Get ready to watch hundreds of bikes on the silver screen: it's time for Filmed by Bike, the festival of bike-themed movies from around the world. Though submissions come from far and wide, the festival only happens in Bike City, USA (that's Portland). In a town where bike routes, cyclocross, Bakfiets and green boxes are part of every day conversation, it's no surprise Portland has a bike-themed film festival that has grown to be so huge.

The festival has expanded to include the New Belgium Street Party and beer garden on opening night, 80 movies, 13 showtimes, seven days and four separate programs. During the week, the screenings get particularly fantastic. On April 20th and 21st, they're giving away chocolates to the first 50 attendees and filmmakers and film subjects will be on stage for a Q+A session. On April 22, it's Going for the Gold, stories of advocacy and progress. And the festival ends on a high note with greatest hits from the past six years, including Ski Boys, an all-time crowd favorite featuring farm boys horsing around on bikes in the field.

You can get a taste of what Filmed by Bike is all about and watch sneak previews of some of the movies on the website. Cruise through the program and plan to be at the Clinton Street Theater all next week - there are plenty of impressive bike movies and action to see.

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This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member, you'll get half off admission to the 4/20 and 4/21 screenings. Verify your membership is up-to-date then just show up at the theater to take advantage of this deal.

( Schedule ) ( Advance Tickets )

Experience the Columbia River Gorge like you've never seen it before on this incredibly supported ride through Oregon and Washington's stunning landscape. The well-planned course crosses bridges over the mighty Columbia and explores Oregon and Washington. You'll encounter gorgeous views on all three of the mostly-flat routes: 100 miles, 50 miles and a 14 mile family ride.

Rest stops feature delicious treats every 12 miles to keep you fueled and delighted every step of the way. Clear course markings will easily guide you so you and your friends can relax, cruise along the ride, stop for photos, enjoy breathtaking Gorge views and have a great ride. At the end of the ride you can relax in the setting of the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum amid one of the nation's largest collections of unique flying aircraft, with free museum admission, a great finish line lunch and free beer.

The ride organizers invite you to join them in honoring the memory of their son, 12-year-old Jackson Hill who passed away from sarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissue. This ride bas been growing every year as hundreds of people come out to honor Jackson's legacy and ride through one of his favorite parts of the country.

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Ride sweet singletrack all day, drink microbrews all night - it is pretty much a mt. biker's dream come true. Add on top of that being surrounded on all sides by National Forest, meeting bikers from across the globe, shuttles to the trailhead of some of the world's best trails and someone else to cook your meals - and you've got an incredible way to spend time on your bike.

The trails in Oakridge are unrivaled. You'll feel the Jedi-like rush of Alpine, navigate switchbacks, choose from technical to death-defying, opt for an all-day cruise on Middle Fork and exhaust yourself with three full days of riding. There's a refreshing river in camp for afternoon cool-downs, stretching and clinics in camp and that delicious free beer garden all night.

This is Oregon and the organizers recognize that the only proper way to entertain out-of-state mt. bikers is with a killer selection of some of Oregon's best microbrews. So this year they're offering Block 15, Ninkasi and Oakshire out of Eugene and Oakridge's own Brewer's Union Local 180. So hit the beer garden, and relax under the towering tree canopy of the National Forest as you listen to the river rush by and enjoy some fine, fine brewskies. Oakridge is your time - you have not a care of the world.

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This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member, you'll save $20 on registration and you'll get a free massage in camp.

( Watch the video ) ( Photo tour )

We're talking about some pretty cool rides and events in this newsletter, and if you're an ORbike member you can get in to many of them at a discounted rate. That's the beauty of being a member. Membership is only $40 a year and you can easily save that amount and more by just participating in a few events this season.

But don't just take our word for it! "I'd be crazy not to be an ORbike member," says John P. "I ride most of the local rides on your list and I'm always looking for an incentive to ride more. I'm an ORbike member and I stay fit, active and have tons of fun."

You can sign up for membership at any time and cash in on 365 days of sweet, sweet deals. We'll also hook you up with a goodie bag full of cool treats like fenders, energy bars, coffee and more. So sign up today and start saving the big bucks while you ride your bike.

( Join Now ) ( Membership Deals )

The Oregon Bike Summit is a chance to join key members of Oregon's cycling community in Salem as they continue making Oregon the finest cycling state in the nation. For the first time they'll be presenting the Oregon bike agenda directly to state legislators. The presenters will also offer an update from the National Bike Summit on this year's critical re-authorization of the Federal Transportation Bill.

This event is your chance to influence the Oregon legislature and the governor to support a strong bike agenda - all you have to do is show up prepared to advocate for bike issues. Get ready for influential keynote speakers, powerful lobbying sessions and, of course, a refreshing group bike ride on Wednesday. It is free to attend if you just want to talk with legislators, but there is a fee to attend the conference.

If you can't make it to Salem, you can get your advocacy fix at the Wednesday night program for Filmed by Bike: Going for the Gold: Stories of Advocacy and Progress. This program features the international mini-documentary work of Streetfilms. There is punchy, colorful commentary between the movies and 18 films in 90 minutes on topics ranging from infrastructure and carfree events to a bike vs. car vs. transit race.

( Oregon Bike Summit ) ( Going for the Gold )