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The Central Oregon Wheelers (COWS) is a member-supported recreational cycling club serving riders throughout Central Oregon. Founded to provide organized riding opportunities in a safe and welcoming environment, the club offers road, gravel, and mountain bike rides for cyclists with a wide range of abilities and interests.

Unlike informal riding groups, COWS is a nonprofit organization administered by its members. The club provides the infrastructure needed to support organized cycling, including ride scheduling, volunteer ride leadership, insurance coverage for club activities, and social events that help build lasting friendships within the cycling community.

Organized Rides

The heart of the club is its active ride calendar. Throughout the riding season, members can choose from a variety of road, gravel, and mountain bike rides offered at different pace levels and distances. Each ride is led by a volunteer ride leader who plans the route, conducts a brief safety introduction, and helps keep the group together throughout the ride.

Ride descriptions include pace, mileage, and bicycle type, making it easier for members to select rides that match their fitness level and riding goals.

Route Library

One of the club's most valuable member benefits is its extensive Ride with GPS route library. Members have access to hundreds of routes throughout Central Oregon, covering everything from scenic recreational rides to challenging endurance routes on pavement, gravel, and mountain bike trails.

The library makes it easy to discover new rides, navigate unfamiliar routes, and revisit favorite roads throughout the region.

Ride Leadership and Community

COWS depends on volunteer ride leaders who organize and lead rides for fellow members. The club actively encourages members to become ride leaders and provides guidance and support to help them succeed. This volunteer spirit allows the club to offer rides throughout the week at a variety of locations, distances, and pace levels.

The club places a strong emphasis on safe, predictable group riding and encourages members to ride cooperatively, respect the rules of the road, and help create an enjoyable experience for everyone participating.

A Brief History

For many years, Central Oregon cyclists enjoyed organized rides sponsored by local bicycle shops. As those programs gradually disappeared, local riders recognized the need for a sustainable, member-supported cycling organization that could continue providing regular recreational rides.

The Central Oregon Wheelers was created to meet that need. Since its founding, the club has grown into one of the region's primary recreational cycling organizations, offering an active ride calendar, a large route library, volunteer-led rides, and opportunities for cyclists to meet others who share a passion for riding.

Membership

Membership is open to recreational cyclists interested in participating in organized rides and becoming part of the Central Oregon cycling community. Riders of many experience levels participate, from those building endurance to experienced cyclists seeking regular group rides.

For current membership information, ride schedules, club policies, and upcoming events, visit the official Central Oregon Wheelers website.

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