Howdy friends!
Happy New Year! After an unseasonably warm November and December that had us wondering if winter would ever arrive, Central Oregon finally got the gift we’d been waiting for—SNOW! It was a New Year’s miracle that has transformed our trails and filled our mountains with that perfect winter magic. Whether you’re ready to hit the trails on skis, snowshoes, or a fat bike, or just enjoying the winter beauty from the warmth of the shop, we’re stoked to finally have a proper Central Oregon winter!
This month we’re celebrating an incredible 15-year journey, sharing exciting trail news from across the region, and looking ahead to an amazing 2026 riding season. Let’s roll!
In This Edition:
🎉 Celebrating Jacquie - A 15-Year Legacy
🛠 Shop Updates (Holiday Hours, Sno Park Permits, Orbea Bikes & More!)
⛏️ COTA Updates (Year-End Fundraising, 300 Volunteers Milestone!)
🚴 Sisters Trails Alliance Updates (Accessibility Initiative & Class 1 E-Bikes)
🏔 Oregon Timber Trail News (Adventure Route, Free the Fremont Campaign)
🎪 Mudslinger Events 2026 Lineup
📺 Must Watch: Unseen Trailer (Military Veterans on the OTT)
🎉 Celebrating Jacquie - A 15-Year Legacy
We are proud to celebrate Jacquie, co-founder of Blazin Saddles, and to recognize the incredible impact she has had on our shop and our community over the past 15 years. From the very beginning, Jacquie’s passion for riding bikes, building community, and doing things the right way helped shape the heart and soul of Blazin Saddles. When Jacquie’s love for bikes and decades of retail experience was combined with Casey’s passion for cycling and his background working in and managing other bike shops, as Sisters locals for 20 years at the time, we knew we had something truly special when we opened Blazin Saddles.
While Jacquie is no longer an owner, her legacy, energy, and dedication will always be part of who we are. Casey and the entire Blazin Saddles team are deeply grateful for her contributions, and also very excited for the next chapter of Blazin Saddles with some exciting changes in the works.
Join Us for a Celebration! We look forward to celebrating Jacquie on Friday, January 30th at 5:30 PM at the Sisters Saloon with friends, family, customers, and the community as we honor all she has done and cheer her on in her next chapter of traveling, spending time with loved ones, and—of course—riding her bike even more.
🛠 Shop Updates
January Hours: Back to our regular winter schedule!
Monday-Saturday: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday: CLOSED
Sno Park Permits Available!
Daily or Annual Sno Park permits are now available at the shop! Don't let parking issues keep you from enjoying Central Oregon's winter wonderland. Stop by and get your permit so you can hit the parks with confidence.
Service Department Update
Our tech team is ready to help keep you riding or winterize your bike (sealant refresh, suspension service, a good tune-up). We’re approximately 1-2 days out. Call us to explain what you need and we can give you an accurate turnaround time and get you scheduled.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 541-719-1213.
Orbea Bikes Have Arrived!
We’re thrilled to announce that Blazin Saddles is now officially an Orbea dealer! A couple of bikes have already arrived and more are on the way from Spain. Check out the Orbea Rise – in our opinion, this is the best lightweight e-bike on the market and perfect for our local trails, just in time for multiple trails being approved for Class 1 e-bikes in Central Oregon!
Riding Indoors
With snow finally here, many of you will be taking your training indoors. Trainers are available! Give us a call or come on in to check out our inventory and hear about what we can order in.
Looking Ahead to Spring
Tariff reminder: Due to the tariffs we are facing as an industry, bikes will most likely be more expensive this year than last year. If you’re thinking about a new bike for spring, now is the time to start planning. We still have some great year-end closeouts on new bikes!
⛏️ COTA Updates
Year-End Fundraising - $250,000 Goal
COTA is in the middle of their biggest fundraiser of the year with a goal to raise $250,000 for trails! At the time of this writing they are at $230,000.
Trails take years of planning and tons of funding before the first shovel hits dirt. It starts with a vision, then comes mapping and environmental assessments. Next comes land manager approval and fundraising. Only then do crews and volunteers get to work shaping the tread, testing the ride, and adjusting for flow and features.
And even after the ribbon-cutting, the work doesn’t stop. Trails are living things. Trees fall, storms wash out berms, jumps need rebuilding... constantly.
As COTA crew leader Lara D’Orvilliers puts it: “The work is never done. Which is awesome, because when you enjoy being out in the woods with your friends, you just find the next spot that needs a bit of love.”
Make your year-end gift today.
Bike Park 242
11 volunteers showed up to help with cleanup and getting the park ready to close for the winter. We were able to get an enormous amount of work done including re-shaping jumps, weeding and raking, and cleaning up the grounds. Thanks to everyone who came out!
Sisters COTA Chapter - New Year Kick-Off Party
The Sisters COTA Chapter decided to skip the holiday party (everyone’s busy this time of year!) and instead host a New Year kick-off party in late January. More details coming soon!
🚴 Sisters Trails Alliance Updates
300 Volunteers Strong!
COTA has welcomed their 300th volunteer! Meet David Alward – a sawyer, sign maker, Forest Service veteran, and longtime educator who believes in keeping trails open for the next generation. His work reflects the spirit of Sisters Country: neighbors pitching in to take care of the places we love.
