Oregon Cycling News, Tales and Perspectives
In a state so chock-full of cycling opportunities, it takes more than an events calendar to stay on top of everything that’s happening on two wheels. We’ve compiled information on upcoming events, travel stories related to cycling, relevant blog posts and more, to keep you up to date on the Oregon cycling scene.
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Two New Scenic Bikeways
In January 2012, the number of official Oregon Scenic Bikeways expanded to eight, with the addition of the Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway starting in Bend and the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway, starting in Cottage Grove.
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The Path Less Pedaled: Oregon
If you want a realistic, on-the-ground perspective of riding a bike in Oregon, you couldn’t do much better than talking to Russ Roca and Laura Crawford. As part of a grand experiment they call The Path Less Pedaled, Russ and Laura have been combining multiple forms of “alternate” transportation (bikes, trains, buses) to tour the country as modern-day explorers.
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Cyclocross U.S. Gran Prix Comes to Bend
On the heels of hosting both the 2009 and 2010 U.S. cyclocross championships, Bend continues making its mark on the national cycling map by hosting one of four prestigious U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross events, the weekend of Dec. 10-11.
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2011 Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show
For its fourth iteration, this one-of-a-kind event gets even one-of-a-kinder this year, moving to Bend for a blowout Halloween weekend that includes the show as well as the Day of the Dead Cyclocross Festival. The event, sponsored by the Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association, is open to builders across the United States. The 2011 Oregon Handmade Bike Show will feature up to 40 framebuilder exhibitions. Veterans and new talent from across the nation will display their…
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Bike on Inn… to Clatskanie
Bicycle touring, especially in Oregon, means exposing yourself to the elements on a regular basis, either while you’re riding or in the camps you set up along the route. But every now and then, it’s good to step indoors for a hot shower, some clean clothes and a short rest from the road. That’s the experience Kris Lillich wants to provide for cyclists at the Bike Inn in Clatskanie, along Highway 30 between Portland and the coast.
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Oregon Manifest: Success by Design
If you didn’t already know how excited Oregon gets about bicycling, you should have tried to fight your way through the crowds at the 2011 Oregon Manifest. The three-day extravaganza, built around the Constructor’s Design Challenge competition, brought together the cycling culture for one major geek-out.
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Cycling Ambassadors Program Kicks Off in Portland
A Portland bike shop, 21st Avenue Bicycles, has launched an innovative new program to help out citizen cyclists. The 21 Ambassadors program is designed to “directly support the urban cyclist.”
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New Combo Portland Bike Map/Guide Debuts
Pedal Bicycle Tours in Portland has put together a great new resource for those who like to pedal and partake on the same trip: Pedal’s Picks: A map of our guides’ favorite places to eat, drink and explore Portland, the first and only combination bike map and city guide in Portland.
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Oregon Manifest: Building the Perfect Bike
What does the future of bicycling look like? You can see for yourself during the Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge Sept. 23-24 in Portland.
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Mountain Bike Oregon
Mountain Bike Oregon (MBO), the biggest, baddest trail event in the state, recently finished its two Summer 2011 celebrations of bikes, brews, trees and trails in Oakridge.
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People’s Coast Classic: Coming Up!
The 2nd Annual Amgen People’s Coast Classic event starts September 11 – just days away. Organizers of the ride are providing weekly updates for all participants, including an introduction video and a comprehensive video outlining Day 2 of the ride. Last-minute registrations will be accepted. Follow the event on Facebook.
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Farm-to-Farm Century
The Farm-to-Farm Century was created to show off two of the very best things about Oregon: wonderful local, food-producing farms and beautiful backcountry cycling. This is not just a bike ride. It’s 100 miles of beautiful, backcountry roads and sweeping Willamette Valley landscapes. It’s several hours of unforgettable times with 99 other like-minded cyclists. It’s discovering local farms and enjoying healthy, natural, mouth-watering edibles. And certainly, it’s an event that will leave you feeling proud, healthy and a little tired.
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Super D Series a Success
Combine the speed and thrill of downhill mountain biking with the challenge of endurance riding and what you get is the exciting race challenge of the Oregon Super D Series, a race series just about to finish up its second year of events.
