Weekend Event Guide: Racing, Dropouts, Tigard hunt, buffoonery and more

Happy 10th Birthday to the Dropouts!
(Photo by Brian Smith)

Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.

Do you plan on riding this weekend? It looks like it might rain a bit, but you’re tough and that shouldn’t change any of your plans. If you need a bit of help deciding what to do, we’ve got a fun slate to choose from. It all starts with a big night of partying from the tony Pearl District to the low-down and dirty southeast.

Friday, March 20th

NW Women’s Race Summit Ladies Night – 7:30 to 9:30 pm at Ecotrust (721 NW 9th Ave)
Sponsored by OBRA and Let’s Race Bikes, this is the big kickoff party for an entire weekend that will celebrate women’s bike racing. Expect a prize raffle, great food, drinks and music as well as plenty of time to smooze and socialize. More info here.

Dropout Bicycle Club 10th Anniversary Weekend – 9:30 pm at Colonel Summers Park
The Dropouts are 10! This fun-loving freak bike club knows how to party. And ride bikes. And make bikes. They’ll be celebrating all weekend long starting with their standard club ride which rolls out at 10:00 pm. More info here.

Saturday, March 21st

Work Party at Stub Stewart State Park – 8:45 am to 2:45 pm at the State Park Welcome Center
Give back to the fun trails at Stub Stewart by joining the NW Trail Alliance for this volunteer work day. They’ll provide tools and instruction, all you need is a good pair of gloves and a willingness to do your part as a good steward. More info here.

NW Women’s Race Summit Racing Clinic – 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Sweet Spot Skirts in Vancouver, WA (105 W 6th St)
If you are looking to step up your racing strategy and skills this year, this is a must-do event. Hosted by professional coach Kendra Wenzel, this clinic is for women who have already raced a few times. There will be coffee, munchies, and networking with racers and coaches. The event will split the day between classroom time and practice out on the streets. More info here.

Rites of Spring – 10:00 am at Gateway Transit Center in NE Portland
This is an annual tradition for the Oregon Human Powered Vehicle Association. Join them for a 37-mile ride to celebrate the vernal equinox. Organizer Jeff Wills says, “Odd bicycle enthusiasts of all sorts encouraged to attend, and costumery and buffoonery welcome!” More info here.

Three Speed Ride (presented by Society of Three Speeds) – 10:30 am at Overlook Park (N Interstate and Fremont)
Urban historian and consummate two-wheeled explorer Shawn Granton will lead this social-paced, 20-mile mystery tour (trust us, Shawn’s routes are fantastic). Bring a relaxed attitude five gears or fewer (no singlespeeds) and pack for a picnic and tea stop. More info here.

Wild Tigard Hunt – 11:00 am at Western Bike Works Tigard Location (7295 SW Dartmouth Ave)
Part of Western Bike Works’ grand opening festivities for their new store in Tigard, this is a free scavenger hunt that promises some fun exploration of an “underrated” riding area and great prizes. More info here.

Sunday, March 22nd

Cherry Pie Road Race – All day in Independence (Riverview Park)
A classic Oregon road race that kicks off the season. 30-mile loop with just over 1,000 of climbing on the gorgeous country roads southwest of Salem. More info here (PDF).

— Did we miss anything? Let us know via the comments and make sure to drop us a line if you have an upcoming event you’d like us to feature next week.