Special Blend Gravel Events

  • Join us in Emporia for coffee, pastries, community, and a shakeout ride

    Let's meet at Merchant Cycles at 8 am for coffee and pastries and then head out for a few miles of smiles, to loosen up the legs and connect with our community.

    Thursday, May 29, RSVP here

    Meet for coffee and pastries @ 8 am

    Roll at 8:30, back by 9:30 am

    716 Commercial St, Emporia, KS

  • Our Oregon Trail Gravel Prep Course is geared to folks planning to ride or race the Oregon Trail Gravel Stage Race and want to become familiar with the specific demands of the course, or anyone interested in riding with more confidence over washboard, through sand, up and down steep grade, and tackling technical gravel terrain.

    We will cover equipment setup, fueling strategies and self-reliance that will allow you to have more fun during your time on the Oregon Trail.

    Details:

    June 9 & 11, 2025

    5:15 - 7:30 pm

    Register here

    Meet at Cog Wild’s location at LOGE Bend. We will ride different trails each week, riding from Cog or using a van to shuttle.

  • This is an opportunity for the women of the Oregon Trail to meet one another, create community, and ride together in a relaxed environment before the race begins.

    Tuesday, June 24th

    We'll meet on Tuesday, June 24th at Oregon Trail HQ (Seventh Mountain Resort) for a chance to meet the other women of Oregon Trail, preview a section of stage one, enjoy coffee and snacks, and the benefit of "early packet pick up" after we ride. We will depart by 10:30am and ride for approx. 1 hour.

    All the details: 

    • 10 am: Meet at Oregon Tail HQ for a Pre-Ride / PSI check with Special Blend Gravel and Schwalbe. Sign waiver, get your race packet, numbers, etc

    • 10:30 am: Pre-ride departs. Route coming soon.

    • 11:30 am: Return to Oregon Trail HQ, enjoy coffee and snacks, early packet pick-up, and a few surprises!

    • 12:00 pm: VIP Packet Pick Up

    • 12:30 pm --> Go get ready for five days of fun!

    Oregon Trail Race Race Waiver and RSVP required.

  • Our Level 2 Gravel course is geared towards folks looking to take their gravel riding to the next level… those comfortable riding Sisemore and Conklin, and want to gain confidence over more technical gravel terrain and single track.

    This course will focus on the skills required for climbing and descending steeper terrain with confidence and speed, and riding single track on your gravel bike!

    Details:

    July 15 & 17

    5:15 - 7:30 pm

    Register here

    Meet at Cog Wild’s location at LOGE Bend. We will ride different trails each week, riding from Cog or using a van to shuttle.

  • Women’s weekly crit clinics hosted by Special Blend, with coaches Janel Spilker and Serena Gordon, in conjunction with the Horner Cycling Foundation Bend Summer Crit Series.

    Join us for 45 minutes of skills and strategy before your race, and then put your new skills straight to work.

    Post-race, we will have cold beverages and an opportunity to debrief about what worked, what didn’t, and what we want to work on next week. We will also have some sweet gifts for those who attend (thanks Schwalbe).

    This is a no-cost clinic crit clinic the closed race course; participants must sign the race waiver before the clinic

    4:00 - 4:45 p.m.

    July 2, 9, 16 & 23.

    Location TBD, Bend, OR

  • Weekly CX clinics hosted by Special Blend Gravel coaches, in conjunction with the Horner Cycling Foundation Thrilla CX Series.

    Join us for 45 minutes of skills and strategy before your race, and then put your new skills straight to work during the race.

    This no-cost crit clinic will be held prior to the Thrilla CX Series races. We will start with the basics of CX and progress each week with additional skills and techniques.

    Participants must register for the race and sign the race waiver before the clinic.

    Details:

    4:00 - 5:00 pm

    September 10, 17, 24 & October 1

    The Athletic Club of Bend

    61615 Athletic Club Drive