FAQs | OREGON TRAIL GRAVEL GRINDER- 5-Day Gravel Stage Race

Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder- Gravel Stage Race- Header Image-FAQs Header

We will put any questions and answers we get below. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have also.

How do I get to the race start?

You can fly in to Redmond Airport, which is the closest airport to Bend, Oregon. For those flying to the event we encourage you to book lodging at our official host hotel, the Best Western Peppertree. Not only will the host hotel be offering a significant discount on rooms they are also located very close to the race start. If you are staying at the host hotel we will have our staff come and pick up your travel bins from the hotel and transport you to the start if you do not have a vehicle or do not want to ride the 4 miles. The host hotel will also offer secure storage of your luggage and anything else you need to leave behind while you are on the trail. After you finish stage 5 on Sunday, your travel bin will be waiting at the hotel for you if you are staying at the Best Western Peppertree after the race as well as any stored luggage you left behind.
Where do I leave my car while I ride?

We have secured parking for all participants who drive to the race starting Wednesday through Sunday at the race start.
What is the refund and transfer policy?

CANCELLATION POLICY - We highly recommend that you purchase event insurance, which may cover you for illness and other issues that may lead to you not being able to participate. OREGON TRAIL SPECIFIC CANCELLATION POLICY -80% cash refund + 20% 2025 or 2026 credit if canceled by January 1. -50% cash refund + 50% 2025 or 2026 credit if canceled after January 1 and before March 1. -100% BikeReg credit after March 1 and before May 1. Credit can be used on any Breakaway Promotions cycling event through 12/31/25 (but we'll open 2026 registrations during the summer so you can use it on a 2026 event!) -NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS AFTER MAY 1ST, transfers are available. -Transfers are allowed until June 1st. ALL OTHER SERIES EVENTS: Refunds are available up to January 1st. After January 1st, 100% credit up to 1 month prior to event. After 1 month prior to the event, only transfers are allowed through the transfer cut-off date (see below). Gorge Gravel Grinder- Credits stop on April 8th. Transfers stop on April 14th at 12:00 pm PST Cascade Gravel Grinder- Credits stop on May 1st. Transfers stop on May 26th at 12:00 pm PST TRANSFERS: See above bullet points for transfer deadlines. Riders can easily handle transfers on Bikereg through your account. We do not manage transfers or any exchange of money between participants. https://www.bikereg.com/knowledge-base/106/How-to-Change-the-Category-you-Registered-for-or-Transfer-your-Registration- CANCELLATIONS: Terms & Conditions I (we) the registrant(s) understand that in the event that the race is canceled or postponed as a result of (and not limited to) an act of God, Natural Disaster (including but not limited to forest fires however caused, earthquakes, storms, and floods) war, strike, revolution, lack or failure of roadway access, laws or interventions or actions of statutory bodies, major accidents during the race, or other such causes, the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder event organizers will make every effort to reschedule the race to a later date of their choosing. If the registrant cannot make the rescheduled date the registrant acknowledges that NO REFUND or CREDIT to future races will be granted. No refund or credit will be offered if a race stage(s) is (are) canceled or postponed or rerouted or shortened.
What is the race cancellation policy?

Terms & Conditions I (we) the registrant(s) understand that in the event that the race is cancelled or postponed as a result of (and not limited to) an act of God, Natural Disaster (including but not limited to forest fires however caused, earthquakes, storms, and floods) war, strike, revolution, lack or failure of roadway access, laws or interventions or actions of statutory bodies, major accidents during the race, or other such causes, the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder event organizers will make every effort to reschedule the race to a later date of their choosing. If the registrant cannot make the rescheduled date the registrant acknowledges that NO REFUND or CREDIT to future races will be granted. No refund or credit will be offered if a race stage(s) is (are) cancelled or postponed or rerouted or shortened.
E-bike question- I'm doing the Ironhorse e-bike category for the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder. Can have extra battery drops at aid stations so that we can swap batteries out during the ride?

Absolutely! We have a system set up to have you to hand off batteries either the night before or early in the morning to our On-Course Support Director to take them out on course.
Are aerobars allowed?

NO AEROBARS are allowed on ANY stage of the Oregon Gravel Grinder series.
What tires and gearing do you recommend?

Tires- a minimum of 40’s with a tubeless construction and a width that matches your skill level. Gearing- 1 to 1 climbing gear and a 32/47 with a 34/11 rear cassette and bring a climbing gear or two extra.
How does my stuff get from the start to camp?

You will receive your gear tote bin at packet pickup. All of your items for camp and the trail must fit in this bin and weight under 50 lbs. The bin is 38 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 15 inches high. You will have the opportunity to purchase an extra bin ahead of time or at pickup if you need BUT we may run out so dont wait until the last minute. Your spare wheels if you have them will be taken separately and MUST be in a bike bag or box. We actually recommend boxes as they will be more secure. At the end of your ride, we'll have the bins organized and ready to pick up. Each morning you'll pack your bin and bring it to our drop-off area, we'll load them and move them to the next stop.
What type of food will there be at camp?

