Floyd A. O'Reilly Blog: Weekend Event Guide: Backroad adventures, Springwater alternates, Pedalpalooza picks, and more

Discover the Crown-Zellerbach Trail and much more on Saturday’s Columbia Century Challenge.

Boy have we got a weekend in store for you!

The Weekend Event Guide is sponsored by Abus Bike Locks. Thanks Abus!

From epic challenges to unrivaled hijinx, there are many great things to choose from. And remember, this is just a sampling. The BikePortland Calendar and Shift’s Official Pedalpalooza Calendar have even more.

What do you have planned? I’ll be headed east to the small town of Burns in eastern Oregon for the Skull 120 Gravel Race. Tomorrow night there will be a dinner where locals will offer knowledge about the area and share their hopes for how cycling can help boost their economy.

Here are this week’s selections…

Friday, June 15th

Breakfast on the Bridges – 7:00 am to 9:00 am on Steel, Hawthorne and Tilikum Bridges
Leave yourself extra time on the commute to stop and enjoy free conversation, coffee, and maybe even some nibblings at this special, Pedalpalooza edition of BonB. Look for it at the east end of lower Steel, west end of Hawthorne, west end of Tilikum. More info here.

The Mural Ride – 6:00 pm at Portland Art Museum
Discover Portland’s thriving mural scene on this ride that will check out several hotspots around downtown and the central eastside. Will meet with Dropout Prom at the end. More info here.

No Hands Olympics – 6:30 pm at Overlook Park
Riding no hands is fun and it looks really cool. How good at it are you? This is your chance to compete against the best no-handers in the city. Games will include: fastest lap, last bike standing, off-road rally, bikeathlon, and more! Free pretzels and beer discount at Hopworks Bike Bar follows. More info here.

Dropout Prom – 9:00 pm to late at Colonel Summers Park
The theme for this year’s annual shindig is “Endless Summer” so don your best beachy outfit, grab a date or three, and have fun! More info here.

Saturday, June 16th

Columbia Century Challenge – All day at Heritage Park in Scappoose
A great opportunity to revel and ride in the historic backroads of Columbia County. Different routes to choose from on this fully-supported event. More info here.

Skull 120 Gravel Grinder Race/Ride – All day in Burns, Oregon
A challenging course on remote unpaved roads awaits you in the untamed Malheur National Forest. The Harney County Chamber of Commerce, USFS, BLM, and Northern Paiute Tribe have collaborated on this event. Hope to see some BikePortland readers out there! More info here.

Multnomah County Bike Fair – 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm at SE Alder and 12th
The traditional fun fest right in the middle of Pedalpalooza. Expect all sorts of hilarious hijinx like a slow race, bike jousting, and more. Bring your BBQ! More info here.

Springwater Closure Alternate Routes Ride – 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Brooklyn Park
We’re just about two weeks away from a major closure that impact thousands of people: The Springwater Corridor will close near Oaks Bottom starting July 1st and this ride will help familiarize you with detour routes. More info here.

Photo Ride – 6:30 pm at Salmon Street Fountain
Join bike photographer extraordinaire Eric Thornburg for a ride that will celebrate and encourage your love of image-making by bike. More info here.

Sunday, June 17th

Epic Urban Street Tree Ride – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Portland Art Museum
Ride from downtown to the Cully neighborhood while learning about the vital role street trees play in our lives. Led by Portland Sustainability Commissioner and eco-friendly housing developer Eli Spevak. More info here.

Slowest Ride of the Year – 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Salmon Street Fountain
When your ride leader is on a unicycle and dressed in a tiger costume, you know you’re in for some fun. “Any human powered vehicle is welcome, the slower and stranger the better,” he says. Come one! Come all! Route will be very flat and easy along the Waterfront. More info here.

Proper Pedal Picnic – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Green Zebra Grocery (Kenton)
Put on a classy outfit and step up your picnic game for a jaunt in north Portland with several sophisticated cycling lovers. Expect a five-mile ride to a beautiful location led by a knowledgable and friendly leader (hi Shawn!). More info here.

Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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