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About us

Do you love bikes?  Looking for people to ride with on a mountain bike, gravel/adventure bike, road bike, touring bike, fat bike, or tandems?  Are you 18 years or older?  Then this is YOUR tribe.

Bend Area Cycling Enthusiasts (BACE) offers a variety of organized bike rides, some ending at breweries.  Some harder, some easier, some more technical.  Many close to Bend, some include camping overnight or a few hours of carpooling. And sometimes, we are joining races as a group.  It all depends on the ride organizer.  (If you can't figure out if you belong on a ride, just text the ride organizer.)  It's all about riding safe, while having a blast.  Meeting new people to ride with or helping you coordinate with your riding buddies.

And speaking of ride organizers, the BEST way to ride your DREAM route at YOUR pace that works for YOUR schedule is to become an organizer.  Drop Gravel Girl (Linda English) a note or text her at 541 550 8930.

BACE is supported by Dirty Freehub which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to gravel cycling. You'll find us at https://dirtyfreehub.org/. If you would like to support BACE, you can donate money to Dirty Freehub.

Come Join Us!

Upcoming events

2

See all
  • $10.00
    Gravel Bicycle Ride: Bend, 29 miles and 1,800 feet of gain

    Gravel Bicycle Ride: Bend, 29 miles and 1,800 feet of gain

    Phil's Trailhead, Bend, OR 97703, USA, Bend, OR, US

    Backwards day. I love to ride routes in opposite directions and Oktoberfest is just the perfect route to mix things up.

    The Route: Oktoberfest. Make sure you know how to ride your route backwards. The route will climb, climb to the end of Skyliners road, then take the single track out to Tumalo Falls. On the way back, you take the road. Some of you will just buzz back on Skyliners to head back to town, others might take Jack Pine, others can take the single track.

    To find the start, use the Ride Guide. But we meet at Phil's Trail Parking lot.

    This is not meant to be a race but a social outing. After all, it’s nice to chat and get to know other people. The goal is to have fun, meet other people, and sneak in a ride. ebikes are welcome.

    You MUST have the route downloaded and are able to use your device or phone. I plan on riding about 9-10 mph. I will pull out of the start, exactly on the posted start time. We will split the group up if people want to ride faster.

    If the weather takes a dive, you can assume we are canceling but we will also post a message on the Meetup page.

    Sorry to say, but this is NOT a no drop ride. (Gosh, there are a lot of NOs in that last sentence.) but we WILL regroup a few times. This ride is also unsupported.

    Text or call Linda at 541 550 8930 with any questions.

    Registration
    $10 per person
    If you've contributed to Dirty Freehub within the past 12 months, use coupon code "Oktoberfest" during registration to receive complimentary registration.

    About Dirty Freehub Community Rides
    Dirty Freehub community rides are informal, volunteer-led group rides that bring people together to explore gravel roads and trails while building community. Our ride leaders are unpaid volunteers who share their time and local knowledge with fellow riders.

    Dirty Freehub is a nonprofit organization, not a commercial guide or outfitter. Participation in our community rides is not the purchase of a guided service, and each rider is responsible for their own decisions, equipment, safety, and well-being throughout the ride.

    To help sustain our year-round community ride program, we encourage participants who have not contributed to Dirty Freehub within the past 12 months to make a $10 administrative contribution. This contribution helps offset the costs of operating the program, including Meetup, insurance, and other administrative expenses. It is not payment for guiding services or for this specific ride, and no portion is used to compensate ride leaders

    To participate:

    1. You must be registered for the event and as such agree to the Meetup and BACE rules. These include one’s concurrence that cycling can be dangerous and cause serious bodily injury or even death. The organizers of this group and its members will not be held responsible for the actions of any participant at any event.
    2. Please do not bring pets.
    3. You must wear a helmet.
    4. You must be an adult.
    5. You must be self-sufficient.
    6. You need to sign a liability waiver at the start.
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    5 attendees
  • $10.00
    Gravel Bike Ride, Painted Hills, 42 miles with 3,200 feet of gain

    Gravel Bike Ride, Painted Hills, 42 miles with 3,200 feet of gain

    Painted HIlls, 37375 Bear Creek Road, Mitchell, OR, US

    I spy a great weather window on Friday, so let's head to the Painted Hills for one of our favorite routes: Priest Hole. If you have done it before, you will be canceling all of your appointments to join us.

    The Route: You can read the route description here:
    https://dirtyfreehub.org/routes/oregon/priest-hole/. You MUST have the route downloaded and are able to use your device or phone. I plan on riding about 10-12 mph. We will have a group that takes off the front to go faster. ebikes are welcome.

    The route is 42 miles with 3,200 feet of gain. However, there's an easy way to cut it down to 37 miles / 3000 feet.