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PDX by Bike Shows Cyclists the City
A new bicycle service in Portland aims to give visitors and tourists the inside track on seeing the city by bike. PDX by Bike (www.pdxbybike.com), a partnership between Elly Blue (left in photo) and Meghan Sinnott (right), is an itinerary, information and referral service for people visiting Portland who want to explore the city on two wheels.
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Pedal Bike Tours: Forest Park and the Coast
Pedal Bike Tours in Portland recently added two more tours to its menu of options taking bicyclists to the Oregon coast and through Forest Park. And with summer still in full swing and the rain likely to stay away, now is the perfect time to explore the state by bike.
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Scenic Bikeways: Five New Options!
There’s only one state in the nation that has Scenic Bikeways – and now you’ve got six to choose from. Oregon State Parks just announced a new round of Bikeways, and these five routes offer more of the cream of Oregon road riding – epic back-country loops, short and family-friendly options, scenic mountain passes, multi-day trips… it’s all there.
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The Portland Society: Bikes, Business, Women
A little more than one year ago, two cycling friends put their heads together to come up with an idea to make the world a better place. What came out of that brainstorm was The Portland Society, a nonprofit business alliance for women passionate about business and bicycles. “There was a need for a community of professional women who are really excited about cycling,” said society cofounder Ellee Thalheimer, who started the society with Elly Blue.
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The Path Less Pedaled
It’s not everyone who can sell all their belongings and set out on a cycling adventure around the country, but that is just what Russ Roca and Laura Crawford did in 2009. After completing a 15-month journey taking them from San Diego to Boston and a wet winter in Portland, the duo behind the Path Less Pedaled have just set out again for another tour of the country, this time exploring multi-modal transportation options for touring cyclists and the cycling tourism industry.
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Hermosa Tours Offers Mountain Bike Shuttle in Hood River
Hermosa Tours NW is now offering commercial shuttle service to the top of Hood River’s Post Canyon trail network. One 14-passenger van with capacity to carry as many bikes has been designated the Post Canyon Shuttle, and is available for riders seven days a week.
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Forest Grove Hosts USA Cycling Development Camp
USA Cycling is hosting a camp designed for riders ages 14 to 22 at Pacific University in Forest Grove, July 25-29. The Northwest camp is one of 11 USA Cycling Athlete Development Camps nationwide. The camp offers cyclists a fantastic opportunity to learn from coaches and develop skills/training, and it also provides an opportunity for potential-talent identification.
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Mountain Biking and Beer? The Perfect Vacation!
Six years ago, the new owners of Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours wanted to create a tour that would really allow their clients to get the “Bend Experience.” After some trial and error, they developed the Bike & Brew tour, which has become their most popular offering. In fact, it became so popular that this year they’re adding a Hood River version of the tour. You could book a hotel on your own with the…
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All Work and All Play: Oregon Bicycle Builders
From the Travel Oregon blog: We live in a DIY culture, and Oregon is at the forefront—this is no more evident than with the bicycle. It’s no secret that this state’s got a prevalent biking community (Portland’s reputation alone puts us on the international map), so it should come as no surprise that Oregon has generated its fair share of handmade-bike builders, some who’ve been around since long before building bike frames was en vogue.…
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Amgen People’s Coast Classic: Ride the Oregon Coast
The Amgen People’s Coast Classic benefit cycling tour has announced the official 2011 route, which will follow the official Oregon Coast Cycling Route. The tour will start at The Maritime Museum in Astoria, at 8:00 am on Sunday, September 11, 2011, and will follow the Oregon Coast Route for six days, ending in Brookings on Friday, September 16, 2011. The 2011 ride also includes two-day and four-day options for those wishing to participate in just a portion of the ride.
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Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway
Scenic Byways are not a new concept; some of the great driving routes in the nation share this designation (including 10 in Oregon). But leave it to Oregon to plan and designate the first official Scenic Bikeway in America.
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Portland’s Sunday Parkways
What would happen if you chose a six-mile route through a neighborhood and closed those streets to all motorized traffic on a fine Sunday afternoon? You’d get all manner of people out – riding, walking, skating, who knows what – to mingle and laugh and relax and get some exercise. And that’s what Portland’s Sunday Parkways program is all about.
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