(Photo: TourdeLab.com)
Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.
Consider what’s on tap this weekend: From a dirt road journey through rugged and beautiful Oregon backroads, to cyclocross races (two of them!), and a tour of local brewpubs, we can’t remember a more fitting sampling of what makes our region so great for bicycling.
If you’re bummed at summer’s impending conclusion, or if you haven’t ridden as much as you’d hoped, you’ve got to seize this weekend and make the most of these sunny and warm days.
Have fun out there!
Saturday, September 6th
Oregon Stampede – 7:00 am at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area
How does 120 miles of mostly unpaved roads and over 9,000 feet of climbing sound to you? Oh, and the roads are in the middle of nowhere with jaw-dropping views of Mt. Hood and quintessential Oregon country. This is the ride that made VeloDirt into a (bike-adventure-loving) household name. Some will try it in one day while many others will camp overnight and split it into two. Expect a few hundred people on this unsupported, unsanctioned, adventure. More info here.
Gran Prix Ryan Trebon #2 “Het Meer” – All day at Vancouver Lake Park in Washington
Stop number two on the GPRT series heads to the shores of Vancouver Lake. The course offers all types of terrain, from a sandy running/riding section to pavement, singletrack and flat and fast grassy sections. Your friends will be talking about this one all season long so don’t miss out! More info here.
Multnomah Falls and Back (with PWTC) – 10:00 am McMenamin’s Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey)
Join the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club for this 40-mile jaunt on the Historic Columbia River Highway. They’ll make stops at Women’s Forum then head to Multnomah Falls. On the way back they’ll regroup one last time and take in the stunning views at Crown Point. More info here.
North Tabor Neighborhood/Greenway Tour – 2:00 pm at Fred Meyer on NE 67th and Glisan
Super-activist Terry Dublinski-Milton will lead this family-friendly bike ride through the North Tabor neighborhood. Terry wants to share existing and future bike-friendly projects he hopes to get funded through a neighborhood grant. He’ll take you past parks, schools, and existing and future neighborhood greenways. More info here.
Sunday, September 7th
Tour de Lab – 8:00 am at Lucky Lab (915 SE Hawthorne)
The Tour de Lab is a mix of three things many Portlanders could not live without: bikes, dogs, and beer. Get dressed up, grab some friends, and roll through the city to various Lucky Lab locations. Choose from two routes; the 19-mile “Puppy Dog” course or the 41-mile “Big Dog Challenge.” This ride is a benefit for Dove Lewis. More info here.
2014 S.O.S. Classic BMX Jam – 10:00 am at Pacific Community Park (1515 NE 164th, Vancouver WA)
Join BMXMuseum.com and Goods BMX for a good, old-fashioned BMX show. They’ll have vintage bikes on display and plenty of jamming from the region’s best flatland and bowl riders. More info here (FB).
Wenzel Cyclocross Clinic – 10:00 am at Vancouver Lake Park (Washington)
This is your last chance to dial in your ‘cross skills from the pros at Wenzel Coaching. For $35 you’ll learn everything you need to know to tackle the ‘cross season with utmost speed and smoothness. More info here.
Fazio Farms Cyclocross Race – All day at Fazio Farms in north Portland
This event happens just over the Columbia Slough from north Portland, offering racers a rare opportunity to ride their bikes to a race. Presented by Ironclad Performance Wear, the fun course offers all types of terrain and there’s a sweet selection of prizes and shwag for winners in all categories. More info here (PDF).
BikeLoudPDX Meeting – 3:00 pm at Montavilla Park (NE 82nd and Glisan)
As you’ve read here on the Front Page, BikeLoudPDX is an upstart activist group that is working to “shake the city out of its bike malaise.” Join them Sunday for a meeting to officially decide their name, draft a mission statement, and plan future actions. More info here.
— If we missed anything, feel free to let us know and/or give it a shout-out in the comments.