Mid-summer in Central Oregon is prime time for mountain bike racing.

Two of Bend’s most popular mountain biking events are set for this weekend and next weekend west of town.

The Oregon 24, in which solo riders or teams race a 13-mile loop as many times as they can in a 24- or 12-hour period, is set for Saturday and Sunday at Wanoga Sno-park. The High Cacades 100, a 100-mile mountain bike race that weaves along singletrack west of Bend, is scheduled for July 20 with the start and finish at the Athletic Club of Bend.

This year marks the 15th edition of the Oregon 24 and the 16th edition of the High Cascades 100, both operated by Mudslinger Events, which is owned by Bend’s Mike Ripley.

Ripley said that both events draw top pros and elites from throughout the Northwest, as well as intermediate riders who just want the thrill and memory of riding through the night with a team of friends or pushing themselves to go 100 miles.

“It’s definitely my favorite event, because of the different riders,” Ripley said of the Oregon 24. “From juniors, all the way to people not as skilled. There are solo riders. It’s such a variety of really cool people.”

Ripley, who organizes several other cycling races and events throughout Oregon, said more than 400 riders (70 solo competitors) are racing in the Oregon 24, with about 160 on the course at a time. Riders can compete in teams of six or 10, handing off the baton to their teammate at Wanoga after completing the 13-mile loop. The route incudes portions of forest roads 4614, 4613 and 4180, as well as portions of singletrack trails Dinah Moe Humm, Kiwa Butte, Upper Tiddlywinks and Funner.

Ripley said that riders will likely average about 60 to 90 minutes per lap, and they must use lights on their bike after 7 p.m.

“I did it in 1 hour, 14 minutes and I felt OK about that,” Ripley said of a lap he rode earlier this week. “COTA (Central Oregon Trail Alliance) did a big upgrade on Tiddlywinks up high in the rock garden area. It’s super impressive. There’s a ton more working going on.”

Ripley said that he expects last year’s solo champions to return. Bend’s Joshua Johnston completed 20 laps in 24 hours to win the men’s race, and Lauren Brownlee, of Boise, Idaho, completed 17 laps in 24 hours to win the women’s race.

Teams of riders camp during the race, but this year the event lost about 25 acres of camping space as the U.S. Forest Service is reclaiming a meadow in the Wanoga area.

“So it’s been a challenging thing, lining out every single available space for the 24-hour riders, and then just structuring that place so people have success,” Ripley said. “We’re going to be taking over Meissner (Sno-park) and the main Wanoga area, and then day parking in the lower bowl.

“We just want people to have a quality mountain bike experience in Bend, Oregon, and we always have with this event.”

No parking will be available for spectators, but those interested in watching can park at lower trailheads and ride their bikes up to the Wanoga area.

For more information on the Oregon 24, visit mudslingerevents.com/Oregon-24.

High Cascades 100

The High Cascades 100 on July 20 will feature a challenging course that includes nearly 9,000 feet of climbing. Ripley said that is actually not a lot of elevation gain compared with other 100-mile mountain bike races.

“I did a 100-miler with 17,000 feet of climbing in Wyoming,” he said. “That’s hard. What makes High Cascades hard, is you have to focus on all the singletrack. The cumulative bumps you feel in this race makes it mentally tough, and rewarding.”

Aid stations will be positioned about every 20 miles or so along the course.

High Cascades will include about 350 riders, including Bend’s Serena Bishop Gordon and Sarah Max, who are favorites in the women’s race.

But the majority of the participants are intermediate riders who simply crave the experience of riding 100 miles on mostly singletrack.

“We did a survey one time,” Ripley said. “About 65% of the people consider themselves intermediate or sport level riders. They don’t race any other race. They’re just racing to ride their bike and meet their friends in Bend, Oregon, for a good day on their bike. And just to say they rode 100 miles.

“I’m just appreciative of everybody in the Bend community who supports living the dream of one day on Bend singletrack.”

For more information on the High Cascades 100, visit mudslingerevents.com/high-cascades-100.