- What kind of rider do I have to be to go on your tour?
- Do you rent bikes?
- What type of bikes can I rent?
- If I bring my riding shoes, can you put clipless pedals on my rental bike for me?
- When are the tours available?
- How far will we ride?
- What will the weather be like?
- What should I wear?
- What is for lunch?
- How many people will be on tour?
- For multi-day tours, why should we choose Cog Wild over other companies?
- For multi-day tours, how do I get to the start of the tour?
- Do you sell gift certificates for your tours?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Are you hiring new guides?
1. What kind of rider do I have to be to go on your tour?
Our tours are designed for riders of all levels, from beginner to tours for extreme mountain bikers. When taking your reservation, we will ask about your riding ability and use this information to plan a specialized tour to fit your riding level. Please use this guide to help choose which category you fit into:
Beginner: age 13 to adult. Beginners include anyone who doesn't ride a mountain bike often, prefers to ride gravel roads or gentle trails, and is able to be on the bike for an average of two hours.
Intermediate: teens & adults age 13 and up. Intermediate riders include anyone who rides fairly often and is relatively fit, comfortable on single track or steeper roads and is able to be on the bike for up to four hours.
Advanced: age 16 and older only. Advanced riders are those who ride mountain bikes often, are able to ride 50 to 100 miles per week, can handle technical single track and are able to be on the bike for up to eight hours.
Kid: children from age 7 to 12. People in this category should be comfortable on a bike for up to one and a half hours.
2. Do you rent bikes?
Yes β we offer front and full suspension mountain bikes for our tours. If you are looking to rent a bike without coming on tour with Cog Wild, please refer to our links page for local bike shops. When you make your reservation for your tour you can also reserve a rental bike or contact us leading up to your tour. Rentals include a water bottle and a helmet. Front suspension bikes are $30 and $50-65 for a full suspension.
3. What type of bikes can I rent?
The choices are endless, ranging from Marin, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz, Ellsworth, Cannondale, Rocky Mountain and more! You can choose from front suspension, full suspension and 29βer frames.
4. If I bring my riding shoes, can you put clipless pedals on my rental bike for me?
If you bring your own pedals and shoes, we will put your pedals on your rental bike for you. Cog Wild does not supply clipless pedals.
5. When are the tours available?
Our one-day tours are available daily during mountain bike season. In Central Oregon this normally means April through November. We also offer multi-day tours and group tours during these same months. Shuttles can take place year round.
6. How far will we ride?
The length of the ride depends on the riders in the group and whether you are on a half-day or full day tour. Tours vary from 3 miles to long 40+ mile epics! Let us know what you want!
7. What will the weather be like?
In Central Oregon, spring and fall are typically pleasant, with daytime temperatures ranging from the low fifties to high seventies and nighttime temperatures dropping into the thirties. Occasional weather systems can bring colder temperatures and moisture. In the summer, you can expect temperatures ranging from high seventies to low nineties, with evening thunder showers to dampen the trails.
8. What should I wear?
Closed toed shoes, polypropylene shirts, biking specific gloves, and bike shorts or regular shorts are recommended. Be prepared for the occasional Central Oregon weather change by bringing a light rain jacket or warmer top layer. Jeans and non-athletic shoes are not recommended. Helmets are required and are provided with all rental bikes.
9. What is for lunch?
Day tour lunches consist of in-season fruit, delicious baked goodies and sandwiches made fresh daily with free range, natural meat & organic produce. Pasta salad, tossed green salad or appetizers can be added depending on the tour and lunch location. Vegetarian options can also be arranged. Multi-day tours will have different meals each day consisting of picnic lunches, BBQ, pasta and other scrumptious surprises.
10. How many people will be on tour?
Single day and multi-day tours average between three to eight cyclists, with a maximum of twelve.
11. For multi-day tours, why should we choose Cog Wild over other companies?
Cog Wild is the only local permit holder offering mountain bike tours in Central Oregon. The Forest Service has issued Cog Wild a wider range of trails that none of the other companies can use. Going on tour with Cog Wild ensures that you are able to see a wide spectrum of the mountain bike trails in the region, including being the only company that can ride from Mt. Bachelor to Bend. Cog Wild also donates countless hours and shuttles to the trail system for working on trails and getting volunteers to the trails so they can help keep our mountain biking trail system in great shape β by coming on tour with us you are helping support our local trail system.
12. For multi-day tours, how do I get to the start of the tour?
You will need to drive or fly to the Bend area unless the tour starts outside of the Bend area. Once you are in Bend, Cog Wild will take care of your transportation. This applies to trips outside of Bend as well, once you have arrived in the tour area, we will take care of all your transportation. For those flying to Central Oregon, we recommend flying into Redmond (RDM) or Portland (PDX). The Redmond Airport is only twenty minutes from Bend and Cog Wild is happy to pick up guests at the Redmond Airport who arrive the start day of the tour. Portland is a scenic three-hour drive from Bend. Rental cars are available in Portland or you can take the Bend Breeze shuttle from the Portland airport. Cog Wild can also pick up guests from the Bus Depot for the Breeze in Bend as well. For those driving, we will give you driving directions to your accommodations.
13. Do you sell gift certificates for your tours?
Of course! Gift Certificates can be customized to any price or tour. They come printed on quality paper in an envelope with information about our tours or the specific tour desired. Call us Toll Free: 866-610-4822 and we will put your gift certificate in the mail today!
14. What is your cancellation policy?
We realize guests occasionally may have to cancel reservations with us. We will try to accommodate as many situations as possible but generally we stick to our cancellation policy set for both one day and multi-day tours. Cog Wild will mail you a credit for the cancellation fee good for another Cog Wild Bicycle Tour taken in the next two years.
One Day Tours:
Cancellations received at least 48 hours prior to the tour date will be charged a $25 per person processing fee. Any cancellations received within 48 hours of tour date or no shows are not eligible for a refund. If guests decide to cancel, due to rain, they will be issued a voucher which can be used at a later date.
Multi Day Tours:
If you cancel 60 or more days before your trip there is a $75 cancellation fee. Cancellations from 59 to 45 days before a trip will result in a total loss of deposit. If a trip is cancelled from 44 to 14 days before the scheduled departure, the participant will be required to pay 50% of trip price. Any cancellations made within 14 days of a scheduled trip will not be eligible for any refund.
15. Are you hiring new guides?
Yes, every year we hire new guides. To guide for Cog Wild, you need to be local to Central Oregon, have your First Aid and CPR, be a mountain biker who is very familiar with our local trail system and restaurant scene. If this describes you, please contact us to schedule an interview.