(Photos © Jonathan Maus)
That buzz in the air is because today is Pedalpalooza-eve. That’s right; the big Kickoff Ride and a whole month of cycling celebrations begins tomorrow.
We will do our best to highlight a selection of Pedalpalooza rides throughout the month; but your best bet is to check the official Shift calendar or grab the current issue of the Portland Mercury for the printed version.
But wait, there’s more! The biggest off-road biking event of the season is Saturday. It’s the Gateway Green MTB Festival and Take a Kid MTB’ing Day all rolled into one. It’ll be like an entire Sunday Parkways happening in the dirt in a single park with activities, food vendors, entertainment, and more.
Here’s our guide to the next three days…
Friday, June 1st
Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride – 6:00 pm at Sewallcrest Park (SE)
Start Pedalpalooza off with a bang by joining a few hundred others on the traditional Kickoff Ride. It’s not just about the ride, this is the place to meet new/old riding buddies, hear about upcoming rides or promote your own, buy fresh Pedalpalooza merch, see the latest-and-coolest bikes and fashions, and so much more. There are three routes this year for families, teens, and grown-ups — each with a different and appropriate ending point. More info here.
Saturday, June 2nd
Oregon Gran Fondo – All day in Cottage Grove
The final jewel in the Oregon Triple Crown, the big Gran Fondo is one of the most anticipated road ride/race events on the calendar. Enjoy the quiet backroads outside of Cottage Grove on a variety of routes, including a 134-mile option. More info here.
**BP PICK** Pioneer Century – All day at Clackamas County Fairgrounds
I’ve done this ride myself and can vouch for how fantastic it is. The route (options available) traverses historic farming and forest areas of Champoeg, Canby and Molalla that are drenched in the same beauty today that attracted pioneers long ago. Fully supported ride with a gourmet lunch option at the end. Fundraiser for the venerable Portland Wheelmen (and women!) Touring Club. More info here.
**BP PICK** – Gateway Green MTB Festival & Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day – 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Gateway Green (NE)
This will be an epic day of dirt riding and fun for adults and kids alike. Dozens of businesses and organizations have come together to celebrate Gateway Green and people (especially little ones) who love riding knobby-tired bikes. There will be live entertainment (Olive and Dingo!), lots of great food vendors, tons of free bikes to demo, a fun race for kids, many skills clinics for adults, and lots more. More info here.
The Welcome Ride (Pedalpalooza) – 11:00 am at Peace Park (NE)
If you are new to Pedalpalooza and want to get to know a few people you can ride with for the next month, this is a great place to start. Two PP veterans will lead the ride, share advice and knowledge, and answer all your questions. More info here.
Charge of the Light Brigade (Pedalpalooza) – 8:30 pm at Salmon Street Fountain (SW)
Join a parade of illuminated bikes and people and take over major streets like Hawthorne, Powell, Foster, Sandy, and more. More info here.
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Sunday, June 3rd
BMC Road Bike Demo Ride – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at Western Bikeworks LoveJoy (NW)
If you are in the market for a great road bike, this is a golden opportunity to try out the latest models from BMC. Sign up for this event and reserve a bike, then take it on a “spirited group ride” through the nearby west hills. More info here.
Try Your Hand At Bike Polo (Pedalpalooza) – 10:00 am at Alberta Park (NE)
Bike polo is extremely fun. You ride while holding a mallet and strike a ball into a goal. It’s challenging and social and a good workout too! This is a perfect place to try it out in a supportive environment. The nice folks from Portland Bike Polo will set you up with special bikes and mallets. Bring the kiddos too! More info here.
Lents Green Ring Ride – 12:00 noon (show up early for free bike repairs) at Green Lents Community Tool Library (SE)
Bicycles for Humanity PDX is hosting this ride that will familiarize you with the Lents area and the work-in-progress, four-mile Green Ring Loop. This is a family-friendly jaunt that will take you past parks and goats. The tool library and P:ear Bikes will host a bike repair workshop before the ride, so get there early. More info here.
Biking to Baseball (Pedalpalooza) – 3:00 pm at Salmon Street Fountain (SW)
Did you know Portland has a pro baseball team? The Portland Pickles are made up of great collegiate players who don’t yet play in the Majors; and they play at a fun and intimate stadium at Lents Park. This ride will go from downtown to the park (about 8-10 miles) to take in a game. Bring money for tickets ($7-13 per person) and requisite snacks from the concession stand. Post-game transit options available if you want/need them. More info here.
Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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10 years ago some friends and I organized a Big Lebowski ride..what a lot of fun that was. I still have the “painting” after all these years. Ended up having a screening party in my backyard a month later.
https://vimeo.com/1856663
Wasn’t able to do Reach the Beach this year, so was hoping to get in the Pioneer Century instead. A buddy did it a couple years ago and really liked it. Much cheaper than RtB (when you account for the required fundraising) but still well supported. But alas, even though my wife’s birthday is tomorrow all the events for it are happening on Saturday so sneaking in a 100 mile ride would be tough 😉
Thanks for including Saturday’s Welcome Ride in your list of weekend events!
Until last fall, even though I had been riding various bikes for commuting and exercise for years, I had never participated in much of Portland bike culture and hadn’t done many social rides. I wanted to, but I didn’t know anyone and was a bit intimidated to show up by myself.
I finally put myself out there and met some great folks (including my ride co-leader, Armando, Portland’s official social biking ambassador), and now I’m glad to co-lead this ride that should be a great way for folks new to Portland or social biking to meet other folks. And of course we welcome folks who have been doing these rides for years! We just ask that folks come ready to meet people. Also, we will have name tags!