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Pedalpalooza Strikes in June

by Marketing

CaptureGet Ready to Ride!

When I first moved to Portland I was charmed to the core by the creative and hyperactive bike scene. It is really unlike any city I’ve been to in this respect. Year round there are all kinds of bike events (the Midnight Mystery Ride, the Thursday Night Ride, Filmed by Bike Film Fest, Sunday night Zoobomb) but the month June is where it all blows up with Pedalpalooza. It’s time to tune up that cruiser and string some lights on your basket – the kickoff ride is June 9th!

Pedalpalooza is over three weeks of bike events and themed rides organized by community groups and individuals, and nearly all these events are free. If you are new to town, it is a great way to meet new people and check out the magical local bike scene. Check out the calendar, there is seriously something for everyone.

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Jonathan Maus/BikePortland

Bike rides run the gamut, from Fixies on Mt. Tabor to the High Heels ride, from Tom Waits to Lemmy, from the Full Moon to Solstice Ride. This year the Bowie vs. Prince ride is going to be EPIC, considering we lost them both this year. Last year the Champagne Ride was quite fabulous and merged nicely with the Dropout Prom ride, which ended in a midnight dance party along the Springwater Corridor trail.

The Rocky Butte Sunset Potluck Picnic Dance Party is also a lovely start of summer ride. Of course, the World Naked Bike Ride also happens June 25th, 8pm, for those of you looking to expose yourself to more of what Portland has to offer.

There’s nothing better than a party on two wheels. So get your gear, pack up a picnic, and get out and play — summer is coming!

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Bike-Based Businesses Unite!

by Ken Wetherell

It's Business Time Bike RideOur very own Ken Wetherell, Founder and Co-Owner of Portland Pedal Power, took part in last Wednesday’s Pedalpalooza event, the “It’s Business Time” Bike Ride. Here’s what he had to say about it!

Organized by Jed Lazar of Soup Cycle, the “It’s Business Time” Bike Ride ride included cyclists from over a dozen local bicycle-based businesses, including Taco the Town, Cookie Pedalers, Co-Creative Pruning and Green Steam Carpet Clean. This year’s ride was the first of what is expected to become an annual event.

The ride began at the fire station on the Eastbank Esplanade, right underneath the Hawthorne Bridge. The caravan of regular bikes, tall bikes, cargo bikes and trailer bikes took off from there and stopped at points along the Esplanade, whereby bike-based business owners gave quick introductions to their businesses to the riding crowd. Joel Domreis of Courier Coffee Roasters brought iced coffee for the whole riding group, but unfortunately had a tip over during one of the breaks and ended up donating all the coffee to the Willamette River.  Thanks anyway, Joel!  You rock!

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Breakfast on Bridges

by Brook
Breakfast on BridgesHave you ever biked across the Hawthorne or Steel Bridge at some point between 7am and 9am on the last Friday of the month? If so, you may have been greeted by a surprise – coffee and doughnuts from a handful of dedicated bicycle enthusiasts! If you’ve experienced this wonderful event, but missed out on the details while enjoying your treat, you were taking part in Breakfast on Bridges, served by the lovely people of Shift.

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Bike Portland : Looking forward to June!

by stacy

So May is coming to a close and the first day of summer is rapidly approaching.  Well… the first day of summer is officially June 20th for us northern hemisphererers. Anyway, as our favorite (or least favorite depending on varying degrees of skin pigmentation) season is here, as are our 2 to 3 months of liberation from the oppressive rains.  So to celebrate the beginning of this dry(er) season, we at Portland Pedal Power decided to prepare you for June with some funtastic events for you to bike portland to while enjoying dry(er) weather.

Portland Rose Festival (June 1st – 3rd and 7th – 10th)


Our favorite annual city fair celebrating that which Portland is most well known for has begun (if you hadn’t noticed the fireworks or giant ferris wheel on the waterfront) and will be ongoing through to June 10th.  You may have missed the fireworks on May 25th but there are still plenty of rides, games, events, and attractions to see down on the waterfront whether you bike to or bike through!  Click here for more information on upcoming events without having to decipher the Rose Festival’s website.

Dates and Hours being:

May 31 – June 1: 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

June 2 – June 3: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

June 7 – June 8: 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

June 9 – June 10: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Portland Beer Week (June 7th – 17th)


Being some of the most profound beer drinkers of our day and age, local brewers: Apex, Deschutes, and Columbia Distributing present Portland Beer Week.  This week is not just a celebration of Portland’s amazing beer, but the amazing people and culture surrounding the city and our free spirited attitude that keeps alive the dreams of the 90s.  This festival isn’t just about drinking and enjoying beer, but educating people about the finer points of beer drinking such as: how to taste and evaluate beer, pairing the proper foods with beer, barrel aging beer, and much more.  Hey, France does wine, we do beer!  For more information and a schedule of events check out PDX Beer Week’s website.

North Portland Sunday Parkways (June 24th)



Sunday Parkways is held by the Portland Bureau of Transportation.  This event is an opportunity for locals to get out and experience Portland’s beautiful parks, physical healthy activity, games, sun, and fun all while promoting Portland’s ever so famous “Greenways.”  Greenways are our vast network of bicycle lanes running throughout the city making bicycling safer for everyone on the road.  The parks covered for June in North Portland are Peninsula, Arbor Lodge, Kenton, and McCoy Parks.  Don’t worry if you can’t make this one, they have a Sunday Parkways event every month through to September.

Portland Pedalpalooza (June 7 – June 30)

So essentially the entire month of June is Portland’s Pedalpalooza!  I’m sure you’ll be seeing more from us about this monumental event.  For a short version, Pedalpalooza is 3+weeks of over 251 (and counting) events revolving around “bikey fun.”  As we always do in Portland, this event is going to be kicked off with a ride on June 7th at 6pm followed by bikey party time nary an hour after.  Throughout the month of June, if you’re not on a bicycle then you’re 1) missing out, 2) totally uncool, 3) going to be very irritated at all the fun we’re having!  So if you don’t own a bicycle, I highly recommend Craig’s list!

Free Movies (All Month!)


So I know Portland loves an oldie but goodie in every sense of the phrase.  Well all around Portland you can find free movies for various nights!  For information on where to find what venues play free movies on which nights check out PDX Pipeline!  You can likely find anything from Ghostbusters to Encounters at the End of the World to Milk.  Whatever your taste, I’m sure there is something for you to kick back with a beer and enjoy.

So enjoy June all you weather crazed cyclomaniacs!  We’ll catch you on the streets!

For more on Portland Pedal Power check out our blog for events and information regarding this city’s hip vibrant radiant gnarly attitude and fun! Yay!

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