Photo courtesy of Jonathan Maus/BikePortland.org

Celebrate Bike Love, Portland-Style      

Pedalpalooza delivers a month of wacky fun                  
    Pedalpalooza has something for every cycling enthusiast – and that’s not even including the nudists and cross-dressers!
    With over 200 events in Portland ranging from legal clinics and road rides to potlucks and scavenger hunts – and yes, even a Naked Ride and a Clown House Bikini Wash – you may find yourself hard-pressed to pick just a few. Following are some of our favorites.

June 8: Pedalpalooza 2006 Kickass Parade; begins at NW Johnson & 10th (Jamison Square) at 6:30 p.m.; come early and in costume to decorate your bike; http://shift2bikes.org.
June 11: Summer Bicycle Show and Swap Meet; 1515 SE 46th & Hawthorne Blvd., (The Recyclery); 1 p.m.; (503) 734-8831, www.TheRecyclery.com.
June 14: PUMP Forest Park Ride and BBQ; begins at Skyline Tavern, 8031 NW Skyline Blvd.; bring something to cook on the grill afterward, and/or a dish to share; 6 p.m.; ages 21+; www.pumpclub.org.
June 17: Portland Bike Summit; PSU-Smith Center, 1825 SW Broadway; come
discuss ways to expand and improve the city’s bicycle network; 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.;
(503) 823-7699, timothy.forsberg@pdxtrans.org.
June 17: Pangaea Project Bike Scavenger Hunt; teams of five cyclists will race all over Portland to find clues; 10 a.m; (503) 517-8999, www.thepangaeaproject.org.
June 18: 4th Annual Zoobomb Century; Washington Park MAX Station;
grueling day-long race; be the first to ride a hundred miles (mostly downhill) on a little kid’s bike; 10 a.m. SHARP for racers, all day for spectators; ellipsisdbg@yahoo.com or
captainclash667@yahoo.com.
June 24: Multnomah County Bike Fair; one-day carnival of mayhem and music at Col. Summers Park (SE 20th and Belmont); beer garden; volunteers needed; 2-7 p.m.; MCBF@FilmedByBike.org, www.ShiftToBikes.org/mcbf.

For a complete list of events, see http://shift2bikes.org.

Cycle in Style

Seattle company retro-fits the modern bike jersey

   Admit it. If you’re a cyclist, your assortment of bicycle jerseys is starting to rival your grandmother’s pot holder collection. If you want to stand out at your next race, or even on your commute to work, Seattle-based Retro Image Apparel Company might have a jersey that’s just your style.
    The company, which designs a wide range of apparel products, recently launched a line of bicycle jerseys that are colorful, durable and most importantly, unique. Well, for now at least. (Their Tage Rennen jersey was featured as the “Jersey of the Month” in the June edition of Bicycling Magazine.)
    Other images plastered on their jerseys include Rosie the Riveter and PEZ the Spaceman (pictured above). They’ve also partnered with Brett Horton, known for having the greatest collection of vintage cycling memorabilia in the world, to bring you the Horton Collection line.

   To view an online catalogue, go to  www.retroimageapparel.com

Hug a Trail

Celebrate National Trails Day June 3
    Join the American Hiking Society and dozens of other participating organizations Saturday, June 3 to celebrate the 13th annual National Trails Day. From mountain biking to hiking to equestrian paths, the U.S. has over 200,000 miles of scenic, historic and recreational trails. Almost anyone can find a route that meets their physical limitations, including Americans with disabilities, parents with children and those with pets.

   Check out one of the following events or find dozens more at www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd.

    Portland – Ivy Removal in Forest Park: Meet at 9 a.m. at the entrance at NW 53rd, between NW Cornell and NW Thompson Road. Dress in long pants. Bring good work gloves, rain-gear and plenty of water. Breakfast and lunch will be provided by REI and New Seasons Market. Contact: jschmid@rei.com.
    Tualatin, Ore. – Grand Opening of Tualatin River Refuge: One of 10 urban wildlife refuges in the country, this 3,000-acre park will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. Guided walks continue all weekend. Entry is free. Contact: (503) 972-7714.
    Seattle – Trail Maintenance at Annette Lake: Crews will set out on trails at 9 a.m. Dress in long pants. Bring good work gloves, rain-gear, lunch and plenty of water. Orientation provided. Contact: dtran@rei.com.
    Redmond, Wash. – Hike Your Own Hike Book Launch Party: Borders Books, Redmond Town Center at 1 p.m. Author Francis Tapon will sign his book and discuss his experience thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Contact: (425) 869-1907.

Historic Lodge Burns Down

Mountaineers lose irreplaceable asset
   On Friday, May 12, the historic Mountaineers lodge located at Snoqualmie Pass burned to the ground in an early morning blaze. By the time the Washington State Patrol arrived on the scene, only the foundation of the 57-year-old building remained.
Built entirely by volunteers from the Seattle-based Mountaineers’ Club, the lodge was used by club members and for special events such as Winter Trails Day in January and National Trails Day in June.
“It was one of the hearts of the community,” Steve Costie, executive director of the Mountaineers Club, told the Associated Press. “It’s a loss of an icon.”
Investigators found footprints in the snow leading to and from the lodge. Costie reported
that he did not know when volunteers had last visited the lodge – most likely within a week of the fire.
    The non-profit organization did not have fire insurance for the building, which was on the state Register of Historic Places. The board will decide whether or not to rebuild the lodge, which was worth an estimated $200,000.

For more information about the Mountaineers, see www.Mountaineers.org. Stay Tuned: Next month, Outdoors NW will take a more in-depth look at the loss of this Northwest icon.

Explore New Territory

Mix up your routine with the help of local resources
   If you’re getting tired of hiking the trails in your own backyard, venture to Snohomish County, Wash., this summer. Through a grant from the Snohomish Hotel-Motel Tax Fund, the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau recently created the Hiking Snohomish County guide. The free publication includes 20 trail descriptions that highlight hiking, camping, beaches, waterfalls and other scenic features.
    To receive a free copy, call (425) 348-5802 or visit www.snohomish.org.
In Portland, many residents don’t realize they can access a wealth of trail information right in the city. Just a few blocks from the Convention Center MAX station, Nature of the Northwest Information Center is a one-stop source for recreation information.
    Their collection of maps and trail guides includes publications from various federal and state agencies. Grab a topographic map of Mount Hood’s Timberline Trail or a BLM map of Washington’s Snoqualmie River – the possibilities for summer recreation are endless!

Visit their office at 800 N.E. Oregon St. or their Web site, www.naturenw.org.

Dragon Boaters Qualify

   Dragon boaters from the Tacoma Dragon Boat Association qualified for the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Club Crew World Championships scheduled in Toronto, Canada, Aug. 10-13. This is a first for any Washington State dragon boat racing team. For more information, see www.tacomadragonboat.org or www.2006ccwc.com/event.html.