Proceeds benefit Community Vision, a nonprofit working to make Oregon a place where people with developmental disabilities can live, work, and thrive.

Ride Details

Sunday, September 29, 2013
Civic Center
Hillsboro, ORRegister

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It’s hard to tell from this photo but there was actually a clear path through the snow so it wasn’t hard to navigate. And it was nice that the snow gate was still closed — no car traffic! I’m guessing the gate will open any day now.

You couldn’t have asked for a better day for riding. We sat up at the top, soaked in the warm sun, and watched a steady stream of hikers and cyclists enjoying a perfect day in the great outdoors.

Smooth Sailing

I usually shiver so much on the descent from Larch Mountain that it’s hard to control my bike. Not so, today.

The post Snowy June Ride appeared first on Cycling Portland.

The event, which has been happening in Portland for almost 10 years, is a celebration of the bicycle and human body. To some participants, it is an opportunity to demonstrate against dependence on oil. To others, it is an occasion to emphasize the vulnerability of the individual bicyclist in traffic. For others, the goal is to display the aesthetics of the body and the bicycle, both of which can be painted and decorated in colors, shapes and messages.

The motivation for the ride is up to the individual. This is a nonprofit, volunteer-run event, and there is room for interpretation. Riders should plan to bring clothes and any belongings on their bike. Ride will not finish the same place as it starts.

Organizers of this event plan for months ahead to make it move as smoothly as possible. Since it takes place in the evening, traffic disruption is minimal.

The WNBR is free to participants, legal and a lot of fun. If you have ever dreamed of taking off your clothes and riding your bike to amaze and delight the public, you will find it is not only possible but also exhilarating. The motto is: Bare as you dare. That means each rider chooses the level of nudity they are comfortable with.

The WNBR is organized by members of Shift in Portland and sponsored as a 501.C3 by Umbrella, a local organization.

The same evening on June 8, the Portland Art Museum will be open from 8 pm to 10 pm for its Cyclepedia exhibit.

• What: World Naked Bike Ride
• When: June 8, 2013
• Time: Assemble starting at 8 pm, ride starts at 10 pm
• Distance: Approx 7 miles, one hour of riding
• Start: Portland Park Blocks, in front of art museum
• Who: Anyone is invited
• Cost: free, donations are welcome

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• Unicycle show
• The Sprockettes
• Flatland BMX demos
• New bike showcase
• Meet bike builders
• Pedi-cab tours
• Bike food carts
• Sombria pump track
• See bikes you can’t afford

Bicycle Big Top & Rat Trap Circus

• Saturday, July 20, 12023, 10am – 5pm
• Sunday, July 21, noon – 5pm
• Official Website

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443% Growth in Portland

I know commuting by bike is growing in popularity but these are some impressive numbers — and not just in Portland.

In some Bicycle Friendly Communities, bicycle commuting rates have skyrocketed by more than 400% since 1990, including cities as diverse as Portland, Ore., and Lexington, Ky.

Meanwhile, cities like Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and Denver have more than doubled their bike commuter share since 2000. ~ League of American Bicyclists

Even in “not-so-friendly” communities, the rate of growth exceeded 30%. Click on the image below for a better view of the numbers.

Where Is Bike Commuting Growing the Fastest?

Today is National Bike to Work Day and if you live in one of the communities found on this chart, you probably saw plenty of other folks pedaling their way to work.

Bike Commuting by the Numbers

If you love to look at stats and data, check out these files from the League of American Bicyclists.

• Click here to download 2010 bicycle commuting data for all 375 cities included in the American Community Survey
• Click here to download bicycle commute data from 1990 to 2011 for the 70 largest U.S. cities, including percentage of bicycle commuters and percent change
• Click here for 2011 state commute rates, including bicycle commuting by gender

For more information on how you can become involved in your bike community, check the League of American Bicyclists.  In Oregon, a good place to start is the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.

Looking for some places to ride in Portland?  Check out our calendar where you’ll find a list of upcoming events and some suggested bike routes.

The post Where is Bike Commuting Growing Fastest? appeared first on Cycling Portland.

New York, NY and Emmaus, PA — May 13, 2013 — In connection with Bike to Work Week, Bicycling Magazine has launched an Instagram photo contest with a grand prize of a $1,950 Shinola Bixby. When driving to work at 55 miles per hour, commuters miss many of the remarkable details of their surroundings. Bike to Work week celebrates commuters’ ability to take control of their morning and experience the world around everyday life.

How it Works

To enter, visit http://instagram.com/bicyclingmag and upload a photograph of a scene, person, or item you discovered on your bike commute. Tag the photo with the hashtag #bicyclingcommute and tag @bicyclingmag. The contest begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on May 13, 2013, and ends at 12:00 a.m. on June 1, 2013. For official rules and regulations please visit http://bicycling.com/commutecontest.

The Prize

The Shinola Bixby, featured in Bicycling magazine — riffs off the fun look of the curved top tube, but improves on the fit and function with nimble frame geometry and a Shimano 3-speed internal hub. Valued at $1,950, this American-made steel frame and fork are designed for comfort, utility and smooth urban riding, in dry or wet. The Bixby is offered in both a classic men’s and women’s frame design, with thoughtful touches like gender-specific saddle design and proportional geometry. The Bixby frame has custom Shinola dropouts, fork crown, rack and fender mounts and internal cable routing. Style. Performance. Smooth. Efficient. The Bixby has it all.

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For the sixth year in a row, Washington continues to lead the nation, with high performance in all categories. But up-and-coming states — including Delaware, Illinois and Arizona –  charged up the ranking in 2013, shaking up the top 10. Oregon came in third for bicycle friendly states.

