Many of us are draw to Oregon for it's beauty. We enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring what our state has to offer. And for those of us who also love riding our bikes, Reach the Beach is a fabulous way to get out into the countryside and experience Oregon's bounty. Reach the Beach is the major fundraiser for the American Lung Association of Oregon. Every pedal stroke helps promote clean Oregon air and healthy Oregon lungs. You'll meander along quiet, gorgeous rural roads in search of a spectacular beach party in Pacific City.

This year's event features incredible fundraising prizes like the InFocus home entertainment projector and more. See the event's website for additional prizes and tips on how to bring in the big bucks to support the American Lung Association. Register before midnight on April 13th and you'll pay only $25 for the entry fee.

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Riding all day, big meals at night, a free beer garden, shuttles to the trailheads, clinics and 299 other riders to experience the epic riding with you. Almost sounds to good to be true, doesn't it? It's not, it is Mt. Bike Oregon, the mt. biker's dream weekend getaway in gorgeous Oakridge, Oregon.

Surrounded on all sides by national forest, Oakridge is home to some of the nation's very best riding, and Mt. Bike Oregon is a great way to dig your wheels in and experience three days of riding bliss. There are two weekend to choose from, or do both. Riders come from around the world and the event will sell out, so we suggest you sign up early.

( Register - July ) ( Register - August )

Get on your bike and experience the "King of Roads", the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH), America's first scenic highway. The Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway, a nonprofit organization, is organizing the second annual Gorge Ride. This gorgeous route starts from the Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles and travels along this majestic road and the HCRH State Trail. The ride goes all the way to Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead near Hood River then returns to the start. This route with world-class scenery is a combination of historic highway that is open to motor vehicles and the quiet HCRH State Trail that is open only to hikers and cyclists.

Highlights of the 38.5 mile ride include the breathtaking panorama at Rowena Crest, an exclusive visit to the grounds of the historic Mayerdale Estate and a remarkable journey through the restored Mosier Twin Tunnels. This is a fully supported ride and a fundraising event for the Friends.

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Get ready to race! Round two of the Oregon Cup racing series is the 11th annual Kings Valley Road Race. Winners will get $1,930 in prizes. The organizers have done a lot to make this race even better this year, including a more comfortable rest room experience (less waiting in line). The rolling course is perfect for the strong rider and includes hills, wind and a tough finish. Not for the faint at heart or those of you who have taken the winter off.

Registration opens at 9 and closes 10 minutes before the race. Kings Valley is situated about 1.5 hours from Eugene and Portland. This is an OBRA-sanctioned race so an annual or one-day OBRA membership is required and may be purchased on site.

( More info ) ( Waiver and forms )

Join Oregon's entire cycling community working to make Oregon the nation's premier cycling state at the Oregon Bike Summit. You'll have the chance to connect with industry peers, learn from inspiring case studies and engage with public policy issues over a broad spectrum of cycling-related topics including transportation, recreation, tourism, industry and events.

Keynote speakers include Congressman Earl Blumenauer; Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong; and Hill Abell, board president of the International Mountain Bicycling Association. There will be a number of breakout sessions geared toward specific topics ranging from event planning and creating successful partnerships to sustainable tourism, bike-friendly communities and how to affect policy at the local, state and national levels.

The summit makes its way to a different city every year and this time around it is at the Red Lion Hotel on Jantzen Beach in Portland.

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We love to get to know more about our members, and we recently got to know a little about 32 year old Temple Lentz from Vancouver. Temple has her priorities straight: she she is excited to be an ORbike member for the discounts she receives when registering for events. We agree, saving big is pretty great. Temple is fond of riding because it gives her the ability to go more places, more quickly, but, she adds, "not going so fast that you can't take in the scene around you." Temple really enjoyed riding the Portland Century last August, nominating it her favorite ride of 2008 "It was a good ride and amazing food at the end!" And, not surprisingly, it is the ride she is most looking forward to this year.

On an organized training ride about a year ago, Temple had one of her most empowering moments with her bike: "I blew out a tire within the first fifteen minutes on the road. The rest of the group went on ahead and I was stuck on the side of the road, a genius without a cell phone having never changed a tire or repaired a flat. But realizing that it was make it happen or start a long walk, I did it--and had a great ride once I was back on the road."

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ORbike membership is a great way to save on events, get the royal VIP treatment and stay clued in to all of Oregon's bike excitement. Sign up today and take advantage of your discounts this season.

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