A new road racing series set to debut in April will take place in Portland’s famous International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park. The Rose Garden Circuit Race is the latest event organized by Giro Events, the same crew behind last summer’s inaugural Giro di Portland.
Steven Beardsley of Giro Events says it’s been a lot of work to get all the permits for a bike race through the Rose Garden, “But good things usually are not easy.” This is an exciting new addition to Portland’s already packed annual racing calendar. Just imagine evenings spent in a beautiful park, amid bikes, friends and roses, with the Portland skyline just below.
“I think there is a lot of potential for the event and venue for years to come,” says Beardsley, “We just hope that the turnout makes it worth the effort.”
If the success of the Portland’s Mt. Tabor Race Series is any indication, I think the Rose Garden Circuit Race just might nab a healthy following. Beardsley, a very successful racer himself, says he strives to put races in places the public can experience them. As we’ve seen with the massive crowds that turn out for the Twilight Criterium on the North Park Blocks, bike races are great for spectators; and Beardsley adds, “It’s also more fun to race when you have people there to enjoy it.”
The Rose Garden Circuit Race course will take racers on a 1.2 mile loop starting atop the International Rose Test Garden (across from the Japanese Garden) and then down SW Sherwood Blvd to a hairpin turn near the City of Portland’s water reservoir and back up to the garden on SW Rose Park Road. Race entry is $15 and there are categories for men, women, beginners, and experienced riders. More info at GiroEvents.com.
Thanks for reading.
BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.
Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.
Nice, that’s a great loop. Those speed bumps can be scary at speed too!
those speed bumps really aren’t that scary; they are like heaven on earth…
😉
They will be taking the speed bumps as an uphill.
Are you sure? The map seems to indicate counter-clockwise (following the proper direction of the roads), that would put the speed bumps on the downhill.
Really though I doubt they will be of any consequence compared to the hard 180 at the bottom of the hill. Fun!
looks like it will be a drag race.. *fast*
Hmm. Probably a good way to ride to the race is to take MAX to the zoo and bomb down to the Rose Garden. 🙂 Bringing cars would be right out. There’s not enough space there even when there’s not a race.
Hmm, that’s a neat course, but it’s right in the middle of my commute up through Washington Park. What’s the easy way around this?
Fairview is an easy detour. You realize the race starts at 6:00PM right? don’t know when you’re commuting though.
detour – continue north on Skyline from the Sylvan overpass, right on Fairview, all the way down to Kingston, left on Kingston… you should know where you are now.
Great course; I’m looking forward to racing.
This should be great! Any word if there will be food vendors or anything there as well, for those of us watching?
There is going to be carnage on that hairpin below the playground!
Should be a great course, but this sounds like a horrible idea to hold a race in one of Portland hottest tourist destinations.
If by “horrible” you mean “wonderful” then yes, it will be awesome!