All summer long we've told you about great opportunities to pound the pavement on two wheels, but now we want to encourage you to ride to explore. Bike to the Future is a benefit ride to raise awareness for the Coalition for a Livable Future's (CLF) work to enhance the quality of life for future generations of Portland.

Bike to the Future is a tour of urban sustainability by bicycle. The 28 mile route is relatively flat and takes you to interactive destinations where you will learn about affordable and sustainable housing, green building, smart urban design, community gardens, urban ecology, local food, alternative transportation and other elements of a vibrant, livable community.

You'll see npGreenway's vision for a trail network along the Willamette River enveloping the north riverfront from the Steel Bridge in downtown Portland to Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge. You'll explore Whitaker Ponds where the Columbia Slough Watershed Council has restored wildlife habitat while creating a relaxing sanctuary. You'll take a tour through New Columbia where green building materials and community-building programs are integral elements in a mixed-income housing development. Along the way you'll traverse bicycle boulevards, traffic calming structures, residential yards abundant with veggies and flowers and plenty of other inspiring attractions.

The ride starts and finishes at Sunnyside Environmental School. Members of all 100 CLF partner organizations receive a $5 discount. See the CLF website for a list of those organizations.

( Register ) ( More info )

The annual Muddy Boot Organic Festival is a city-wide festival celebrating local organic foods and sustainable living in Portland, Oregon.

Under the sunny skies of early September, people from the Portland Area will experience a vibrant and enriching event. With live music, wine, and food you will experience an event like no other in Oregon. The booths, workshops, speakers and walking tours of local sustainable projects will allow you to share in the experience of living naturally. In line with the festival's 2007 theme "Our Footprint in a Changing Climate", and their commitment to sustainable living practices, the organizers are offering a discount to people who arrive by bike.

The festival incorporates interactive workshops on reducing our personal impact on the environment, green-building techniques, home weatherization, the basics of going solar, wind energy for residential use, worm-bin composting and more. The festival will also feature live musical entertainment provided by March Fourth Marching Band, Freak Mountain Ramblers, Dirty Martini, Jackstraw, and many other notable bands.

( More info ) ( Schedule of events )

They really saved the best for the last organized ride of Oregon's cycling season. At the 5th Annual Harvest Century riders choose from three looped routes originating from Champoeg State Park. Pumpkins mark the way to a day filled with beautiful scenery, unrivaled support, friendly volunteers, and a toe-tappin' party featuring live music from Back Porch Revival and The Mighty Filberts, cold beer from Rogue Ales, hot burritos from Taco Del Mar and a huge caramel apple to sink your teeth into. Here's what one rider had to say after finishing last year's event:

Everything was done with a great sense of professionalism. The course was extremely well marked. Registration was a breeze. Your volunteers were wonderful and everything was well stocked. The route was FANTASTIC! I look forward to many future Harvest Centuries.

Register today to enjoy all the charm and surprises you'd expect in a festive October ride where pumpkins mark the way. Proceeds benefit Community Vision.

This is an ORbike member event. If you're an ORbike member, you'll receive $5 your online registration.

( Register ) ( More info )

Whether you're on the sidelines or on the course, you're going to get muddy at cyclocross - and that's part of the beauty of it. A great culture has developed around this blossoming autumnal sport that makes it equally entertaining for both spectators and racers.

If you've got the racing itch, now is the time to scratch it. Expert racer Erik Tonkin is once again hosting a series of clinics on Wednesdays in September. Hone your cross skills with some of the top local crossers and most experienced racers in the Pacific Northwest. Get measured practice first so you can train properly later. Socialize with your brethren. Rejoice in the mud.

There is also a clinic for the very newest of beginners hosted by another cyclocross heavy hitter, Molly Cameron. Molly's workshop is Friday, September 7 at Brentwood/Darlington Park, SE 62nd and Ogden, starting at 6:30 pm.

( Friday clinic ) ( Wednesday clinic series )

Come to the awe-inspiring Southern Oregon Coast for a celebration of cycling in one of the world's most beautiful locales. The five fully supported routes have numerous rest stops as you ride beside the Pacific Ocean, past cascading waterfalls, across historic bridges and along the mighty Rogue River.

( Register ) ( More info )