Get ready for an incredible soaking, cycling, sundae-eating Sunday ride through Portland with hundreds of other fun-loving summery souls. The Hottest Day of the Year Ride features a festival start and finish line plus two cool rest stops on the easy, flat 18-mile course. The first rest stop is breaking all records with Oregon's longest slip n' slide! Get ready to reclaim your youth and see how far you can slide. The second rest stop is at McMenamin's Chapel Pub for a watermelon eating and seed spitting contest. You'll also be treated to fresh lemonade and yummy cookies.

The fun doesn't end there! As you cross the misted finish line at Lucky Lab Northwest, you'll be amazed by the gigantic make-you-own sundae bar. Pile the toppings to the sky and get ready to enjoy a refreshing summer treat after a day of riding.

There will be finish line water games, prizes, a balloon catapult and, best of all, The Hottest Day of the Year Ride is going for the world record for the largest water fight ever recorded. Squirt guns are provided, but there's also a dry zone for those of you who would prefer to watch from the sidelines.

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This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member, register online and you'll save $5 and you'll get a free beer or soda at the finish line.

( Register ) ( More info )

Watch the area's fastest cyclists compete for the region's biggest purse in the Portland Twilight Criterium, presented by Subaru. The course surrounds the North Park Blocks of downtown Portland, creating an island oasis of 360-degree race viewing.

This criterium is a technical race, forcing racers to jostle for position and work together as a team to block components. Racers are challenged to complete the most number of laps in a set period of time, which makes for a thrilling race of shouting, cowbell ringing and cheering, especially as the clock winds down. There's always fast-paced excitement for cyclists and spectators alike at the Portland Twilight Criterium. In fact, you can get close enough to the action to feel the wind from racers rushing by as they complete each half-mile lap in just over one minute.

This free event features a Widmer Beer garden and a special preview show of Oregon Manifest, the annual handbuilt bike extravaganza. Builders will be on site to talk about their unique creations. Bring a picnic or visit the food vendors and grab a seat on the grass for one of Portland's most thrilling downtown events. The festivities, food court and beer garden open at 4:00pm and races begin at 6:30pm.

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This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member, you'll be treated to the VIP lounge for premier viewing, food and free beer.

( More info ) ( Schedule of events )

The Prostate Cancer Challenge, in partnership with the Portland Century, is sponsoring a charity bicycle ride for the benefit of prostate cancer research at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. This unique fundraiser offers riders a chance to participate in the incredible Portland Century while supporting prostate cancer research. Riders are asked to secure pledges and donations in addition to the Portland Century ride registration and the tax-deductible fundraising donations go directly to research conducted at the Prostate Cancer Research and Treatment Program within the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

It is estimated that one in every six men will get prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men after lung cancer. While prostate cancer is more common in men than breast cancer is in women, there is not the same awareness, screening or funding for research to improve treatment options for men. The Prostate Cancer Challenge wants you to help them to catch up by participating in this event.

To participate, first register for the Portland Century, then download fundraising forms from the PC Challenge website.

( Register ) ( PC Challenge Info )

OrganicAthlete invites you on a delicious healthy foodie ride to celebrate the rich, thriving natural agriculture that can be found within a bike ride of Portland. The 2009 Tour dÕOrganics route starts in SE Portland and leads riders through several organic farms and the Out To Pasture Animal Sanctuary. There are four different ride lengths to choose from: 35, 65, and 100 mile routes, and new this year is an 18 mile family ride.

Riders of every ability will enjoy rest stops at each of the organic farms where they'll be serving up organic, whole foods and an organic vegan lunch for the 65 and 100 mile riders. The finish line features a fresh, healthy vegan meal. A well-marked route and vehicle support will allow you to focus on enjoying the beauty of bicycling the countryside. This very special one-of-a-kind ride is great for families and friends.

( Register ) ( More info )

This is an ORbike member event, so we couldn't resist telling you a little more about the ride. While our mission is to focus helping you find great Oregon rides, the Seattle Century, modeled after the popular Portland Century, offers top-notch support and is a great way to tour the Seattle area. To make the journey north a little easier for you, we're offering $10 off your registration.

The Seattle Century is a catered bicycle tour of Seattle like no other. You'll be well supported at every pedal stroke of the ride on the full (100 mile) or half (50 mile) century routes. And we're not just talking about the basics: think fresh pies while stopping at the farm where the berries were picked; gorgeous routes through rural Carnation, a tour of historic areas and generous rest stops every 15 miles. The finish line party is a gourmet dinner featuring grilled asparagus, fresh salmon, and berry cobbler a la mode plus free beer and music in the delightful garden amphitheater of Magnuson park.

You'll enjoy scenic, well planned routes along this amazing tour as you explore Seattle and the outlying eastern communities on a mixture of quiet rural roads and bike paths and a mostly flat course. Extensive support on this surprisingly flat looped ride makes for a great first-time century or half century.

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This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member, register online and you'll save $10.

( Register ) ( More info )

The 9th Annual Bicycle Film Festival, presented by 42BELOW, returns to bike friendly Portland for a third year. This traveling international festival, not to be confused with Portland's own Filmed by Bike, includes two days of films, parties, Goldsprints roller races and more.

On Friday and Saturday, the screenings take place at the Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton Street. Film highlights include Where Are You Go, where directors by Benny Zenga and Portland-sometime-resident Brian Vernor spend four months on the Tour dÕAfrique; I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes directed by Joe Stakun; The Third Wheel, the story of the pedicab industry, directed by Brian Schoenfelder; and Anima D'Acciaio, where "Ciocc" shares his wisdom and life story while hand building a revolutionary new frame for urban fixed gear cycling, directed by Daniel Leeb.

The Bicycle Film Festival brings together many creative communities - including fashion, music and art coupled with the wide ranging bicycle communities - over a shared passion for riding bikes. For a full list of events, screenings, locations or to purchase tickets and festival passes, check out the website.

( Tickets + info ) ( Watch the trailer )

PORTLAND SUNDAY PARKWAYS | August 16 - Portland
Sunday Parkways opens public space for all people to enjoy a healthy day in the streets. The final of three events for the summer is in August. Parks host activities and thousands come out for this unique event that's sure to rapidly catch on nationwide. The event was started in Bogota, Bolivia (there called Ciclovias) but leave it to Portland to make it a common occurrence in the States!


TOUR DE LAB | September 13 - Portland
A tour of all three Lucky Lab Brew Pubs, with human snacks along the way, dogs on course and a huge all-you-can-eat hot dog finish line feast. Free etched glass pint glasses for all dogged-up riders. Woof! This is an ORbike member event.

( More info: Sunday Parkways ) ( More info: Tour de Lab )