April 15, 2008

Reach the Beach

Many of us are draw to Oregon for it's beauty. We enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring what our state has to offer. And for those of us who also love riding our bikes, Reach the Beach is a fabulous way to get out into the countryside and experience Oregon's bounty. If you've ever dreamed of touring Oregon's countryside by bike, this is the best way to do it, with tons of support, yummy food and great routes.

Reach the Beach is the major fundraiser for the American Lung Association of Oregon. Every pedal stroke helps promote clean Oregon air and healthy Oregon lungs. You'll meander along quiet, gorgeous rural roads in search of a spectacular beach party in Pacific City. Register before midnight on April 13th and you'll pay only $25 for the entry fee.

The packet pickup is Sunday, April 27th from 7-9pm at REI in NW Portland. This special night is an opportunity to review the routes, meet other riders, enjoy appetizers, sample treats and learn more about the ride. You can also sign up for the ride and turn in fundraising contributions at this pre-ride party.

Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 7:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

February 29, 2008

Reach the Beach Training Rides

The training rides schedule for Reach the Beach has just been published. For years, the American Lung Association of Oregon has partnered with the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club to help riders get in shape for the May ride to Pacific City. So it you're not quite feeling up for the 100 mile ride from Portland or the more challenging 110 mile ride from Corvallis, you've got some options. You could hope on the shorter routes, such as 26 miles from Grand Ronde, 55 miles from Amity or 80 miles from Salem. Or you could start training now! the ride is not until May 17th, so, really, you've got plenty of time to get get your legs (and rear) ready.

The training rides are free and they're a great way to get ready for riding miles on end. They range in difficulty so you can choose a ride that's right for you. Plus, many of the people on the training rides are veteran Reach the Beach participants so they can help answer questions you may have about the route. [ schedule ]

Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 6:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

September 19, 2006

Pumpkins Mark Your Way

What a fun ride if pumpkins are what mark your route along the way. The Harvest Century, in its third year, is a celebration of the fall season and an opportunity to ride through the countryside. All routes showcase the beauty of Oregon's harvest season, from the crush at local vineyards, to the crunch of fallen leaves under your tires.

Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 7:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

August 29, 2006

Portland Century - 1,300 Riders!

Wow! 1,300 riders came out for the first-ever Portland Century, a ride that celebrates Portland. Thousands of dollars were raised for Hands on Portland, an organization that promotes volunteerism in Portland. This is sure to be an annual Portland tradition.

Groups of riders were armed with cameras and captured the sites and experiences of the course. Check out the photo gallery.

| Posted by orbike at 9:29 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

August 24, 2006

How Bad is Bad? How Steep is Steep?

The number one question for the Portland Century has been "Just how severe is that severe climbing arond Roslyn Lake?" The elevation maps are finally complete and you can view a mile-by-mile guide here. This section of the course incorporates elements of the Torture 10,000, an anual ride known for it's extreme climbing.

We've definitely set up a challenging course, but it's gorgeous out there and an opportunity to head out to the Bull Run area, the source of Portland's drinking water. Speaking of water, there are two water spots in that area, one at the peak of the first climbing and another after the next section of climbing. Details are on the elevation maps.

Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 8:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

Weather Forecast Says A GREAT DAY for a Century!

They weather forecast for Sunday's first-ever Portland Century is 86 degrees and partly cloudy. Pretty great weather for riding a century! I'm sure many of you would perfer 60 degrees, but for this time of year (two weeks after the Hottest Day of the Year Ride), this weather prediction isn't so bad.

Volunteers are still needed and some positions allow you to ride for free (a $40 value). For more information on the volunteer positions available, see the volunteer page of the Portland Century website.

Online registration closes today but you can register on site on the morning of the ride.

Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 11:54 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

August 23, 2006

The Portland Century - it's About Time!

On Monday, 36 people registered for the first-ever Portland Century. The registrations just keep rolling in . The downtown Bike Gallery called us to tell us their registration book is overflowing with completed registration forms and we need to come unload some of them. So how many people will show up on Sunday? I don't know, but we're placing bets and hoping for 750!

Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 6:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

August 14, 2006

Yaquina Lighthouse Century

I can't make it to the Yaquina Lighthouse Century because I'll be down in Oakridge for Mt. Bike Oregon, but it looks like a GREAT ride that I'm sorry to miss. I'm a sucker for a nice coast ride, and this one definitely has it. There are great views along the way on some of Oregon's most picturesque back-road riding with panoramic ocean, bay and river views, as well as the Coast Mountains and wonderful old-growth forests. The organizers guarantee crashing waves and quiet backwaters on each of the three different routes and they highly recommend making a weekend trip of it if you can.

Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 3:28 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

August 2, 2006

Who's Riding the Portland Century?

Kate Lopresti, 34, is one of the 98 riders who have already signed up for the first-ever Portland Century. Kate is using the ride as a way to gear up for her first Cycle Oregon experience in September.

Has Kate ever ridden a century? "Never!" she says. "This will be my first time. YIKES!"

Kate's usual riding includes biking around Portland, starting from her home in Southeast. "I ride downtown, the Esplanade, the Interstate bike lane, Mt. Tabor, over to St. John's and Kelley Point Park, Johnson Creek Trail (not all in the same ride!). My daily commute adds up to about 8 miles round trip: I bike downtown, take the MAX to Beaverton, and bike the rest of the way to the office. When I'm out for a longer ride on the weekends I ride about 20 miles."

This summer is also riding Cycle Oregon and Bridge Pedal, but she's really excited about the Portland Century, a ride that is all about Portland.

"One of the reasons I moved to Portland in 1998 is that I wanted to live in vibrant city, but I didn't want to own a car," she says. "Portland fits the bill on both counts. There's always something going on and I can usually get to it by bike or bus. I've been car-less for nearly ten years because Portland isn't as spread out and car-centric. I'm reminded of that every day I bike Walker road in Beaverton."

Comments (6) | Posted by orbike at 12:06 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

July 25, 2006

The Portland Century - An Incredible Century!

I just finished the route maps for the Portland Century, and it's a pretty awesome route. I mean, how cool is it to ride a century and get to finish by riding along Broadway downtown, past all the city action to a finish line feast of scrumptious local seasonal foods?

It's a Century (and a 40 and 60) filled with some of the best sights in Portland - but it is not for the faint of heart. The 40- and 60-mile routes are totally flat, but the century includes a special tour of Bull Run and Oxbow Park. There is some pretty serious climbing in there, but it's well worth it. If you are one of the many fans of the Torture 10,000 (a ride made famous by the Portland Wheelmen), then you're going to dig this course.

Each route has a series of very Portland highlights, but only the Century includes them all.

Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 6:42 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

July 13, 2006

Oregon Bike Events are Growing

There seems to be no shortage of great Bike events happening in Oregon this summer and most have seen their numbers grow. The Barlow Trail Century, in it's third year, experienced huge growth on one of the hottest days to hit summer. The Night Ride last Saturday was off the hook. Tons of riders are already signing up for the brand new Portland Century and Mt. Bike Oregon is poised to sell out.

For our loyal readers in Eugene, don't miss out on , a weekend of bike-themed films at the DIVA center.

Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:00 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

June 26, 2006

Riding a Century in the 100's

Who is crazy enough to want to pound through 100 miles in 100+ degrees heat? Plenty of people, apparently. River City's Jason Bietz, who organized the event, reports that, "The 2006 BARLOW TRAIL CENTURY was a mad success! Registration was up approx. 50%! We were running SAG like CRAZY!! People were really good about drinking though. We tried to provide salty foods and cool drinks where ever we could."

[ read more ]

Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 1:07 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

June 24, 2006

Barlow Trail Century

The Barlow Trail Century is tomorrow! Organizer Jason Bietz from River City is wondering about all that heat that's coming our way, but that shouldn't deter riders. Registration is up this year for the Barlow. It's not too late to register, you can register at the start of the event. There's a lot going on this weekend!

Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 7:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBack