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Black Mountain Conservation Project Near Big Summit Prairie
Learn how Central Oregon Land Watch and Rory Isbell advocated to protect our lands here in Central Oregon.
Gravel Cycling Takes People Around the County
WALLOWA COUNTY — An online nonprofit group that promotes gravel bicycle routes is taking advantage of the many miles of gravel roads in Wallowa County, as well as the history and beauty of the county by establishing routes for gravel cycling. The Bend-based Dirty Freehub maps out routes it shares with cyclists. The group has […]
Taking The Plunge Into Gravel E-Biking
I’ve cranked more than a few miles over the years on bicycles: road bikes, mountain and my true passion, gravel. I’m not speedy but I can go the distance. I don’t mind rough terrain. I love a long climb and a rippin’ descent. And most of all, I love exploring, especially the backroads of Oregon—even […]
ELV and Those Gnomes
Have you ever wondered about the backstory of the gnomes on the ELV trail in Bend, Oregon. Eric L Vickers talks a bit about how this all happened. Did you make the connection? ELV. Eric L Vickers.
Bend Parks / Multi-Use Path Etiquette
In this episode, we’re going to learn about proper bike etiquette on the Bend multi-use trails and paths. These paths are located throughout Bend in places the Old Mill, Shevlin Park and the Deschutes river. Our guest today is Henry Stroud who is a Planner at Bend Parks and Recreation.
Getting into gravel
The popularity of bicycling on gravel roads is on the rise, and a couple who founded a website dedicated to the topic plan to add 35 new routes around Baker County and Northeastern Oregon to their list. Linda and Kevin English of Bend started Dirty Freehub — dirtyfreehub.com — six years ago. This article requires […]
Single-Track Trail Etiquette
Ever wonder who has right of way on those single-track trails? Downhill rider? Uphill rider? The runner? Who? In this episode of The Connection, we speak with Emmy Andrews the Executive Director of the Central Oregon Trails Alliance about trail etiquette.
Women of Discovery
Hear from the artist Douglas Robertson who created the mural of Women of Discovery near Discovery Park on the west side of Bend, Oregon. What was the inspiration for the piece? How was the work done? Where can you find more of his work.
This mural is the centerpiece for how we named the Discovery route, a local favorite that takes you on the best single track in the area that is perfectly designed for a gravel bike.
Anthony Lake Resort (Summer & Winter Fun!)
A quick intro to Anthony Lakes resort with Chelsea Judy, the Marketing Director. Learn about summer and winter activities from downhill skiing, to backcountry skiing, to nordic skiing, to mountain biking, to hiking, and great food. But did you know that Anthony Lakes resort is really Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association, a nonprofit organization with a mission of making the outdoors fun! How cool is that!
Granite, Oregon (The early history)
A short micro-cast with Kevin English, one of the founders of Dirty Freehub, where he talks about what he learned of the early history of Granite, Oregon. A small town in the NE quadrant of the state.
Mining Gold in the Blue Mountains
Learn a little about the gold mining history in the Blue Mountains, from dredge mining to hard-rock mining to some of the clean-up efforts.
Lake Creek Where Salmon Now Run!
Lake Creek is an important tributary that runs into the Metolius River which is vital to salmon and trout habitat. Learn about the restoration efforts of the creek with Brad Chalfant, the former executive director of the Deschutes Land Trust.
Column: Biking within Bend on Townie
Here’s a bike adventure with one simple purpose: help cyclists in Bend stay out of traffic when they are riding around town. Think of it as a tour that takes you here, there and everywhere. By the end of it, you’ll rethink how to commute across town on a bike. We call this route Townie. […]
Navigating the spring freeze-thaw like a pro
We’ve all been there. It’s a sunny spring day with the temperature pushing 60. You’re itching to ride your mountain bike after a long, cold winter. You head out, picturing sailing along the fast, flowy trails Bend is famous for. An hour later you’re slowly slogging your way down a muddy trail, knowing you’ll have […]
Modify It! 20 Minutes with the DF Route Guru
Have you ever looked at a Dirty Freehub route and said, “That looks really cool, but it’s a bit too long / short for me.” If so, this is your kind of seminar! Learn how to take a Dirty Freehub bike route and modify it to fit what you want! This webinar will focus on […]
The Silver Onion 5-Star Route: East of Tucson, Arizona
We’ve put in more than a few miles across the western US, so we don’t use the term “bucketlister” lightly. This ride is outstanding and should be top on your list. With a squiggly climb up to Onion Saddle (an incredible evolving view the whole way) … then the drop down into the town of […]
Riding Southern Arizona Gravel: 20 Minutes w/ Team Dirty Freehub
Gravel Girl and Captain O of Team Dirty Freehub have been hunkered down in Tucson the past several months finding more great gravel routes to add to the Dirty Freehub collection. Routes that are five star, premiere, highly curated routes. The kind that makes you think, “Wow, oh wow, that was fun!” So while the […]
Women in Gravel: 20 Minutes w/ Alison Tetrick
Alison Tetrick is an accomplished athlete, cyclist, and professional who is a pivotal influence on the gravel and bike community. Growing up in California on a cattle ranch, she found her drive and passion, gaining a degree in Biochemistry and becoming a scientific author. Her drive did not stop there. She found her passion in […]
Winter Gravel Cycling: Routes For Even The Darkest Of Days
Darker. Colder. Sometimes it’s hard to find that motivation to bike outside in the winter. But with a few extra layers of clothing and some good route selection, you’ll be sneaking in quite a few extra miles. Bend, Redmond and Prineville frequently have winters without much snow in town; the key here is learning to […]
Learn About Gravel Biking In The Skyline Forest
Ever wanted to bike the Skyline Forest, but don’t know where to go? An upcoming webinar gives locals the chance to learn about gravel biking on the privately owned land. The Deschutes Land Trust—which has long worked to help preserve the forest and protect it from development—is partnering with Dirty Freehub for a virtual event […]
Gravel bike rides to beat the heat in Central Oregon
Cycling, in general, has surged in popularity as more and more folks seek to get outside and away from others during the coronavirus pandemic. And gravel riding has ridden that wave, as road cyclists look to avoid cars and mountain bikers look to avoid the trappings of trailheads and the sometimes close quarters of singletrack. […]
Visit Bend, Dirty Freehub partner to create ‘Gravel Scenic Bikeway’
Central Oregon cyclists who think they’ve ridden it all better think again. Visit Bend has teamed up with a local online guide to the region’s best gravel cycling routes to create the Cascades Gravel Scenic Bikeway, Oregon’s first. The collection of six routes curated by Visit Bend and Dirty Freehub utilize forest service roads and […]
Gravel Bike Adventures In The Ochoco National Forest
The Ochoco National Forest has a million roads with so few cars that I always give out a big HOWDY wave when they go by. It’s the perfect place for gravel cycling; a recreational paradise. Late spring through mid-summer is my favorite riding time, with loads of wildflowers. We often run into mustangs, deer and […]
Gravel Riding: A Good Option During the Pandemic
Mountain biking seems like an ideal option in this era of social distancing, when outdoor recreation has become increasingly important and outdoor enthusiasts must become creative. But the Central Oregon singletrack that we mountain bikers love to ride so much is a bit of an issue during the coronavirus pandemic. Note this article requires a […]