Hot Breakfast, Filling Lunches, & Amazing Dinner Buffets Delicious meals mean you can get excited about fueling for your adventure! Spin Catering knows how to feed hungry athletes, offering vegan and gluten-free options as well! Check out the 2023 Menu here- https://www.oregontrailgravelgrinder.com/food
What if I can't finish five days of riding?

We have you covered. We want you to have the experinece of a lifetime and the advetures you'll never forget however we do understand that the challenging courses could make you end your ride before your final pedal strokes of glory. We have nightly shuttle rides to Sisters and Bend from camp if you can't do all five days. Riders that DNF receive a complimentary “Died of Dysentery” t-shirt and ability to take the shuttle back to Sisters or Bend.
What if I need to change my distance?

We always want to support you on your gravel adventure! If you begin as a Pioneer and if you find you need to change to Settler after a ride day, you can just let us know and we'll change your category. As a settler, we will also allow you to take Friday off if you wish. Additionally, if any day you are not feeling it, we can give you a ride in from course. You wont be scored on these days and if still a Pioneer, you’ll be removed from the final results however you can still saddle up the next day. If everything goes haywire, we have a nightly shuttle that brings riders back to Bend who want to abandon the ride all together. We call it the "Shuttle of Shame" but this way out is the ONLY way to get the "Died of Dysentery" shirt.

RECENT QUESTIONS FROM EMAIL-

We understand that an adventure like the Oregon Trail takes a lot of prep and logistics. We get some great questions by email as people are prepping for the event and figure, if they are asking- you may as well.