Trails For Everyone - Accessibility Initiative
STA is making Sisters Country trails accessible for people of all abilities! This year, STA volunteers began evaluating and rating the trail system so users know what to expect—helping more people explore our forests with confidence.
The goal is to rate 100% of trails for accessibility. Clear information helps every trail user choose the routes that fit their needs.
To support this work in 2026, STA is working toward a $50,000 year-end fundraising goal. Your gift supports accessibility assessments, clear signage, volunteer training, safety certifications, and continued stewardship across Sisters Country.
$18,000 is already matched, doubling the impact of many contributions!
Deschutes National Forest Approves Class 1 E-Bikes on Select Trails
The Deschutes National Forest Service has announced approval of Class 1 pedal-assist E-bikes on select trails near the communities of Sisters, Bend and Sunriver. Other classes of E-bikes/E-devices (except adaptive devices) continue to be prohibited. The decision was made following public input, research, collaboration with user organizations and completion of the NEPA review process.
This is big news for accessibility and helps achieve the goal of access to trails for users of all ages and ability levels!
STA will help prepare for this change by collaborating with partners at the Forest Service to install signs at critical junctions and boundaries, working with local bike shops to implement rider education and trail etiquette messaging, and continuing stewardship of the trail system.
View the interactive map showing trails now open to Class 1 pedal-assist E-bikes (highlighted in purple) here.
🏔 Oregon Timber Trail News
Adventure Route (Not Gravel Route!)
Initially understood as the Oregon Timber Trail Gravel Route, early feedback made it clear that the chosen name didn’t necessarily fit. While it’s not the Timber Trail, it’s also not a gravel track. So they pivoted!
Introducing the Oregon Timber Trail Adventure Route. The Adventure Route will continue to evolve in 2026, but it’s proving to be a distinct and fun alternative to the Timber Trail.
To help make that happen, OTTA is planning to host the first Adventure Route Grand Depart in Lakeview, OR this July—timed in conjunction with the OTT Race so riders can celebrate together. Stay tuned for more details!
Free the Fremont!
The Fremont-Winema National Forest consists of more than 2 million acres of protected space in southern Oregon. Offering diverse and beautiful landscapes, it’s also some of the most remote territory through which the Oregon Timber Trail travels. That creates real challenges in terms of maintaining the trails.
In 2026, the OTTA will begin working with several public and private partners as well as dedicated volunteers in a multi-year effort to restore nearly 100 miles of fire impacted trail in the Fremont corridor. They’ll focus on the first 50 miles in year one.
Whether you’re a certified sawyer or can only identify a shovel by sight, they’d love to hear from you. In return, they promise meals by the campfire, sleeping under some of the brightest stars you’ll ever see, and the fulfillment that comes from investing yourself in this place.
🎪 Mudslinger Events 2026 Lineup
As the rain starts to fall, Mike and Andi Ripley have a big year planned for 2026! From Pendleton to Carlton, Oregon, and the Central Oregon region, as well as the Oregon Coast, they’re bringing you incredible cycling events throughout the state.
2026 Event Schedule
Real West Gravel - March 15, 2026
39th Mudslinger XC - April 18, 2026 (NEW DATE - celebrating 39 years!)
Sasquatch Duro - April 11, 2026
Oregon Coast Gravel Epic - May 2, 2026
West Coast Gravel - May 3, 2026
Oregon Gran Fondo - May 16, 2026
Sisters Stampede - May 24, 2026
Takelma Gravel Grinder - June 27, 2026
Bend Dirt Fest - July 11, 2026
High Cascades 100 - July 18, 2026
Ring of Fire - September 26, 2026
Sisters Stampede 2026 Early Registration is OPEN!
The Sisters Stampede sells out every January—don’t miss your chance to be part of Oregon’s biggest Memorial Day Weekend mountain bike tradition! As of this writing it’s already 20% sold out.
NEW for 2026:
50% Self-Credit Policy: Plans change, and that’s okay. Credit yourself up to one week before the event or transfer to a friend until Sunday the week of the event
Postpartum Policy: We proudly support our women racers! Family comes first
Check out the full lineup at mudslingerevents.com.
📺 Must Watch: Unseen
Earlier this year, Operation Freedom to Roam centered on a bikepacking expedition along a 200-mile section of the Oregon Timber Trail. Undertaken by five military veterans, it highlighted voices too long left out of the conservation narrative and carried a broader message grounded in equitable access to public lands.
Out of their experience came a new film, Unseen. The trailer was presented to attendees of this year’s Oregon Outdoor Recreation Summit where it received an enthusiastic response. None of us can wait until it’s ready for the big screen!
Here's the trailer:
Thanks for rolling through this month's Roundup! After an incredibly warm fall and first half of winter, we finally have snow blanketing Central Oregon. Whether you're out riding fat bikes, skiing, snowshoeing, or dreaming of spring rides while sipping hot cocoa, we're grateful for this amazing cycling community.
If something sparked a question, or you’ve got a photo or story to share, hit reply or give us a call. We love hearing from you.
Keep those bikes maintained, layer up for cooler mornings, and we’ll see you on the trails or in the shop soon!
Happy Holidays!
Ride on,
The Blazin Saddles Crew
541-719-1213