What we’re about
Have you ever been the slowest person in the group ride? Or maybe you've been left behind? Wheezy Riders is for you! Maybe you're asthmatic, have a disability, are injured or recovering, are out of shape, or you're not into intense rides. No matter your reason, Wheezy Riders is THE mountain biking group for people who love spending time on two wheels and are looking for a group they can ride with... and not die!
How we ride: We stop at hilltops to catch our breath and hydrate. We walk up hills or around obstacles because we don't have anything to prove. We have sweeps so no one gets left behind. We have fun and encourage each other! We welcome all ages, shapes, and identities. We will cancel or reschedule rides if smoke AQI is 100 or above. This is NOT a beginner MTB group- We do not instruct or teach, but biking veterans may offer tips and advice.
Active times: This group is active May to October/November. We have weekday evening rides and weekend rides. Anyone is welcome to host a ride– just message Emily and we'll put it on the calendar! Expect rides at Phil's Trail, Horse butte, Peterson Ridge, Cascade View, Maston, and local canal trails.
This group is free to join but tips are appreciated to help with costs for Meetup.com ($300/yr) and stickers. If you want to tip, you can donate via Pledge below, or to the founder's venmo: @emilyamills - Please put Wheezy Riders as the memo!
From the founder, Emily Mills: I moved to Bend in summer 2022 and was eager to get back into mountain biking after a years-long break... but I quickly realized my exercise-induced asthma put me not only in the slow groups, but the very back of the slow groups. I even got ditched on a group ride! I REALLY wanted to participate and make MTB friends, but it was very apparent that I couldn't keep up with the normies even though groups advertise "all skill levels welcome." I just knew there had to be other people who felt the same way as I did, so I founded Wheezy Riders to be a slower-paced group that took breaks and made sure no one would be left behind.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- La Pine Pedal + PicnicLa Pine State Park, La Pine, OR
Join us in La Pine for a 10.6 mile ride!
Ride facts:- Route: Park at the Cougar Loop day use parking area. link to driving directions We'll ride clockwise on the deschutes loop, macgregor for a bit, fall river loop, then back to where we parked. This is about 7 miles. You can stop here, or continue with us to complete the cougar loop for another 30-ish minutes, which is another 3 miles. The route is pictured below, and here's a link to the park map. Here's a link to the trailforks map. After the ride we'll all have a picnic lunch together! Bring a camp chair as there aren't tables around the parking area.
- Time: I rode this in 1.5 hours. Our group will likely take 1.75 to 2 hours for this ride. Picnic afterwards optional!
BE AWARE! There are not bathrooms where we're parking. If you need to use the bathroom beforehand or after, refer to the park map for bathroom locations and arrive early. We do ride past a bathroom at one point- we may stop if someone needs to go.
- Terrain: packed dirt, soft pine needles and wood debris. Virtually no rocks or sand. A few hills that we'll catch our breath on. Winding green trails. Lots of shade.
Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the posted start time. We wait about 5 minutes for stragglers then ride out. If you arrive late, refer to the route info and map and try to catch up!
Bring:
- Water
- A picnic lunch for yourself for after the ride
- Something to share if you're feeling generous (not required)
- Camp chair
By participating in a group ride you agree to take ownership and liability for yourself and your bike at all times and do not hold accountable Wheezy Riders or any group leader or member. All participants must wear helmets. Ride at your own risk.
