(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Just like last weekend, we’re embarking on a bunch of great bike events starting this afternoon with the much-anticipated Bikini Bike Wash.
It’s hot and it’s time to raise money for the World Naked Bike Ride; so the wonderful bike fun promoters of Portland will be washing bikes at the Burgerville on SE 12th and Hawthorne from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. According to organizers of the Naked Ride, it costs nearly $3,000 to put it on each year. Expenses include leasing the starting location, various permits, porta-potties, security, and so on.
At the Bikini Bike Wash today you can hang out in a Dutchtub (from Clever Cycles) while your steed gets cleaned. I’m told three service levels will be available: “fully penetrating lube and complete wash” for $20, “rim job – just washing the wheels” for $10, and the “quick n dirty – spritz and go” for $5. There will be music thumping, cool local bike goods for sale from Bikeasaurus, balloon bikinis by Dingo and Olive, free bike maintenance, and of course lots of scantily clad ladies and gentlemen. Stop by on your way home and get wet, have fun, and open your wallet to help these fine folks cover some costs for the Naked Bike Ride. More info on the Facebook invite.
But wait! There’s more!
After getting your bike all cleaned up (or before), roll over to the Portland Opera headquarters on the banks of the Willamette River just south of OMSI. Tonight is the Opera’s annual Bikes, Beer + Big Night. The Opera folks love bikes and they’ve been doing this for four years now. Their patio opens right onto the Eastbank Esplanade and tonight from 430 to 6:30 they’ll be serving free cold beer, water, and they’ll even have some misters going to cool you off! More info on the Portland Opera website.
On Saturday, our friends at Kidical Mass have a great family ride planned. The theme this month is ice cream. They’ll leave from Clinton City Park at 1:00 pm and ride to legendary local ice cream makers Salt & Straw on SE Division. Then (after a stop at a playground of course), they’ll roll over to Dairy Queen on Lincoln and than back to Clinton Park. It’s only a 3.5 mile loop and it’s sure to be fun for the little (and big) ones! More info at KidicalMassPDX.org.
Also on Saturday, you’ll get another chance to see some fast and exciting bike racing with the second annual Giro di Portland. The race is sponsored by the Festa Italiana and riders will zoom around a course in the Pearl District. It’s great spectating and in true Italian style, there will be a food court with beer, wine, paninis, and more. Racing starts at 3:30 and goes until about 7:00. More info at GirodiPortland.com.
On Sunday, it’s time to ride. The Portland Century is back and organizers have three amazing loops for you to enjoy. There’s a 100, 80, and 40 mile route offered. This is the ride to do if you want to explore more of our city and you want to be taken care of with gourmet food stops and lots of support along the way. The ride is fully catered by local food and drink vendors, they make fresh pizza on the route, and registration ($80 day of the ride) includes free breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. More info at PortlandCentury.com.
The Faux Museum in Old Town (NW 2nd and Davis) is hosting an interesting bike event on Sunday. Their Tour de Faux is being billed as “the world’s only 0.0 mile bike event.” Here are more details from the organizers: “Bicyclist, tricyclist, unicyclist (anything without a motor) will be judged in four categories: 1. Best Bike. 2. Best outfit. 3. Best Helmet 4. Best attitude and Regimen. Prizes will be awarded. $10 entry fee includes picture and spoke card.” More info at TheFauxMuseum.com.
On Sunday night, Velo Cult Bike Shop in Hollywood is hosting a meet and greet with biking legend Victor Vincente of America. Vincente is a mountain biking pioneer who began racing road bikes in the 1950s and went on to race in the Olympics and throughout Europe in the 1960s. He later returned to California and was a part of the “klunker” phenomenon in the bay area. He was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2001. Sunday, starting at 7:00 pm, is your chance to hang out with Mr. Vincente of America and ask him questions about his amazing bicycling history.
—
This is just a sampling of things to do on a bike this weekend. What did I leave out? What are your plans? Share them in the comments below and enjoy yourself out there!
[Note from the Publisher: This story originally included the event flyer for the Bikini Bike Wash. Many people found the poster offensive, so I’ve removed it and replaced it with a photo from the event I took yesterday. — Jonathan Maus]