Training

Your one key goal should be to come to the event ready to ride it. “Riding yourself into shape” is not really a viable option on a 7-day tour, so getting yourself into decent shape is a baseline requirement. Does that mean you have to be King or Queen of the Hill on the Strava climbs in your area? Far from it – you just want to be able to enjoy your time in the saddle each day.

Here are a few thoughts for you.

1. Know what you’ve signed up for

The Oregon 2025 route has quite a bit of climbing; Idaho 2025 is relatively flat but still throws in some ascents. For either, it's best to include some climbing in your training. And be ready to ride for multiple hours, on multiple days in a row – make sure your body is ready for that. If you can ride 60 to 70 miles on two days back-to-back, with some climbing, you should be fine on the tours. Your body has to be in the saddle for long stretches; it’s not just your legs and lungs you have to get in shape.

2. Don’t wait until the last month

Find a way to keep some base fitness over the winter – spin classes, an indoor trainer, cross-country skiing, a rowing machine at the gym – and then transition onto the road bike as the weather allows. Slow, steady work you did in the cold and dark months will make the bright and sunny ones so much more fun. 

3. Build up to a peak

You don’t have to go out and start clocking centuries in April. Keeping in mind the terrain of the BRNW tour(s) you’re doing, gradually build up mileage and climbing over the spring and into early summer. Work in some interval repeats, including climbs, to really build strength. Don’t think that a long, slow ride once a week doesn’t help – it does. Push yourself in the last few weeks before the tour, and then ease up the last week before the event. Come in fresh and strong!

The bike

A critically important part of a bike tour! People ask what kind of bike is “OK to bring.” The answer is: Bring the bike that works for you, is mechanically sound and safe, weighs 40 pounds or less (tandems excepted) and is comfortable seven days in a row for hours each day. (See our e-bike policy here.) Two big tips: Consider a professional bike fit; it can do wonders for your comfort level. Also, think about a tune-up or complete overhaul for your trusty steed before the event.

Need to rent a bike?

Your have choices. For either tour, you can rent through Sunnyside Sports in Bend (541-382-8018); they have a limited number of rentals available. And for Oregon 2025, Piccadilly Cycles has a new fleet of the Specialized Diverge E5 Comp in sizes 49-58cm. These have a 12-speed Apex mechanical group, with a 40t chainring and 11-50 cassette - good if you're thinking of doing that Mt. Ashland climb.

You can make a rental reservation with the shop, and we’ll bring the bike to camp for you and take it back afterward. Note: Make sure your rental period covers enough days for us to pick up/drop off your bike, especially at Sunnyside Sports.

The bike gear

It all starts with the helmet; you can’t ride a single mile of BRNW without one, and it must fit your head in order to protect it. Beyond that essential, you’ll need two water bottles (or the equivalent) to carry for hydration on the road, basic flat-repair equipment (and skills!), a portable pump or CO2 setup, and anything like handlebar bags, GPS units or distinctive decorations that you find important.

The clothes

We’ve picked the timing of our tours to try to avoid heat and forest fires; that means it could get pretty cold at night, or rain a little, early in the summer… be prepared for anything! Bring the full range of rain and cold-weather gear as backup, while still focusing more on lightweight summer gear. This goes for camp as well as on the bike; consider that if you’ve ridden in the rain, you don’t want to spend the evening in the same rainwear. Think layers – one of the cool things we offer is the chance to shed and drop some gear at the rest stops, as the day warms up. You get your stuff delivered back to camp in the afternoon.

You

If you’re driving in, simply follow the directions to our start/finish site; you can leave your vehicle in our long-term parking area all week and it’ll be ready for you when you finish. If you’re flying in, find information on airport shuttle service on that event’s Ride page.

Your bike

Don’t let the idea of shipping your bike discourage you from coming to ride with us. Whether it’s shipped to Sunnyside Sports or a shop at one of our starting points, we’ll make sure to get your steed to the ride start.