Here's some of our recent emailed questions with our answers-

FOOD & NUTRITION QUESTIONS
1. FOOD AT CAMP
  1. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER-
    1. What types of food is available at camp? Do we need to bring our own? ANSWER: Our catering team will become your best friends- they will cook up breakfast and lunch buffets to rival the best restaurants and they do it all at camp! Check out a sample of the food menu from previous year to get an idea of what is on the menu. Spin Catering offers top quality food for all nutritional needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and celiac. If you are celiac, please be sure to note on your registration and shoot us an email so we can make sure to provide you the correct level of serving requirements.
    2. What cutlery/utensils if any is provided with meals? ANSWER: We will have disposable plasticware for the meals. That being said, we would love it if you have a set of reusable camping fork, spoon, and knife combo you can use- event a camp plate- so we can reduce our footprint. These are always appreciated but not expected. We’ll have plates, knives, fork, spoons for you to use. We do however provide a super rad MiiR custom camp cup for your morning coffee and nightly libation at the Schwalbe Whiskey Bar!
  2. LUNCH/SNACK SHACK- What is Snack Shack and is it our lunch? ANSWER: Snack Shack is set up each day at camp to help you bridge the gap between finishing your ride and dinner. Most riders will finish laster in the day so it is not technically lunch (because you'll be fueling on the course at lunch time) but it is set up to offer all the snacks, fresh made sandwiches, chips, sweets, fruits and veggies to help refuel you after your ride.
  3. AID STATION FOOD- For nutrition during the races, I know there will be feed stations. But will there also be a lot of gels before each stage that I will be able to load into my jersey? Or do I need to bring a bunch of gels for each stage? ANSWER: We will have Aid Stations packed with GU products and real foods. The morning of each stage, we’ll have gels, mixes, chews set out for riders to load their pockets to the first aid station- with the exception of day 1. Plan to have nutrition to get you from the start to Aid 1 on day 1.
  4. GU PRODUCT AT AID STATIONS- What GU will there be at the aid stations? ANSWER: We will have GU Gels, Roctane powder, Tabs, and Chews. In addition to GU nutrition, we will have other foods like chips, pretzels, cookies, oranges, apples, and some surprise snacks along the way. We try to pack them full of everything you may crave on a long ride!
RACE CLOTHING- What do to racers usually do with their kit after the stage? Wash it somewhere? Or do racers usually bring a separate kit for each stage? I can just image the stench of my “used” kit the next day…and after 4 days of racing I’m wondering if I’ll be able to even put on the kit without throwing up? 🤣 ANSWER: Super great question and one that made me laugh! Racers typically bring at least 3 kits. At camp #2/3 is in Oakridge and most people wash their dirty kit from day 1 and 2 in the cool stream we camp next to and hang them to dry. Then after you race on day 3, wash that kit and hang it. By the time you dress for day 4, you’ll be wearing a stream fresh kit and have one for the next day and one as backup. Some people get away with 2 kits but if it were me, Id say pack 3.
VIP TENT QUESTIONS
1. SIZE OF VIP TENT- We purchased the VIP tent add on package at registration. Since we have the VIP Tent as part of the Buddy Package, does this mean we do not need to bring a tent? ANSWER: YES! You are a VIP and we’ll have a tent for you two to share. The tent is the Kelty Discovery Basecamp tent and “technically” fits four but really more of a two person tent. https://www.kelty.com/discovery-basecamp-4/
2. WHAT DOES "VIP" MEAN?- Does this also mean we dont need to setup/take down tent after each stage? ANSWER: Right again! When you first arrive at Camp #1 (Gilchrist), there will be tents set up. You’ll just grab your tent tag (given at packet pickup) and clip it on your chosen tent. That way people know you’ve claimed it. In the morning, you’ll repack your gear in your tote and take the tent tag clip off so our team knows it can be broken down. At Camp #2 (Oakridge), you’ll roll in and see the tents set up again and then claim your tent the same way. You will still need to bring sleeping bags, pillow and a sleeping mat. These will need to fit back into your storage tote that you get at packet pickup. Since you dont have to pack your tent, you should be good on room but you always purchase another tote to share between the two of you if you are worried about the room. The totes must also be under 50 libs each. The totes are the Home Depot black and yellow 40 gallon tough storage totes (these).
CAMP QUESTIONS
1. SHOWERS IN CAMP- Will there be showers and will the showers have shampoo/conditioner and soap or should we pack them? ANSWER: There will be hot showers at all camping locations. You will need to bring all of your toiletry items as shampoo/conditioner and soap are not provided.
2. TEMPS IN OREGON- What are the (typical) temperatures like in late June? I have to get a sleeping mat and bag. I'm not sure what to expect for overnight temps. ANSWER: Average daily temperatures are in the mid 70s, with it dropping a bit as you climb. Nightly temps are usually in the mid and lower 60s. Most people bring a sweatshirt or lightweight cozy jacket for camping, a pair of sweatpants, and both flip flops and slippers. The mornings will have most people bundled in their jackets and slippers until the sun breaks up the moisture but at race start, people are usually warm enough not to need more than a light jacket or arm warmers. On this note, you’ll pack up all of your gear each morning in the tote bin you are issued. The totes are the Home Depot black and yellow 40 gallon tough storage totes (these). All of your gear needs to fit in this bin. You will also be given a drop bag that you can give us right before you take off if you want to peal off layers before the start. We’ll have both of these ready for you when you get to the next camp. If you drop any gear like arm warmers, leg warmers at aid stations, we’ll have those at camp once the aid team comes back in.
3. CAMP CHAIRS- Do I need to bring my own camp chair? ANSWER: We have a few hundred camp chairs that we’ll have set out at camp each night. You dont need to bring your own unless you have a favorite, super compatible one that can fit in your tote. The grass at our camps is also super nice so a lot of people just spread out in the grass to eat and relax.
MECHANIC ASSISTANCE- Do you have general bike supplies available for sale at the camp sites (if needed)? Tires, tubes, sealant, rotors, pads? I have a tendency to over pack and hope to not have to haul all my spare parts along .... ANSWER: Yes, we will have the great team of Sagebrush Cycles on site at all camps doing minor repairs and they will have spare parts for sale. People typically will bring basic on-bike repair gear for their bike, extra tubes, and if you are prone to a broken derailleur, I suggest bringing one just in case.
SCHEDULE- Will you be sharing a detailed daily schedule with all riders? Especially when to be where to start riding day 1. We booked an Airbnb in town (arriving 6/22) and just need to make sure we can get ourselves, bikes and gear to start. ANSWER: Yes, we will have a very detailed Rider Guide that we send out to all riders and post on our website about a week before the ride. You can find last year’s Rider Guide here. While things will be changed for this year- like our start (now at 7th Mountain Resort), first campsite (Gilchrist Resort) as well as the actual routes each day, last year’s guide will give you a good idea of the flow and camplife.
HOST HOTEL- How do we get from the host hotel to packet pickup and the race start? ANSWER: If you stay at the host hotel, The Peppertree Best Western, the packet pickup on Tuesday and race start on Wednesday is about 5 miles away at the 7th Mountain Resort. We are planning to run shuttles the morning of the race to the race start- if you stay at the hotel, we’ll pick up your tote bin at the hotel so you can take the shuttle or ride the 5 miles there. Additionally, the hotel will let you store your bags while we ride. We have not confirmed a shuttle for packet pickup yet but are working on it to run every hour from 3-5 pm.
WHEELSETS- Are we allowed to bring an extra wheel set to change to in camp? ANSWER: Yes, you can bring an extra wheel set for the trail. We require them to be in a box or wheel bag labeled with your name, not “naked” as that is a bit to dangerous for your spokes when we transport.

Presented by

JUNE 25-29, 2025
BEND, OR

SPONSORS

© 2025 by LADYBiRD-CREATIVE for Breakaway Promotions LLC.