Bend Area Cycling Enthusiasts (BACE)

With the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project kicking off later this week, let's ride the Swamp Wells loop before the area closes! We'll ride the loop in a clockwise direction on mostly blue trails enjoying the undulating nature of the up, down, up, down, flowy route.

This will be a Relaxed Intermediate ride. You may ask yourself, "What does that mean?"

• Relaxed = We won't ride at a breakneck pace; however, we will ride at a consistent pace with only a few regroups so riders should be comfortable with minimal stops.
• Intermediate = Due to the 20 miles of mostly singletrack we'll get to enjoy with a bit over 1,600 in elevation gain.

———
Rules of the Rides

• Approved Cycling Helmets Required.
• Participants must be age 18 or over.
• To participate in a BACE Meetup activity, you must be a member of the BACE Meetup Group and be RSVP’d “Yes” for that specific activity. No “Plus 1’s”
• All participants should be “self-sufficient” with their own food, hydration, tools, spare tubes and first aid supplies necessary for the activity.
• Cycling activities may be significantly impacted by changing conditions (rain, snow, mud, road construction, etc.). Participants should monitor activities for cancellations or changes in location/route.
  Liability Waiver
  By signing up for this meetup, I agree to the following: I am age 18 or over. I understand that cycling activities can be dangerous and cause serious bodily injury or even possibly death. The organizers of this group and its members will not be held responsible for the actions of any participant at any event. Each rider attends an event at their own risk and is solely responsible for any damage or injury to their equipment, themselves or others.

Mandatory trip coordination/planning Zoom session on June 1, 7 pm.

This 5-day GRAVEL bike packing/camping tour is on the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway in SW Idaho. 5 days total. 4 days of riding and 1-layover canyon hike day along the way. Daily riding mileage around 25 miles per day. We will have plenty of time for side hikes and relaxing at camp to soak in the vibe of this amazing SW Idaho and SE OR volcanic plateau landscape.

This will be a relaxed tour for nature explorers who enjoy the high desert experience. If you enjoy botanizing, geology pondering, bird watching, and being in awe, this trip is for you. The trip requires participants have bike touring and camping skills, bike handling skills on gravel roads, and a safety first commitment to staying together with the group and willingness to cooperate with group consensus and trip organizer decisions that reduce risks for injury or searching.
Description from The Owyhee Canyonlands guidebook (2013) – “The Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway, also known as Mud Flat Road, is the primary public access road for the core of the Owyhee Canyonlands. It runs from Grand View, Idaho, to Jordan Valley, Oregon, covering a total of 104 miles. The road is paved at the beginning from both portals, but it’s mainly dirt most of the way. As roads go in the Owyhees, this one is very well-maintained -- suitable for 2WD vehicles when it’s dry and snow-free. The road normally is snowed-in from late November through March/April”.

The guide has a mile-by-mile mixture of notes and observations, plus general notes from an informative BLM brochure. Organizer has not scouted this road or conditions; we will explore together and conduct the trip in a safety first manner mindful of weather, riding, and participant conditions. The road is passable for 2-wheel drive vehicles.