Get Ready to Roll, Portland. Bike-tastic Summer Ahead!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know that Portland is the bike center of the universe (whatevs, MPLS!), but even though hard cores and commuters ride year ‘round, most of us are merely fair weather cyclists and even more rookies hope to get rolling this summer.

Last month, Sunday Parkways kicked off the first of many bike-centric events geared for riders of all stripes. And, there are plenty of other fabulous events throughout the summer for your riding pleasure.

What follows are some, um, wheelie great picks for your calendar.

Pedalpalooza 2010

June 10-27
Ready for “two-plus-weeks of bikey fun?" It’s that time of the year when Shift pulls out all the stops to host Pedalpalooza—a fun, free-spirited, jam-packed series of events celebrating bikes and bike culture. It began in 2002 as Bike Summer and morphed into the Pedalpalooza festival which offers amazing bike-focused activities times a million. This year over 250 parades, parties, rides and other events are scheduled from June 10 through 27. Check out the online calendar for all the details.

Pedalpalooza 2010 Kick-off Ride

Thursday, June 10
Meet at Laurelhurst Park at 7 p.m. to ride with hundreds of bike enthusiasts—and appropriately kick-off Pedalpalooza 2010! It’s a great way to get excited about bikes, bikes, bikes.
 

World Naked Ride 2009. Photo ©Jonathan Maus, BikePortland.org

Breakfast on the Bridges

Friday, June 11 and 18
A morning commute tradition on the last Friday of most months, Breakfast on the Bridges happens multiple times in June as part of the two-plus-week bike celebration. Acknowledging commuters who choose to ride rather than drive, Breakfast on the Bridges crews will meet you on the Westbound Hawthorne, Steel and Morrison bridges from 7-9 a.m. with coffee and pastries. Yum!

World Naked Ride

Saturday, June 19
Portland boasts the nation’s—and possibly the world’s—largest naked bike ride turnout. Yes, it’s a world event, protesting (over)dependency on fossil fuels, and celebrating free spirits everywhere. Last year thousands of revelers bared all, but the event is pretty tame. If you’re feeling bold, why not give it a whirl? This year’s rules have changed, so be sure to read up on how to be your best nude self during this ride (on the web site).
 

Sunday Parkways 2009

Cirque du Cycling

Saturday, June 12
People on artistically enhanced wheels will gather on North Mississippi Avenue to partake in a festival, family fun ride, bike parade, and street race. There’s a fun focus on artsy bike decorations and creative constructions, so you’ve got time to build your wheeled masterpiece. This free event sponsored by Laughing Planet is a blast, with vendors and a beer garden open from noon to 8 p.m. The family ride launches at 3920 North Kerby Avenue at 1:30 p.m., parade antics begin at Fremont and Mississippi Avenue at 3 p.m. and races (from Fremont to Mason) heat up around 5 p.m.

North Portland Sunday Parkways

Sunday, June 27
Sunday Parkways continues through September, with the North Portland event falling on the last day of Pedalpalooza. Be sure to check out the online maps for the four remaining events, too—July’s route is in East Portland, August’s in Southeast (and crosses fun-filled Hawthorne Street Fair), with the final event in Northwest Portland come September.
 

Providence Bridge Pedal 2005. Photo ©Jonathan Maus, BikePortland.org

Multnomah County Bike Fair

Sunday, June 27
This “festival of bike mayhem” is the only way to conclude the phenomenon that is Pedalpalooza. This year there’s a new venue (though still TBD) but, as always, these closing ceremonies to one of the most intense bike-centric festivals promises a positive spin on everything we like about bikes.

Providence Bridge Pedal 15th Anniversary Ride

Sunday, August 8
This quintessential ride works for just about everyone who likes town touring by bike. No other time do you get a chance to see the Willamette from the top of the Fremont and Marquam bridges from your bike seat. It’s more than cool. Each year, participants have been able to choose to ride over four, six or eight bridge routes; this year, however, the route has to drastically change due to construction on the Broadway bridge. Online registration and route changes will be available early June. But don’t let these changes deter you from getting up really early (to avoid clusters of slower riders, families with bike trailers, mostly)—the Bridge Pedal is an awesome bike ride across (and across and across again) town.

If you haven’t done so already, drag those wheels out of the garage or basement, pump up the tires or see about a tune up, pimp out your basket with some blingy bling, and get riding.

For bike news and events, be sure to read Jonathan Maus's BikePortland blog and the ORbike newsletter throughout the year.