Gear Up for Biking

May 12, 2012 (Updated May 17, 2012)
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It’s time to get reacquainted with that two-wheeled thing in the garage that you have been ignoring all winter. Are you up for some white-knuckled criterium spectating, or a muddy mountain bike race? How about a funky art-bike parade? Or Maybe you just feel like going for a ride. Here are some ideas to get your biking season in gear.

Watch or race: The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic rolls out June 8-10 in the Columbia River Gorge. Pro riders and weekend warriors alike compete in road races, a time trial and a criterium in downtown Hood River. (Warning: “Crash Corner” is not the place for the faint-hearted). Mud will fly during the Oregon Enduro Series Super D (that stands for downhill) races in Bend, Ashland, Hood River, Sisters and Mt. Hood/Sandy. Races start in June and roll through summer, with finals in September.

Mix and mingle: For quirky fun in Bike Town (a.k.a. Portland) check out Mississippi Avenue’s Cirque du Cycling on June 16 for the Art Bike Parade, Family Ride and high-speed bike race. Or double your fun at the 27th Annual Northwest Tandem Rally, June 29-July 2 in Salem. Enjoy scenic group rides, wine tasting, food and music.

Just ride: The Oregon Trail still offers adventurers an epic ride. Check out Oregon’s newest (and ninth) official scenic bikeway. The Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway is a challenging, 134-mile figure-eight loop leaving from La Grande and looping through Union, North Powder and Baker City in rugged Eastern Oregon country including sections of the original Oregon Trail. Take a couple days if you need; there are plenty of great places to stay and eat along the way.

And if you’re hankering to see what’s at the end of the Oregon Trail, embark on the inaugural Barlow Road Ride, an historic two-day century (100-mile) course from Oregon City to Government Camp.

National champs: Watch the big dogs race for national titles in Bend. The USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships take place September 5-9, with 800 competitors expected. And stick around Bend for the USA Cycling Marathon Mt. Bike National Championships on September 15.

Editor’s Note: To see a complete list of cycling events in Oregon this year, check out RideOregonRide.com

About The
Author

Eileen Garvin
Eileen Garvin lives and writes in Hood River. When she’s not hunched over her keyboard or digging in the garden, you can find her mountain biking, kiteboarding, hiking, skiing or camping somewhere in Oregon.