Can you really dress up Lycra? The annual Alice B. Toeclips awards dinner tries to do just that as they bring together a room full of cyclists for a night of honoring each other's good work. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) put out the call and 34 of your fellow riders across the state were nominated for their impressive bike advocacy efforts. And, truth be told, cyclists clean up pretty nicely, making for quite a fun gala night.

Since 1995, Alice B. Toeclips, the tongue-in-cheek heroine of the BTA, and her coveted silver toeclip awards have crisscrossed the region from Ashland to Vancouver, WA. The awards are an effort to strengthen bicycle advocacy by recognizing individuals and community groups for stellar efforts that have improved bicycling conditions, encouraged children and adults to ride their bikes and made communities healthier and happier

Doors open at 5:00 PM for complimentary wine, hors-d'oeuvres, hobnobbing with the bicycle elite (and not-so-elite but equally honored) and a lush silent auction.

( Register ) ( List of nominees )

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 third 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 the 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, a special 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.

( Register ) ( More info )

There's nothing quite like the experience of crossing the finish line after a long ride and having someone hand you a free beer. That's the kind of treatment we think every cyclists deserves, and that's why we offer free finish line beers and many other VIP perks to ORbike members. Just reading this newsletter is great, but to become a member you need to take it a step further and register for our annual member program.

Membership pays for itself in no-time. You'll get discounts on more than 12 great rides and events all throughout the season, including Reach the Beach, the Night Ride, the Portland Century and many others.

New features for this year include half price on all ORbike merchandise, a free fender from SKS Germany, half price tickets to Filmed by Bike and more. You can also take advantage of seemingly endless VIP perks to make you feel like the biking rockstar you are.

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This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member you'll save $10 at the time of registration. Contact us for your discount code.

( Join now! ) ( Membership deals )

When spring arrives, all roads lead to the beach as 2,000 cyclists gear up for Reach the Beach, the annual fundraising ride for the American Lung Association in Oregon. There are four great routes to choose from and with distances ranging from 26 to 100 miles, there's a route for everyone. But if you're not yet in shape for the route you'd really like to ride, don't worry. Once again the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club continues their tradition of partnering with the American Lung Association in Oregon to lead free training rides nearly every weekend from now until May 16th.

The ride has a unique feature for your non-riding friends and coworkers: an opportunity to just dream of reaching the beach in Pacific City. The ALAO recognizes that while we all care about clean Oregon air and healthy Oregon lungs, not everyone rides a bike. That's why this year they have added Dream of the Beach, an option for people to participate, raise funds, earn prizes and get a free t-shirt without ever hopping on two wheels.

The early registration rate for Reach the Beach ends at midnight on April 12th, so sign up today and save.

( Register ) ( More info )

Veer is a documentary that explores AmericsÕs fast-growing bicycle culture and sub-culture by profiling five people whose lives are inextricably tied to bicycling and the bike-centric social groups they belong to. All from different backgrounds, these peoples' lives and their individual efforts intersect to create community change they never anticipated. Veer examines what it means to be part of a community, and how social movements are formed. The filmmakers spent more than a year attending Portland bike rides and events, getting to know the cycling community, filming from cargo bikes and becoming enamored of our cycling culture.

The movie recently debuted to sold-out audiences at the Victoria Film Festival in February. The Portland premiere will be held at the NW Film Center Whitsell Auditorium at 7:00 PM. Director Greg Fredette, and Cinematographer, Jason Turner will hold a Q+A session following the screening.

The filmmakers enjoyed getting to know the cycling community and they appreciate how openly they were accepted at the many events and rides they attended. So as a giveback to the ORbike community, as a dedicated newsletter reader (you do not need to be a member) you can get $1 off the ticket price if you bring a printout of this newsletter with you to the box office.

And remember, if you're an ORbike member, discounts like this are just the tip of the iceberg. ORbike members get these sorts of sweet hookups all season long.

( Watch the trailer ) ( More info )

This early season distance ride started as a guess and challenge when it began six years ago. Organizers wondered if anyone would be brave enough to ride 100 miles this early in the year. But the gorgeous views and great route has kept people coming back year after year.

The 100 mile trek features only a small amount of climbing in the second half of the ride, but for the most part it is not a climbing route. The views are gorgeous as you head out to Smith Rock. From there it is on to Prineville, the Prineville Reservoir and then back to Bend. Two food stops will keep you fueled along the way. The entry fee includes course marking, maps, energy food and drink. Because this is March in Oregon, the organizers encourage you to come prepared for any type of weather. This event is organized by Hutch's Bicycles in Bend and starts from their shop on 3rd Street.

( More info ) ( Other Bend-area rides )