The dog days of summer are coming to a close which means it's time for Tour de Lab, Portland's most fun urban ride with cyclists dressed up as dogs as they traverse the city trotting from one Lucky Lab brew pub to another in support of DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. Choose from the mostly-flat 18 mile Puppy Course that visits three pubs, or show off your inner bulldog with the hillacious 30 mile Big Dog Hill Climb Challenge over Council Crest, which visits all four Lucky Lab locations. New this year, the Puppy Route gives riders a chance to take 'er easy and it skips the steep Multnomah Village location.

At each rest stop, you'll munch on human treats and people biscuits as you earn your dog ears and dog nose to proudly sport along the ride. There is a Best in Show costume contest awarding prizes for people dressed as "things dogs chase", the best group costume, the most elaborate and the most humorous costume. Get your UPS driver outfit together, or don your cutest kitty costume and get ready to be chased all over town.

When you arrive to the finish line you'll be treated to a free microbrew (or other drink) poured in a commemorative etched pint glass. Lunch is served in the "Dog Park" of Lucky Lab's Northwest location for an all-you-can eat hot dog bar with pasta salad and all the best summertime fixins. Hang out with the other dogs and enjoy Lucky Lab's award-winning craft beer, including their famous Super Dog IPA.

Tour de Lab is a howling good time - perfect for groups of friends - and the last ride of summer that is not to be missed. Discount coupons are available in retail locations through Sunday, September 5th and registration is discounted through ORbike through Thursday, September 9th.

( Register ) ( More info )

The Harvest Century caters to riders who appreciate early autumn and the pleasures of crisp morning air, hot apple cider, clear blue skies and leaves crunching under their tires. Pumpkins mark the way to tricks and treats like rolling hills, ferry crossings, head and tail winds, wine tastings, and landscapes bursting with color. Riders will enjoy bountiful rests stops, a toe-tapping finish line party and all the charm and surprises you would expect in a festive October ride. Choose from fully supported looped routes of 100, 75, or 45 miles from Washington County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro.

Invite your loved ones to join you in the afternoon for the family friendly
three-mile route and celebrate the harvest together. Register by September 30 and save $10.

This ride is presented by Community Vision to support people's
freedom to live and thrive independently, regardless of ability or income. Participants are encouraged (not required) to raise pledges while earning quality prizes that will help keep cyclists warm and dry, riding throughout the fall and winter seasons. One hundred percent of the event proceeds benefit Community Vision, Oregon's largest non-profit organization providing customized, one-on-one support to adults with developmental disabilities in their own homes.

( More info ) ( Routes )

Celebrate handmade bikes! The 2010 Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show, presented by The Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association (OBCA), features exhibitions showcasing bicycle craftsmen and women from Oregon and beyond. These master builders will display their artistry in a celebration of the handbuilt bicycle. The two-day exhibition takes place in inner NE Portland at Sandbox Studio.

The jam-packed schedule includes seminars and speakers for attendees interested in learning more about manufacturing, design, industry and general bicycle culture. This incredible event is an excellent opportunity to get an up-close look at some of the world's most finely crafted bicycles. The famous Hopworks Beer Bike will be pouring locally brewed organic beer.

The show is open to the general public from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Entrance to the show is $10 at the door and children under 12 are free. Discounted tickets are available for only $8 when you purchase them online by Thursday, October 7th.
It's easy to ride your bike to Sandbox Studio and ample self-lock bike parking will be available in front.

The OBCA is a non-profit organization that unites bicycle manufacturers in the state of Oregon for professional development and the promotion of the Oregon bicycle industry.

( Tickets ) ( More info )

Bikes are the world's most fun and accessible way to get around and posters are the world's most fun and accessible art form. ARTCRANK brings them together.

ARTCRANK is a showcase of bicycle-inspired original poster artwork that is dubbed "a poster party for bike people". The traveling exhibition will be in for the second year during the First Thursday art walk. The collection of local work is showing at The Cleaners gallery at Ace Hotel.

ARTCRANK's goal is to showcase artwork that people can enjoy looking at and afford to take home. The exhibition began in Minneapolis in 2007, and has expanded to London, Denver, St. Louis, Portland and San Francisco. Each show features posters created by local artists from the host city. Admission is always free and the posters are modestly priced.

On the night of the show, there will be a series of group rides led by other Portland bike all-stars starting from points over town and leading people to the gallery, so plan on arriving by bike. Deschutes Brewery is serving beer and proceeds benefit Bikes to Rwanda. Last year the Cleaners was absolutely packed with people, so get ready to rub elbows with Portland's hot-to-trot bike glitterati and common-folks alike.

( More info ) ( ARTCRANK in other cities )

Headed to the famous Pendleton Round-Up? Don't forget to bring your bike along! The Pendleton Round-Up rodeo attracts over 50,000 people to the area for four days of rodeo fun.

Bareback (rodeo) riding may be the toughest event on a cowboy's body. The rules are simple: Place a wiry 150-pound cowboy on the back of a hulking, snorting temperamental 2,000 pound bull and see if he can ride the beast for an eternal eight seconds…with one hand strapped to the bull's massive backside. It's kind of like riding a bike, only perhaps a little more difficult.

Attending the Pendleton Round-Up - with endless activities for spectators, beer gardens and late night fun - can be hard on a biker, too. That's why Pendleton Wheels bike club hosts their annual Round-Up Recovery ride. The ride meets at the Convention Center an hour past high noon. The group will collectively decide how far to ride, and split off into groups of similarly-skilled riders. This is an excellent opportunity to experience some of the best (road, not bull) riding the gorgeous Pendleton region has to offer.

Pendleton Wheels is a loosely knit social riding group in the Pendleton area. Though they don't host any large-scale public rides, strangers are always welcome on the farm, so saddle up and let 'er buck.

( More info ) ( About Pendleton Wheels )