(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
The weekend is almost here. And thankfully, the weather gods have planned a reprieve from the heat.
The annual Bridge Pedal happens on Sunday. The event has lost a bit of its epicness as organizers continue to wrangle with a new approach by the City of Portland to limit the scope of large-scale events in the public right-of-way. The full route includes just six bridges these days (down from ten); but lucky participants still get the chance to experience a carfree ride atop the Marquam and Fremont bridges. That’s an opportunity you can only get during this event!
Here are the rest of our picks for the weekend (see the full calendar for more suggestions).
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Velo Cult Bike Swap Liquidation Sale – 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Velo Cult Bike Shop & Tavern (NE)
A special final blowout sale and swap to clear the fabled Velo Cult basement of hundreds of used bikes. Many treasures likely to be offered up at honest prices. More info here.
Friday, August 10th
**BP PICK!!** Cannondale Synapse Bike Raffle Drawing Party (The Street Trust) – 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Western Bikeworks (NW)
Our friends at Western Bikeworks are hosting a big party with The Street Trust to announce the winner of a sweet new Cannondale road bike. Expect fun, food, a bonus prize raffle (including a set of wheels), and more. Proceeds go to The Street Trust’s advocacy work. More info here.
Saturday, August 11th
PDW Omnium – 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Alpenrose Velodrome (SW)
Annual track race that’s as much fun to watch as it is to race. Come out and enjoy a full day of exciting action and a fun, down-home BBQ. More info here.
Community Cycling Center Street Fair – 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Community Cycling Center Retail Shop (NE)
Help the CCC raise money for their Holiday Bike Drive by joining them for a BBQ and raffle at their retail shop on Alberta. More info here.
Ride Leader Empowerment Ride (Bike Fun Library) – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Go By Bike (SW)
Remember how awesome Pedalpalooza was back in June? That’s because we have great ride leaders that know how to keep things organized and fun. You can learn the tricks of this trade too! This ride will feature veteran bike funnists and an intro to the newly created Bike Fun Library, community-owned equipment that can make your dream ride a reality. More info here.
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Sunday, August 12th
Providence Bridge Pedal – 6:00 am to 12:00 pm
It’s down to just six carfree bridges on the big route instead of the 10 we enjoyed in the past, but organizers promise “the heart of Bridge Pedal is still in tact.” Join this time-honored Portland tradition for a rare chance to ride and hang out on the Marquam and Fremont bridges! More info here.
Cyclocross Clinic (The Lumberyard/Wenzel Coaching) – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at Gateway Green (NE)
Expert off-road coach Elaine Bothe will lead this clinic that starts at The Lumberyard then rolls over to Gateway Green. How cool is that? I can remember when neither of those places even existed! Payment and registration required. More info here.
Free Basic Bike Repair Class (East Portland) – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at The Rosewood Initiative (SE)
Learn to be more self-sufficient and work on your own bike in this free class made possible through a partnership between Rosewood Initiative, the City of Portland, the City of Gresham, Bikes for Humanity, and P:ear Bike Works. More info here.
Redline Criterium – 10:30 am to 3:30 pm at Swan Island (N)
Crits are amazing. Racers fly, shoulder-to-shoulder, through tight corners in a huge pack at speeds over 30 mph. Special bonus laps called “primes” are mixed in between the start and finish to keep things interesting. Get down to Swan Island to check this out. More info here.
Corvidae Bike Club Sunday Funday Ride – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Peninsula Park Rose Garden (N)
I’ve met some of the Corvidae folks. They’re super nice people who know how to have free fun on bikes. Their monthly ride is a great place to introduce yourself and join in. 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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I am signed up to do the Marquam Express version of the Bridge Pedal, while it is only six bridges, I’ve ridden over the St Johns Bridge, Tilikum, Broadway, Burnside and Sellwood plenty of times previously, and there is nothing to stop me adding these before or after the official ride.