Portland was recently honored with the prestigious Platinum Status designation from the League of American Bicyclists and this summer it seems like everyone is riding bikes. Match that with our rich culinary culture and gorgeous landscape and you've got the perfect recipe for a premier bicycle ride: the Portland Century. This catered tour of Portland with 25, 50 and 100 mile routes, is an excellent way to explore Portland and its rustic fringes.

Each rest stop features scrumptious foods such as pasta salad, strawberry short cake, make-your-own deli sandwiches on Dave's Killer Bread, organic blueberries, organic watermelon, Hot Lips Pizza and more. At the finish line they are serving an amazing salmon dinner featuring wild line-caught salmon, grilled asparagus, rice pilaf, mixed greens salad and a rich brownie dessert. Add to that an awesome take-home goodie bag with beer, coffee and smoked salmon; free finish line beer; incredible routes and unrivaled support and you have a perfect ride that absolutely is not to be missed.

You can register at the event, at the pre-ride party or online until midnight on 8/21. The Pre-Ride Party takes place at Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison, from 1-4 on Saturday. Need your bike checked out? Cycology Mobile Bike Repair will be onsite at the Pre-Ride Party for basic bike repair, airing up tires, greasing chains and more. The Pre-Ride Party is a great opportunity to review routes in advance, pick up your rider number, purchase extra meal tickets, ask questions, pick up your t-shirt or jersey, meet other riders, and enjoy specials on no-host food and drink.

Portland is known around the world as a great place to ride a bike and the Portland Century celebrates Portland's cycling successes. Riders are coming from 14 states and Canada to be a part of this fabulous ride.

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Tour de Lab is a bicycle tour of the three Lucky Lab brew pubs. You'll journey along urban routes on this 18-mile ride. But if you feel you really need to earn that pint, you can choose the 30-mile Big Dog course with awesome climbing that starts at the Sellwood Bridge and winds through Riverview Cemetery and later climbs up to Council Crest along tiny, amazing roads with a generous incline.

The ride starts at the Lucky Lab in southeast, heads to northwest and then back to the southeast location. At each of the rest stops you'll earn your doggie gear: tail, ears and nose. Once you're fully dogged up, it's time to kick back, relax and enjoy the dog days of summer with your Tour de Lab pint of Lucky Lab's handcrafted ale. The commemorative print glass is yours to keep.

This event is a benefit for Dove Lewis emergency animal hospital. The finish line is a gigantic dog bar with make-your-own hot dogs and all the fixin's.

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Mt. Bike Brazil is an opportunity to experience a guided mountain bike tour through coffee fields, forests and beautiful lush valleys in a mountainous region of Brazil. Augusto Carniero, owner of Nossa Familia Coffee, grew up in his family's coffee fields and cycling is his passion. Augusto imports his coffee to the U.S. and runs Nossa Familia out of Portland, but he wants you to travel with him back to Brazil for this spectacular adventure.

You'll be staying in a hotel located 1/2 a mile from the farmhouse of Augusto's grandparents, just outside the city of Po�os de Caldas Besides great mountain biking, the trip includes plenty of cultural explorations, culinary delights, a special coffee experience and of course time for relaxation Brazilian style: by a pool, with cold drinks in hand. The riding is mostly on dirt or gravel roads with some climbing and not a lot of technical. You don't have to be an advanced mt. biker to enjoy this trip.

The package price includes ten nights of hotel accommodation, nine days of biking, eleven days in Brazil , all breakfasts, lunches and evening meals, all snacks and hydration drinks during the rides, transportation in Brazil including airport pick up an drop off and a tourist visa. Just when the weather in Oregon is taking a turn for the worse, Mt. Bike Brazil is a chance to see some sunshine and an incredible way to see Brazil!

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America's Vancouver is a great event for beginner triathletes as well as seasoned veterans. The well-plotted course includes swimming in Klineline Pond, biking on country roads and running on the Salmon Creek Greenway path and along scenic park wetlands. There are two significant but short hills on the bike route, but this is otherwise a very flat course, especially on the running portion.

Options include a tri and du with relays, intermediate level, sprint and 10k and 5k races. All competitors will receive a microbial moisture management shirt that wicks moisture away and stays cool. Competitors will also receive a special pint glass. There are plenty of prizes going to the top three male and female competitors overall, the top masters male and female, Clydesdales (male 200+ lbs.), Athenas (female 150+ lbs.), top three overall mt., bike male/female plus three deep in the age divisions. Online registration is open until September 4, but you may also register at the event. For maps and more information, see their website.

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