Weekend Event Guide: Orange Line opening, BMX, cyclocross and more

Like old-school BMX? Head up to Vancouver for a show and swap.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

This menu of delicious rides and events is brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery. Their support makes BikePortland possible.

The day has finally come for the new TriMet MAX Orange Line to open in all of its glory! We’ve been riding the new paths for a while now and many of you have already ridden and/or walked the Tilikum Bridge. But Saturday is the day it opens for real.

Unfortunately I’m leaving town so I’ll miss the all the newness. I’m headed back out to Eastern Oregon (can’t seem to stay away!) for the start of Cycle Oregon. I’ll be riding all next week and reporting from the road. I’ve covered Cycle Oregon many times, but this time you can expect something different. I’m not bringing my usual camera gear so I plan to focus more on the stories and the people than I have in the past. Should be as fun and enlightening as ever.

What are your plans? Whatever you do, we hope you get out on two wheels. Enjoy the weekend!

Saturday, September 12th

Grand Prix Rhonda Mazza #2 – Het Meer – All day at Vancouver Lake Park
Stop number two in the GPRM series will head north for the legendary Het Meer race. Known for its 200 meter sand section along the beach, this is sure to be the race all your friends will be talking about on Monday. More info here.

Seek & Enjoy Adventure Ride – 9:00 am at River City Bicycles (706 SE MLK Blvd)
Co-hosted by Specialized and River City Bicycles, this will be part demo day, part adventure ride. Pre-register for the event and reserve one of Specialized’s DeVerge or Roubaix bikes. Expect to ride about 50 miles and about 4000 feet of climbing with some gravel sections. More info here (FB).

Saturday Morning Medley – 9:30 am at Wilshire Park (NE 36th and Skidmore)
A weekly ride led by the Portland Wheelmen. Mileage varies from 25-50 miles. Join the ride leader or pick a route of your choice. The club will provide maps of popular routes. More info here.

Orange Line Celebration – 11:00 am to 6:00 pm all along the MAX Orange Line
Today is the big day! TriMet and their partners are hosting celebrations at stations all along the line. Expects lots of fun activities for the whole family. More info here.

Orange Line Ride – 12:00 noon at Portland Aerial Tram (3303 SW Bond)
Join friendly and knowledgeable ride leader Tom Howe for a journey the full length of the new Orange Line. Meet at the base of the tram and ride to Milwaukie. Since it’s opening day, there will be lots of festivities along the way. More info here.

Sunday, September 13th

Corn Cross #1 – All day at Liepold Farms (14050 Richey Rd in Boring)
Part of OBRA’s Junior Cross Series, Corn Cross will feature much more than just cyclocross racing. Bring the family and enjoy live music, food, drinks and more. This event is sponsored by the City of Sandy. More info here (PDF).

Old School BMX Jam – 10:00 am at Pacific Community Park in Vancouver (1515 NE 164th Ave)
If you love vintage BMX bikes, this is the event for you. The fine folks at Goods BMX and the BMX Museum are hosting. They’ll have a show and swap and a flatland jam. More info here (FB).

BikeLoudPDX General Meeting – 4:00 pm at Piccolo Park (SE 28th and Division)
Come out and see what BikeLoudPDX is up to. They’re an all-volunteer grassroots group that is helping make Portland nicer for cycling. Learn about their latest actions, bring your own ideas, and find out how you can involved. More info here.

— 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.