making this feature possible.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to weather, most of the events below have been canceled or rescheduled. Please double-check before heading out.
Yes, the weather outside is frightful. There is cold, strong winds, snow and maybe even rain in the forecast for the next three days. Even so, there are still several big rides and events to help coax you out of your house and onto the streets (or a tavern, see below).
Like we do every Thursday (thanks to Hopworks Brewery!), here are the events worth paying attention to this weekend…
Saturday, February 8th
Bike Safety Benefit Show – 6:00 pm at Velo Cult (1969 NE 42nd Ave)
This event is looking like a hot ticket given that it’s indoors. Join friends and hit-and-run victim Henry Schmidt for an evening of live music, raffles, and merriment all aimed at raising money for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Schmidt himself will be blowing his horn with bandmates while Velo Cult’s legendary atmosphere will provide plenty of warmth on a cold winter’s night. More info via Facebook.
NW Trail Alliance MTB Ride at Growler’s Gulch – 10:00 am at Growler’s trailhead in Castle Rock, WA
Join the non-profit NW Trail Alliance for their winter social ride at “Growler’s”, which is a network of singletrack trails about one hour north of Portland. There will be carpools leaving from Vancouver and post-ride drinks and food in Longview. To RSVP, find out more info, or to check weather conditions, visit NW-Trail.org.
Sunday, February 9th
Worst Day of the Year Ride – 9:00 am at Luck Lab Brewpub (915 SE Hawthorne)
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)
After years of this ride enjoying relatively nice weather, it looks like it finally might live up to its name. The WDYR is a Portland tradition with 4,000 people — many of them in costume — participating. There are two ride options; a 16-mile urban loop, or a 46 mile challenge loop. But the ride is just one part of what makes the WDYR so much fun. There’s a pre-ride party, lots of treats and food at the rest stops, and tons of friendly people to share the experience with. Register online and learn more at WorstDayRide.com.
Seattle Bike Swap – 9:00 am at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (225 Mercer St in Seattle)
Billed as the “bargain hunter’s paradise” this annual event put on by the Cascade Bicycle Club is full of deals on used and new bike stuff. We know of a few Portland vendors headed up and there are also tons of individuals who put their vintage bikes and hard-to-find parts out for sale. You can even bring your old bike and they’ll consign it for you. For tickets and other info, check out the website.
Perry Roubaix Gravel Grinder – 10:00 am at Oak Knoll Public Golf Course (6335 Highway 22, Independence OR)
We realize this ride is in Salem (or just west of it to be exact); but a lot of Portlanders are planning to head down. One of a growing number of unofficial, unpermitted rides, the organizers of this ride promise nothing more than a GPS file of the route and some company once you get there. The route itself (a friend tells me) follows gorgeous and relatively carfree country roads on a 50-mile loop with just over 2,400 feet of climbing. Learn more here.
Portland Winter Olympics Ride – 2:00 pm at Colonel Summers Park (SE 17th and Belmont)
The folks at Puddlecycle are at it again with their latest attempt to “stamp out cabin fever”. This ride will be led by Becky “Bikeasaurus” Morton and it will be an Olympics-style process (bring a flag if you have one). There will even be a torch. The parade will end at a park where games will be played and medals will be won. This is a kid-friendly event! More info here.
— We try to feature all the best rides and events in the Portland area and around the region. If you know of a great bike ride or event, please drop us a line via email, Twitter, or Facebook. And while you’re out and about, stop into Hopworks in north or southeast Portland and tell them you appreciate their support of BikePortland.org!
Wow, they might finally be right about the Worst Day of the Year ride, if we get freezing rain Sunday as has been on-and-off forecasted. Or maybe it will snow instead. That would be a lot more fun.
My thoughts exactly, years past they have even gotten some sun and nicer temps.
They have cancelled the 46 mile course of the Worst Day of the Year Ride!!! IRONY!!
http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-31223-worst_day_of_the_year_ride_canceled_because_of_bad_weather.html
Yes, people in Minneapolis are already making fun of us for that.