    We roll out of the parking lot at the posted time. This is not meant to be a race but a social outing. After all, it’s nice to chat and get to know other people. The goal is to have fun, meet other people, and sneak in a ride. We will regroup as appropriate and split the group into smaller segments.

    Location: The Painted Hills is about a 2 hour drive from Bend. If you would like to carpool with someone, add a note on registration page. Please use the Lat/Long on the Ride Guide to make sure you are headed to the right place. We are starting at the picnic area/information center which has toilets.

    Costs:
    This is a paid event ($10). If you’ve donated to Dirty Freehub in the past 12 months, use the promo code “Painted” for a free entry.

    If the weather takes a dive, you can assume we are canceling but we will also post on Meetup page.

    Sorry to say, but this is NOT a no drop ride. (Gosh, there are a lot of NOs in that last sentence.) but we WILL regroup a few times. This ride is also unsupported.

    Questions:
    Text or call Linda at 541 550 8930 with any questions.

    To participate:
    1. You must be registered for the event and as such agree to the Meetup and BACE rules. These include one’s concurrence that cycling can be dangerous and cause serious bodily injury or even death. The organizers of this group and its members will not be held responsible for the actions of any participant at any event.
    2. Please do not bring pets.
    3. You must wear a helmet.
    4. You must be an adult.
    5. You must be self-sufficient.

    Liability Waiver
    By registering for this event, you agree to the following liability waiver.
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    Dirty Freehub Group Ride Waiver
    Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, and Assumption of Risk Agreement
    (Version 1.2 / Dated August 2, 2025)
    By registering for any organized group bike ride led by Dirty Freehub through [MeetUp.com](http://meetup.com/) (or any other registration platform used by Dirty Freehub), you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to the following terms and conditions. Participation in these rides is conditional upon agreement to this waiver.
    1. Acknowledgment of Risk
    I understand and acknowledge that participating in a group bike ride organized by Dirty Freehub involves inherent risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, collisions with other cyclists, vehicles, pedestrians, or objects; accidents caused by road hazards, gravel, weather conditions, wildlife, and mechanical failures; as well as risks associated with riding in remote areas with limited access to emergency services. Such risks can result in serious injury or death.
    2. Assumption of Risk
    By registering for the ride, I voluntarily and knowingly assume all risks associated with my participation, including those resulting from the actions or negligence of other riders, third parties, or environmental conditions. I understand that it is my responsibility to ride safely, wear appropriate safety gear, and maintain my bicycle in proper working condition.
    3. Release of Liability
    I hereby release, waive, discharge, and hold harmless Dirty Freehub, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and any affiliated individuals or organizations (collectively referred to as "Dirty Freehub") from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, or expenses, including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, arising out of or in connection with my participation in the group ride.
    4. Indemnification
    I agree to indemnify and hold Dirty Freehub harmless from any and all claims, causes of action, damages, judgments, costs, or expenses, including attorney’s fees, that may arise as a result of my participation in the group ride or from any breach of this agreement.
    5. Medical Treatment
    I understand that Dirty Freehub does not provide medical services, supervision, or insurance coverage for participants. In the event of an injury, I consent to receiving medical treatment deemed necessary by emergency personnel and agree to be financially responsible for any costs associated with such treatment.
    6. Fitness to Participate
    I declare that I am physically fit and capable of participating in the group ride. I confirm that I will ride within my abilities, follow all traffic laws, and adhere to any instructions or safety guidelines provided by Dirty Freehub ride leaders.
    7. Personal Responsibility
    I understand that I am solely responsible for my actions during the group ride, including my own route decisions, hydration, nutrition, and mechanical preparedness. I acknowledge that participation is at my own risk.
    8. Binding Agreement
    I understand that by registering for a Dirty Freehub group ride through [MeetUp.com,](http://meetup.com,/) this waiver and release is binding upon myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns. It is recommended that you print and retain a copy of this waiver for your records.
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    Why do we charge for rides?
    Running community rides takes resources:

    • MeetUp platform: nearly $550 per year
    • Liability insurance: ensuring we can host rides responsibly
    • Event organization: planning, route design, and coordination

    Altogether, hosting community rides costs $2,000–$3,000 each year. Right now, those expenses are carried by our generous donors. To keep things fair, we ask all riders to contribute—either through an annual donation or a per-event fee.
    When you donate, you’re not just paying expenses—you’re fueling a movement. You’re helping Dirty Freehub build community, create unforgettable experiences, and highlight the beauty of gravel cycling.
    We’d love for you to join the Dirty Freehub team—because together, we make these rides possible.

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    6 attendees

Group links

Organizers

Linda English (Gravel G. is a Super Organizer