Your guide to the weekend

Human Powered Challenge

Human powered speed machines
at PIR on Saturday.
(Photo © BikePortland/File)

Hope you haven’t made all your plans for this holiday weekend yet!

We can’t count on the weather, but we can always count on plenty of bike rides and events going on. This weekend’s highlights include the ninth annual Human Powered Challenge. I checked out that event a few years ago and it’s definitely worth the short trip out to Portland International Raceway. There are some amazing human-powered contraptions, fun events, and categories for all types of riders.

Then on Sunday, stop by Pioneer Courthouse Square and take part in (or just ogle at) the Urban Assault Ride. It looks zany and it’s sponsored by New Belgium brewery, so draw your own conclusions.

Below is the full list of events for this weekend (included a bonus Memorial Day ride on Monday!). You know the drill: If we left anything out, please just leave a comment and let us know the details.

Saturday, May 24

9th Annual Human Power Challenge
Portland International Raceway (1940 N Victory Blvd)
8:00am
Hosted by the Oregon Human Powered Vehicle Association. Event includes: Individual Time Trial, 1/8 Mile Drag Race, Auto Cross Speed & Agility Course, 200 Meter All Out Speed Test, Mass Start Road Race.
More info here.

Specialized Designs for Women Demo Days
River City Bicycles (706 SE MLK Blvd)
10:15am
Presented by Sorella Forte and River City. Free Beginner’s Clinic and Fun Ride. Clinic begins at 10:15, the group ride at noon. In addition to learning about the many benefits of Designs for Women bikes and gear, you’ll also learn basic DIY maintenance, bike parts identification and other fun stuff to get better acquainted with your bike. Then join team members from the Sorella Forte Cycling Team for an hour-ish cruise down the waterfront. Demo a bike, or ride your own. All abilities welcome.
More info here

Village Building Convergence

9am-3pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Help us build a cob bike shelter!
More info here


Sunday, May 25

Shaved legs and a Big Wheel. Nice.
(Photo: Urban Assault Ride)

New Belgium Urban Assault Ride
Pioneer Courthouse Square (SW Broadway and Morrison)
9:00am
Pedal-Powered teams of two hit checkpoints all over town completing crazy obstacle courses at each stop. Bike skills are just as important as mental muscle in the funky bike scavenger hunt. Followed by a legendary after party with live music, New Belgium beer, and a giant prize raffle.

Beginning-Intermediate Level Road Ride
Woodstock Bike Gallery (4235 SE Woodstock Blvd)
9:00am, Every Sunday
Meet at Woodstock Bike Gallery for a 20-30 mile road ride, some hills, but no rider left behind.

Bike Gallery Women’s Rides
Hollywood Bike Gallery (5329 NE Sandy Blvd)
9:00am – 11:30am, Every Sunday

Brown’s Camp Mountain Bike Ride
Sunset Transit Center, Beaverton
10:00am
Hosted by Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP)
More info here

Specialized Designs for Women Demo Days
River City Bicycles (706 SE MLK Blvd)
12:00pm
Free mountain and Road bike demos from 12 – 5 p.m. Choose from feather-light carbon race bikes to buttery-smooth full suspension mountain bikes. Sorella Forte team members will escort small groups to Mt. Tabor to provide a realistic test of the equipment – good climbs and descents for the roadies, and nice trails for the off-roadie s. “Tours” leave roughly each hour, starting at 1p.m. Be prepared to ride about 12 miles. Unlike Saturday, these tours are not recommended for true beginners.

Q Cycle Ride
Q Center (69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave)
12:45pm
Come join your queer brothers, sisters and allies for a ride leaving from the Q-Center. This ride has been formerly led by Mr. Micah, but this month we’re mixing it up with a conspiring guest leader or two, including (but not limited to) steph routh. i have no idea where we’re going. we haven’t conspired yet. it will be something between an aleatoric sojourn, a carefully laid plot, and a choose-your-own-adventure ride.

Bike Polo
Alberta Park (NE 21st and Killingsworth)
2:30pm, Every Sunday

Zoobomb
SW 10th Ave and Oak St
9:00pm, Every Sunday
Come ride with us, everyone welcome!

BONUS Memorial Day Ride! – Monday, May 26

ECT Family Friendly Ride
Madison Plaza (1 SE Madison St)
10:45am
Exchange Cycle Tours hosts a slow paced ride almost entirely along bike paths. Great for beginners and the whole family. We’ll end up at Elk Rock Island, a charming island park of volcanic rock in the Willamette River. We’ll lock up our bikes (bring a lock) for a short walk around the island before heading back to Portland. Bring snacks. No rider left behind.
More info here

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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gabriel amadeus
15 years ago

Also it is PUMA\’s Westside Invite, though they don\’t seem to keen on advertising it…

http://www.portlandmessenger.org/

Opus the Poet
15 years ago

Umm, point of clarification, the picture is of Electrathon vehicles, who are also competing this weekend.

revphil
15 years ago

yeah and because it is the WSI weekend, im not sure polo will be happening on sunday. Maybe but i am not the person to ask.

on monday though there will be a reckoning at alberta park.

Donald
Donald
15 years ago

Seriosly, I don\’t make this stuff up.

My 4 year old has been bugging me for what seems like a year now about when we could go watch \”Quiet Racing\” at PIR again.

See you on Saturday.

Donald
Donald
15 years ago

Seriosly, I don\’t make this stuff up.

My 4 year old has been bugging me for what seems like a year now about when we could go watch \”Quiet Racing\” at PIR again.

See you on Saturday.