The Community Cycling Center got its start in 1993 with a neighbor on the sidewalk helping neighborhood kids fix their bikes. Since that humble beginning, the CCC has grown to serve thousands as they teach bicycle safety and maintenance to low-income youth and adults.

As the winter holiday season approaches, little volunteer elves are hard at work refurbishing used bikes to give out to children through the CCC's annual Holiday Bike Drive. In December, 500 children will attend a gigantic holiday party that's being held just for them. They will learn about bike safety, munch on holiday treats, enjoy the festivities and they will pick out their own bike to take home. You can help support the Holiday Bike Drive by donating bikes (any size and style), volunteering your time or sponsoring a child with a financial contribution.

You can support the Community Cycling Center this Sunday at the Cross Crusade cyclocross races. Bob's Red Mill will be at the races, serving up free hot oatmeal and helping raise funds for the Holiday Bike Drive. For every dollar you donate, Bob's Red Mill will match your dollar - meaning twice as many contributions for the CCC. So go get yourself some oatmeal!

( More info ) ( Make a donation )

What if Portland built all the freeways it planned? Portland has benefited immensely from freeway projects that never happened. This ride will follow the routes of several highways that never made it off the drawing board, such as the fabled Mt. Hood Freeway, and some that did but were later removed, like Harbor Drive.

This ride, which is approximately 13 miles of riding through moderate traffic, is hosted by Shawn Granton of the Urban Adventure League. Shawn is a local historian who specializes is hosting great rides with interesting themes that educate participants. He's also known for the Eastside Theater Tour (by bike, of course), the Wintertme Palm Tree Ride and the Pedal Potluck Picnics. The Dead Freeways ride is free and unsupported. Head out dressed for the weather and learn a little nerdy knowledge to add to your Portland bike notebook.

( More info ) ( Urban Adventure League website )

Portland Racing brings you the third edition of the Kruger's Crossing Cyclocross Classic - so awesome in the past two years they had to bring it back. This epic race is held at Kruger's Farm, located in the beautiful countryside of Sauvie Island and only 20 minutes from downtown Portland.

In addition to the challenges November weather gods will throw at racers, you can expect a wild course that leads you along rutted farm roads, through berry fields, pastures, a barn, a beer garden and of course the much-heralded corn maze. And don't worry about getting cold - the organizers are staging a bonfire along the course to keep people toasty. Indeed, not your standard cross race.

The party that surrounds the racing features beer, hot wine, hot cider and gourmet food catered by Kruger's Farm Market and Salvador Molly's. Family racers and aspiring kids can participate in the free kiddie race. Parking is limited, so carpooling is strongly encouraged.

( More info ) ( Map and photos )

The cold weather is upon us and you just might be tempted to hang up your bike for the winter, but don't retire those wheels just yet: it's cyclocross season. Whether you're already racing, are thinking about trying (it's never too late) or just love ringing a cowbell on the sidelines, there's no denying that the presence of our fall cyclocross series have really shaken up the state.

This season we have been profiling some pretty awesome riders. And we're not talking the top dogs of racing; these are regular folks who may or may not train, and who just love to be out there on the course. You can read the full series on our blog, where you can weigh in with your own experiences on what getting muddy with bikes has meant to you.

( Read the series ) ( ORbike Blog )

Flo Leibowitz got into cyclocross like a lot of other cyclists just testing out the sport: on her commuter bike. But unlike most other riders, once she was hooked, which happened pretty much right away, she didn't swap her Bianchi San Jose for a more cross-styled bike. "That bike is a singlespeed, and that's the real serendipity in it. It is the only bike I own that can take cross tires. But I realized that I really liked not having to worry about shifting and now I won't race cross any other way. I love it when people yell 'Go single-speed!"'

She's riding a single speed commuter bike, she's 57 and she is blind in one eye. Flo explains it away simply, "I love the 'run what ya brung' mentality." Melissa Boyd, who suggested we profile Flo for this series, considers Flo a mentor, even though it was Melissa who got Flo into Cyclocross. "Flo has enough enthusiasm and courage to take on the entire women's field riding her singlespeed 'townie' bike!" Melissa says.

Flo, who by day loves her job as a philosophy professor at OSU, sounds pretty tough. And she is, for sure, but she also has a dirty little secret that she was brave enough to divulge to ORbike readers. Continue reading this article on our blog to find out Flo's secret and read the other profiles in this series.

( Read the full article ) ( Read other profiles )