First Ride Fundraiser – Cycle Oregon

We Can Change This!

National trends show fewer kids are biking than ever before. By a lot. But Cycle Oregon is working hard to reverse that. Through our Jump Start program and Summer Kids Camp, we’re helping kids build confidence, health, and find lifelong joy on two wheels. Help us teach more kids to ride by attending the inaugural First Ride, Big Dreams Fundraiser on October 16, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.

2025 Event Review

What a first ride! Thanks to our incredible community, Cycle Oregon’s inaugural First Ride, Big Dreams fundraiser exceeded its goal. (And then some!) Check it out here:

Kids Need Bikes More Than Ever

Do you remember your first bike ride? For many of us it was a transformational moment. But fewer kids today are riding bikes and, shockingly, lots of kids aren’t even learning how to ride. Access to a bike for an Oregon child means:

Better mental health and reduced anxiety
Stronger cardiovascular health, balance, and coordination
Confidence, freedom, and joy that can last a lifetime

In 2025, at 53 schools across Oregon, our program instructed 7,554 students, a 15% increase over 2024! We’re adding more bikes, more training, more schools and more kids to our work in 2026 to help kids build confidence, health, and find lifelong joy on two wheels.

How You Can Help

It’s a common misconception that our event fees cover all of Cycle Oregon’s programs. In the past, our rides generated revenue for grants that supported good work across many Oregon communities. But to keep events accessible today and grow the reach of our programs in the future, we’ve grown our mission. Today, we depend on donors and supporters like you to keep events accessible, hire the people that teach kids new skills and grow the number of kids and adults that we can reach with our programs.

Here’s what you support when you donate:

Summer Bike Camps 2026 – Building on our successful 2025 pilot program in Portland, we’re expanding with more camps in Portland while adding camps in Hillsboro and Bend. Camps include loaner bikes, helmets, scholarships, and even a new bicycle giveaway program—ensuring every child has the chance to ride, regardless of income.
Jump Start Bicycle Education: In partnership with ODOT Safe Routes to School, we’ve already reached almost 14,000 students in 60 schools, with nearly a quarter of kids learning to ride for the very first time. In the last year alone, we reached 25 Title I schools.
Mobile Bike Repair & Rodeos: We already bring bikes, repair services, and education to communities that don’t have local resources. From The Dalles to Eugene to Hillsboro, we’ve served hundreds of youth and families through bike rodeos. Next step: building a full-time mobile repair and education program to serve rural Oregon.
Bike Giveaway Program: Our first new bike giveaway was held at Dorena School in Dorena, Oregon on November 21, 2025. The school has participated in our bike safety education programming since 2022 and we worked closely with school staff to identify need and select 20 students who would most benefit from the gift of a new bike, helmet, lock and riding accessories. This program will grow annually in partnership with bike industry leaders, community groups and donors like you.

Your support = more kids riding. Every donation puts more kids on bikes, spreads more joy to families, and creates healthier, more connected communities across Oregon. You’re not just funding programs—you’re fueling a movement.

About the Event:

First Ride, Big Dreams is a fun evening full of opportunities for you to support our mission of bringing the joy of riding a bicycle to Oregon. The money we raise will directly support our summer kids camps, bike giveaways, and youth bike programs across the state.

Your ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Ride to the event, there will be lots of bike parking available. Details for the 2026 event will be available soon.