine meadows. Eat lunch at the top while taking in the beautiful views of the Cascades. After cycling enjoy sampling Oregon's best craft beers at the multitude of local brew pubs in town.

Sunriver: Our next destination is the famous Sunriver Resort. A year-round outdoor enthusiast's dream with four golf courses, a spa, over 40 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking, tennis, year-round swimming, horseback riding, canoeing and fly fishing. Bike alongside the Deschutes River, among the pine trees, and past the horse fields. Biking in Sunriver is unquestionably the most popular outdoor activity in the area.

Our bike ride to Sunriver will include a climb up to Mt Bachelor.

For the optional days you can choose to ride the flat trails around Sun River up to Benham Falls or sit back, relax and enjoy the pool, spa, golf, or visit the shops in Sunriver Village. You also have the option to ride to Newberry Crater and Paulina Lake. This is a spectacular and demanding ride that explores the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The monument highlights the effects of the eruptions of the Newberry Volcano. The eruptions drastically changed the landscape of Central Oregon, leaving a kaleidoscope of colors in its wake. The ride highlights all sorts of natural wonders, including, white pumice flow, glassy black obsidian, cascading waterfalls along the creek, twin caldera lakes, what remains of a volcanic peak, and a massively large crater.

After 11 great days of exploring central Oregon, we finally ride back to Redmond from Sunriver for a final farewell dinner together as we recall the many wonderful sights and adventures from our tour.

So come join us in Central Oregon’s quintessential playground as you enjoy unique microbrews, gourmet dining, while staying in three to four star rated properties and enjoy breathtaking scenery on this unforgettable Oregon cycling tour!

RIDE RATING: 

The tour is rated a 2B with four required ride days and the rest being optional riding days where participants can choose their destinations. Optional rides vary from short/easy to long/difficult.  The majority of rides are on established bike routes popular with riders in Central Oregon.

Required Riding Days

Day  3: Redmond to Sisters,  33 miles, 1100 ft gain, 900 ft loss

Day  6: Sisters to Bend,          30 miles, 1300 ft gain, 900 ft loss

Day  9: Bend to Sunriver        43 miles, 3200 ft gain, 2600 ft loss

             (a shorter route is available that bypasses Mt. Bachelor)

Day 11: Sunriver to Redmond 43 miles, 1200 ft gain, 2400 ft loss

 

Ride participants will need to be able to manage these distances and elevation gains.  Although there are sustained elevation gains on some required rides, no climbs exceed a 10% grade. 

Cue sheets and GPS files:

Electronic RWGPS versions of maps and route sheets will be emailed ahead of time and participants are expected to bring their own copies.  Additional routes will be available on RWGPS for the optional ride days.  You can also print out cue sheets if you wish prior to the tour.

WEATHER: 

The geographical climate for Central Oregon is predominately High Desert. Average temperatures in the Bend area for September are 74 degrees for a high and 40 degrees for a low.  Please remember this is an average and it could be much warmer (or colder).  The potential for rain is slight, but rain gear is always good to have on hand. 
In the past few years, Central Oregon has been known to have air quality issues during the summer months due to forest fires in the area.  By scheduling the tour in early September, we hope to avoid this problem, but you may want to consider purchasing trip insurance.

LODGING, MEALS and SPECIAL EVENTS: 

We will be staying at three- and four-star hotel and lodge locations.  This is a loop type tour with multi-night stays at four locations.  We’ll start and end the tour in Redmond, Oregon,. From there we will ride to Sisters, Bend, Sunriver and then back to Redmond.  Five group dinners, six breakfasts and one lunch will be provided along with happy hours each evening.  At happy hours, we’ll provide beer, wine, soft drinks and light snacks.  Some happy hours may be held at local breweries/pubs for beer sampling and tasting. 

Links to each of the hotels:

Redmond:  SCP Hotel:  https://scphotel.com/redmond/

Sisters:  Grand Stay Hotel and Suites:  https:www.grandstayhospitality.com/

Bend: To be determined but hopefully McMenamin’s Old St. Francis School:  https://www.mcmenamins.com/old-st-francis-school

Sunriver Resort: https://www.sunriverresort.com/

 

LOGISTICS: 

The tour starts on Monday, September 7th, 2026, we will meet at 5:30 in the Lobby of the SCP Hotel.  The tour ends on Saturday September 19th, 2026 in Redmond, Oregon.

We recommend flying into Redmond Airport (RDM) although you may need to schedule a connecting flight to RDM from Portland (PDX) or Seattle (SEA).  Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) provides 30 daily flights serviced by five air carriers: American Airlines, Alaska Air, Avelo Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines. Our hotel in Redmond is 2 miles from the airport, just a short taxi or Uber ride away. For those driving to Redmond, you will be able to park your vehicle at the airport for a fee or nearby city lot at no cost.   Bike boxes will be stored in Redmond during the tour. 

A van will be available to transport luggage and supplies.  Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the van will not serve as a sag vehicle.  However, the van will be available to assist with emergencies or to accommodate riders who are sick or injured.  Participants planning to use an E-bike or tandem should contact the Ride Leader.   These bikes are acceptable on the tour; however, bike storage will be in the hotel rooms each night which may provide some complications.

BICYCLE RENTALS 
For bicycle rentals you can rent through Trinity Bikes​, 541-923-5650 , 1730 SW Parkway Drive, Redmond Oregon or Pine Mountain Sports, ( 541) 385-8080,  255 SW Century Drive  Bend, OR 97702. If renting through Bend you will need to see if they will deliver to Redmond. Redmond is limited on their bike rentals where Bend has several rental shops. If you need assistance contact one of the ride leaders and we will be happy to help. 

We highly suggest reserving the bike well in advance. All arrangements for bike rental are between the participant and the bike shop. The tour leaders cannot guarantee bike rental availability or quality.

COST AND ADMINISTRATION: 

The estimated cost of this bike tour is $3350 per person double occupancy for 12 nights, 12 happy hours, 6 breakfasts, 5 dinners and 1 lunch.  There is an initial deposit of $2000 with an additional payment of $1350 due on May 1st, 2026.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone’s health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leaders and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

SINGLES AND SOLO POLICY:

Singles are a great addition to a ride and we welcome them.  However, on this tour we can only accommodate a limited number of singles who will share a room with a roommate. We recommend that singles find their own roommate prior to signing up.  Ride Directors will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. The solo supplement is $1800 which is due on May 1, 2026. Please contact the Ride Director if you want to be solo, since extra rooms may be difficult to reserve.

There are two ways to pay the solo supplement:

1.  A check made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

2.   Zelle payment transfer using the following instructions: 

o    In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient with the email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org

o    Initiate a payment

o    In the message block, enter the name of the ride.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements.  Refunds of ride payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY:  

Please remember that BAC Ride Directors are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using a well-maintained bicycle.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Director.  While on the ride, support your Ride Director with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Director informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENTS:

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. 

Since Oregon is prone to fires in September it is highly recommended to buy trip insurance just in case the trip is cancelled due to the threat of a fire or smoke. 

SIGN UP:

To register for this ride use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($85)and tour deposit ($2,000) by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. The final payment of $1400 will be due May 1, 2026. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.