The Freedom Ride is a 15-day bike ride covering about 1500 miles from Bend, Oregon to Newport Beach, California which usually takes place in mid-September.

The course winds through beautiful back roads and hills in Oregon, then follows the ocean along the Pacific Coast until Santa Barbara. From there, we climb up to and descend from Big Bear, summiting Mount Onyx, the longest and highest California climb, to finish in Newport Beach. Daily rides range from 50 to 125 miles, with rest days in Happy Camp, CA and San Francisco area. Awareness events and fun activities, such as white water rafting in Happy Camp and the Big Bear Festival are planned along the route.

Riders can register for the entire ride, for the Bend or Big Bear Weekend Rides or for individual days.

Dates and events for 2019 are under discussion. We are also considering a Gran Fondo in the Orange County or LA area.

If you are interested, please sign up for the latest news on our rides and scroll down to learn more about our full challenge and weekend rides, including detailed course maps.

The Full Challenge is a fifteen-day ride, departing Bend, OR from mid to late September.

The course winds through beautiful back roads and hills in Oregon, then follows the ocean along the Pacific Coast until Santa Barbara. From there, we climb up to and descend from Big Bear, summiting Mount Onyx, the longest and highest California climb, to finish in Newport Beach. Daily rides range from 50 to 125 miles, with rest days in Happy Camp, CA and San Francisco area. Awareness events and fun activities, such as white water rafting in Happy Camp and the Big Bear Festival are planned along the route.

While the ride is accompanied by support vehicles and a mechanic, participants must demonstrate the ability to complete the challenge and be equipped to fix their own minor mechanical issues, such as flats.

This Full Challenge is capped at 20 riders.

Transportation from Newport Beach to Bend is available first come first serve. Transport between towns, where the finish on one day is different than the start on the next day, is provided and included in the Full Challenge fee. This will likely be with one RV and one or two vans.

The cost of the ride is $5,000. We encourage riders to fundraise as much of the total as possible. Special incentives and recognition will be given to riders to raise over $5,000, depending on total amounts. Since the Freedom Ride Project is a 501C3, donations are tax deductible.

Full Price of $5,000 includes:

• Accommodations throughout trip
• Sponsor supported food along ride
• Entry to all Freedom Ride 2017 Events, including hosted meals
• White water rafting on the Klamath Falls River at Happy Camp
• Two (2) full kit (jersey and shorts)
• One (1) Freedom Ride Project t-shirt
• Six (6) Freedom Ride Project water bottles

The Bend Weekend starts with a hosted kick off dinner in a local restaurant, featuring several local riders, sponsors volunteers. This is a great time to get to know other riders, hear about the route and weekend, and view footage from last year’s ride.

The two-day Bend Weekend covers 140 miles of breathtaking beauty from Bend to Oakridge, OR. Ride highlights include Mc Kenzie Pass, Cougar Reservoir, the deep pines of Southfork, and the lush carpet of the Auderheide.

Day one features a spectacular ride over McKenzie Pass, showcasing forests on both the east and west sides of the Cascades (they’re different) as well as a lava-rock moonscape at the top that’s unlike anything you’ll probably ever see on a bike ride again.

Following an energizing break in the quaint town of Sisters, our route ascends 2,000 feet through ponderosa pine forests, emerging from the forest at Windy Point and revealing a view of Mt. Washington and a 2,000-year-old lava flow. The 25-mile, 4,000 feet descent to Highway 126 snakes down exhilarating switchbacks to the dense, verdant Cascadian forests and rushes out over the McKenzie River. If you can handle the hairpin turns, it may be tempting to try to beat the Strava record set by one our Freedom Riders in 2016.

Following the arduous climb and the adrenaline rush from our descent, enjoy a homemade barbecue and make sure to soak those aching legs in the Belknap Springs.

On day two, we head out on what has been called “the magic carpet ride.” From Highway 126, we’ll turn south near Rainbow on Forest Road 19 — the Aufderheide. This is a nearly symmetrical ride, halfway up and then halfway down. Following a fairly gradual climb up to Cougar Reservoir, a serene lake tucked between forested slopes, the ascent becomes more serious, following the South Fork of the McKenzie River up to the crest. Here’s where the magic-carpet effect begins: even though you’re climbing, for much of the way the smooth rolling pavement is so sublime that you don’t notice the effort. After peaking at the top of the pass, our reward is the roller-coaster descent for roughly 30 miles into Oakridge, a former logging town turned into mountain-biking mecca. Our hosts at the Westfir Lodge, known as a haven for mountain bike enthusiasts and professional teams, will welcome us like pros and family, with beer on tap, fresh homemade smoothies and a delicious dinner. Be sure to walk over to the famous covered bridge for some pictures and soak your legs in the refreshingly cold mountain river.

Rides back to Bend will not be provided by the Freedom Ride, but can be coordinated for a fee through our Bend Liaison.

The fee for the Bend Weekend is $395. We encourage riders to fundraise as much of the total as possible. Special incentives and recognition will be given to riders to raise over $5000, depending on total amounts. Since the Freedom Ride Project is a 501C3, donations are tax deductible.

Your entry fee includes:

• Dinner in Bend on Friday evening
• Dinner and lodging in Camp Yale on Saturday night
• Entry to Belknap Hot Springs
• Westfir welcome dinner on Sunday evening
• Complimentary jersey to all riders who register by early-bird deadline
• Freedom Ride t-shirt (provided size available)
• Two (2) water bottles

With its’ beautiful mountains, lake, wildlife, and its’ quaint village, Big Bear Lake is the Cycling Capital of Southern California and a sought after destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, including cyclists, bikers, hikers, skiers and snowboarders. Big Bear Lake is also the home to Tour of Big Bear, named “Southern California’s Favorite Ride”, and has been a four-time host city of the Amgen Tour of California.

Our 120-mile ride will begin bright and early with a moment of joint silence for the victims of human trafficking with Big Bear locals. After a beautiful ride around the east side of the lake, we climb to the crest of Onyx Summit at 8445 feet. From there, we plunge down an epic descent through beautiful switchbacks and deep forests to Redlands. The course makes its’ way along bike trails towards the coast and finishes in the resort town of Newport Beach with a special finish line party.

Included in the weekend is a night and relaxing day at a local four-star hotel. Last year, Marriott and the Island Hotels in Newport Beach hosted our riders and crew. This provides riders with the Sunday option of taking an easy spin, and / or having family or friends join them for a relaxing day at the pool or beach, before driving heading home, fully recovered from their monumental accomplishment.

The fee for the Big Bear Lake Weekend is $325. We encourage riders to fundraise as much of the total as possible. Special incentives and recognition will be given to riders to raise over $5,000, depending on total amounts. Since the Freedom Ride Project is a 501C3, donations are tax deductible.

Your entry fee includes:

• Big Bear Lake dinner on Friday
• Entry into the Big Bear event
• Food and light support along ride
• Newport Beach party and dinner on Saturday evening
• Hotel in Newport Beach on Saturday for first 20 riders registered by early-bird deadline
• Complimentary jersey to all riders who register within timeframe
• Freedom Ride t-shirt (provided size available)
• Two (2) water bottles