Sure the weather got really bad this winter, but is the worst over? We don't think so - the Worst Day of the Year Ride, presented by SKS Germany is still to come! So bundle up and get your costume on, it's time to get off the couch and go for a ride. This year's ride proves to be bigger and better than ever with the finish line party in the street, wild entertainment and free fenders from SKS Germany for everyone who comes in costume.

3,000 riders are expected to circle the city in support of the Community Cycling Center, and registration will close when the ride fills up, so register today. Fight the recession and save $5 when you register at any of the store registration locations before store closing this Sunday. A list of all 23 locations is on the Worst Day of the Year Ride website.

But this ride isn't about just riding, it's also about meeting new friends, showing off wild costumes and eating! Each rest stop features yummy treats like organic produce from spud! and belly-warming hot drinks. At the finish line you'll find a selection of fresh soups from Laughing Planet Cafe, experts in wholesome foods. With fickle weather (will it rain? snow?), costumed riders, fun on course and a very worthy beneficiary, this ride is the perfect Portland tradition. In fact, the ride is so famous that it was recently profiled in Men's Journal and riders are coming from as far away as Toronto to see what all the fuss is rightly about.

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National Geographic is on a quest to find the best destinations for travelers to experience and learn about the unique culture, heritage, environment and scenic beauty found only in the Central Cascades. "We know you live, work and play here," they say. "Now you have a place where you can share your experiences and tell your stories about why this place is special to you and like nowhere else in the world."

Right now there is a big push to get National Geographic to honor Mt. Bike Oregon, Oregon's famous epic mt. bike weekend getaway that takes place in Oakridge. Oakridge is surrounded on all sides by National Forest and is simply a gorgeous place to mt. bike.

Mt. Bike Oregon veterans rave about the Jedi-like rush of the Alpine trail, the speed of Larison Rock, the thrilling drop-offs of Larison Creek, the flow of Flat Creek and the seemingly endless miles of singletrack on Middle Fork. Your comments will help National Geographic understand how amazing Mt. Bike Oregon really is. If you like riding in Oakridge, put in your MBO comments on the National Geographic nomination site.

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Filmed by Bike, the annual festival of bike-themed short movies from around the world, is looking for bike movies for the 2009 festival. The deadline for entries is coming right up but we wanted to give you one last chance to get a movie together in time for this year's festival. And we hear that if you're still working on your movie, or if you're trying to put together a movie about the Worst Day of the Year Ride, you just may be granted an extension. But you'll have to ask the jury about that one.

It seems that Filmed by Bike gets better and better each year. The festival is April 17-23 at the Clinton Street Theater. And though movies come from all over the world, the festival only happens in Portland. This year's new features include the New Belgium street party which will open up the street in front of the theater, a week-long run of movies, special greatest hits screenings and more bike parking. We'll give you an insider peek at special festival features as the event gets closer.

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Once upon a time, if you rode your bike to work, you were likely one of the few people on the road. Fortunately, that's not so much the case anymore. In fact, there are now a variety of bike activities available to cyclists of all stripes. And at the heart of helping get more people on bikes is Shift, a volunteer-powered grassroots organization that exists simply to promote "bike fun." You know, having fun on your bike.

On the third Wednesday of every month, the group invites people to join them for a social get together. It is a chance to brainstorm project ideas, meet other cyclists and tap into a wide variety of resources. Whether you are an experienced cyclist or new to riding, you're welcome to join in on the social, so long as you're not a grouch! Shift takes their fun mantra so seriously that once a month they even give away free breakfast to bike commuters crossing the Portland bridges and they put every bit of their effort into helping more people have fun on bikes.

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