Rollin' out.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Gorgeous weather brought out a huge crowd (900? 1,000?) for the De Ronde Van West Portlandia today. The unsanctioned ride is a grand tour of our city's amazing network of hilly streets, out-of-the way parks and trails, and ritzy neighborhoods nestled in the hills high above southwest Portland.

In total, the ride took us 47 miles and included 7,800 feet of climbing — much of it extremely, uncomfortably steep. (And if you're curious, it took me about 4 hours and 40 minutes.) (more...)

The flag (and the pain) returns Sunday.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Ronde PDX (a.k.a. De Ronde Van West Portlandia), Portland's ultimate unsanctioned test of cycling sanity, is set for this Sunday.

The ride is a leg-and-lung-busting tour of the steepest climbs in the West Hills. It was first held in 2007 and has become legendary. Since that first running, the Ronde has received major media coverage and now attracts upwards of 700 riders.

A story in The Oregonian today shares some quotes and background about the ride from its organizers Hugh Givens and Brad Ross (the same Brad Ross who manages Portland's Cross Crusade series and many other major bike races). (more...)

Riders set out on the 2009 De Ronde.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The infamous and grueling "De Ronde Van West Portlandia" is set for this Sunday (4/17).

The ride, inspired by the Tour of Flanders in Belgium, was first held in 2007. 100 people showed up that first year and by 2009, the turnout had ballooned to 600-700 and the ride caught the attention of Oregon Public Broadcasting.
(more...)

Get ready to climb.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Portland's infamous De Ronde van West Portland, modeled after the classic Tour of Flanders in Europe, takes off this Saturday (4/17). There's been some confusion over whether or not the ride was even happening, so consider this post your official invitation to take part.

The men behind the ride, Hugh Givens and Brad Ross, are not officially hosting the event this year, but they've updated a website with a detailed route map and they still plan to meet and ride with whoever shows up.

If you want to attempt to conquer 47.5 miles of Portland's steepest hills with Brad, Hugh, and a bunch of other masochistic psychos on a truly legendary ride, meet near the corner of NW Industrial and 31st at 10:00 am. You can view the most updated route map here. (more...)

An estimated 600 riders turned
out for "De Ronde" last year.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia -- a ride through Portland's hills inspired by the classic Tour of Flanders -- will not be held this year.

With the ride's April date approaching, I've been getting a steady stream of emails about it. Thanks to the ride's popularity (spurred in part by great coverage on Oregon Public Broadcasting last year) people are already making plans to ride it. But there will not be a fourth annual De Ronde...at least it won't be publicly announced.
(more...)

At the start of the De Ronde.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Oregon Public Broadcasting will air coverage of Portland's cult ride the De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia on their Oregon Field Guide program tonight.

The ride -- which is a loosely organized, grueling bike ride/race that traverses many miles of Portland's steepest hills -- attracted over 600 riders back in April.
(more...)

The fabled Lion of Flanders
led the riders out of Northwest
Portland this morning.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

Portland's unsanctioned spring classic, the third annual De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia, attracted an estimated 600-700 riders today. They were treated to a gorgeous day with clear blue skies and temperatures well into the 60s.

They started this morning in Portland's Northwest Industrial area and headed out via Highway 30 toward Sauvie Island. Then, from NW Salztman Road to Council Crest in the Southwest Hills, they pedaled, walked and willed themselves up too many grueling climbs to count. (more...)

Scene from a Cross Crusade race
at Horning's Hideout in 2007
(Photos © J. Maus)

Two of the year's most challenging rides are slated for this weekend: the infamously, absurdly hilly De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia (a.k.a. the Tour of Flanders) on Saturday and the Horning's Hustle mountain bike circuit race on Sunday.

Many participants will find satisfaction in tackling, and maybe even completing, one of these courses. Others will ride to win.

For those who long for even greater glory, organizers have decided to reward the truly bold individuals who somehow manage to finish both events. (more...)

Flyer for '09 event.
-Download PDF, 150K-)

When organizers of the "De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia" (or, Tour of West Portland) first did the ride back in 2007, they were shocked when 100 people showed up.

Last year, despite the guarantee of 8,000 of climbing (depending on whose GPS you looked at) over 45 miles, an estimated 400 people showed up on a rainy day to challenge themselves on the steep and unforgiving course. (more...)

A ride that was organized to pay homage to a legendary bike race in Belgium, has now become a legend of its own. (more...)

A Google Earth view of the Tour of West Portland route. The ride follows a 45-mile route over the region's steepest hills and is said to be "horribly hard.".

(more...)

The mysterious, Portland version of the Tour of Flanders sparked lots of interest last week.
(more...)

Yesterday I received an anonymous email about a mysterious, "penniless, suffering, pirate ride" coming to Portland next week (4/7).

The flyer (below) proclaims it will be:

"a test of 18 (or so) nasty climbs of West Portland in honor of De Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)."

Sounds like a suffer-fest. Here's the route, and you've got to love the flyer:
(more...)