“We are encouraged to see significant progress in top states like Washington, Delaware, Colorado and Oregon,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “But as the scores clearly highlight, there’s much work to be done in critical areas like infrastructure and planning in every state.”

Click here to see the ranking chart. Click here to view the map. Click here to see the state report cards. 

The 2013 Bicycle Friendly State ranking is now even more comprehensive, capturing more information than ever before and delving more deeply into the issues embedded in becoming a more bicycle friendly state.

The BFS program is more than an annual assessment. Throughout the year, League staff will work actively with state officials and advocacy leaders to help identify and implement the programs, policies and campaigns that will improve conditions for bicyclists.

Delaware took a leap in the 2013 ranking, moving from No. 10 to No. 5 in just one year. U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) praised Governor Jack Markell, the state legislature, congressional delegation, advocacy organizations and the people of the First State for prioritizing biking.

“Creating more walkable and bikeable communities boosts air quality by reducing the amount of time cars and trucks idle on our roadways releasing harmful emissions.” Sen. Carper said. “Biking also helps decongest our transportation system, allowing individuals to spend more time working or relaxing with their families instead of wasting time and money sitting in traffic. The benefits of biking are countless, and that’s why I’m proud to support dedicated federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure, as well as the efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and others to promote biking as an invaluable piece of the American transportation system.”

Also making a strong showing in this year’s rank is Colorado — and Gov. John Hickenlooper says he plans to be No. 1 very soon.

“An important part of making Colorado the healthiest state is encouraging people to be more active in their everyday routines,” Hickenlooper said. “We’re proud that our bicycle-friendly policies have skyrocketed Colorado’s rank up 20 places in just five years, and we are committed to being No. 1 in the near future.”

In the Southwest, Arizona moved back into the top 10. Among other strides, the state completed its Bicycle Safety Action plan to improve bicyclist safety on Arizona’s highways.

“The goal is to reduce the number of bicyclist fatalities and injury crashes with motor vehicles,” said Michael Sanders, Arizona Department of Transportation’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “We ‘crash-typed’ nearly 750 reported crashes that occurred over a five-year period to better define the sequence of actions leading to the collision. For example, we found that over half of all crashes occurred while a motorist was making a right turn. The Plan consists of action items addressing potential changes to policies and education programs, or new tools, such as bicycle road safety audit guidelines, to improve bicyclist safety.”

Learn more about the BFS program at www.bikeleague.org/states.

The post Oregon Ranks Third for Bicycle Friendly States appeared first on Cycling Portland.

Ride Around Clark County Options

(18, 34, 65 and 100 mile)

All distances start and finish at Clark College on Fort Vancouver Way.

100-Mile Loop

Travels east, around Lacamas Lake, then north through the Hockinson hills to Battle Ground, continuing north to Yacolt & Amboy. Riders then head west through the scenic Cedar Creek / Lewis River area, and south through La Center to Daybreak Park. Riders proceed west toward Ridgefield, then south through Felida and back to the finish at Clark College. 4,800 ft. elevation gain. GPS Route

65-Mile Loop

Travels east, around Lacamas Lake, then north through the hills of Hockinson, through Battle Ground, to Daybreak Park, west through Ridgefield, then south through Felida and back to the finish at Clark College. 3,000 ft. elevation gain. GPS Route

34-Mile Loop

This loop travels east around Lacamas Lake and back to Clark College. 1,000 ft. elevation gain.

18-Mile Loop

This loop travels east through Cascade Park and back.

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Four Ways to Reach The Beach

Reach the Beach gives you plenty of early-season routes to choose from.  If you’re mileage has been less than optimal, you can start in Grand Ronde (25 miles) or Amity (50 miles).  Long routes include Newberg (75 miles) or Portand(100 miles).

The Portland to Pacific City route is pretty nice. The only part that bites is a section along Hwy 18 prior to the Hebo Road turnoff. The shoulder has warning grooves in the pavement and it’s a bone-jarring experience.

You get your payoff once you make the turn on Hwy 22 / Hebo Road. This beautiful stretch continues the rest of the way to the coast.

Where Did the Coast Range Go?

The first year I rode Reach the Beach, I remember thinking, “When does the climbing start?”  The route somehow manages to scoot between the coast range with no sustained climbs.

Saturday, May 18, 2013
Starts: Portalnd (100), Newberg (75), Amity (50), Grand Ronde (25)
Ends: Pacific City, OR
Register

Reach the Beach Finish Line Party

One of the highlights of Reach the Beach is the finish line party.  Since many riders take a bus ride back to their respective starting locations, people tend to hang out and enjoy the post-ride festivities.  There’s food, beer, booths with cycling stuff, live music, and a pretty spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

If it’s a nice day, you should take advantage of the afternoon and soak in the complete experience Reach the Beach has to offer.

Now in our 23rd year, the American Lung Association’s Reach the Beach is one of the best supported rides in the Northwest. A top notch ride with amazing support that gives you four different start locations: Portland (100 mi), Newberg (80 mi), Amity (55 mi) or Grand Ronde (28 mi).

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How’s this for drama: More than 7,000 years ago, a volcano here erupted with a force 40 times as powerful as when Mt. St. Helens blew, leaving a hole almost 2,000 feet deep. And, bless the National Park Service, crews built a road around it—one that everyone agrees is a stunner. Start at Diamond Lake, climb up to the crater, ride around the rim, then careen back to Diamond for a swim and a beer. The rim alone offers 3,900 feet of climbing, with constantly shifting views of the nation’s deepest, bluest water. ~ Bicycling Magazine

Crater Lake Century

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Fort Klamath Museum
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Register

Check our event calendar for more of the Best Bike Rides in Oregon.

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