Will Ride for Food or Drink | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Will Ride for Food or Drink

Epicurean Oregon Bike Rides

If you've ever spent a day in the saddle on any kind of bike—road, mountain or otherwise— you know the level of hunger that builds as the miles pile up. There's a point where you start thinking about what you are going to eat, and those sticky thoughts don't dissipate until that hunger is satisfied. If you pick one of these Oregon bike rides, you'll have no need to wonder what you're going to eat at the end of the ride. Each knows how to placate your hunger. Some of them even reward you during the ride with snacks or wine. These organized rides know how to make each turn of the pedal worth it.

Will Ride for Food or Drink
Courtesy Rainshadow Organics
This stolid steed awaits its rider who is off snarfing delicious Oregon delights.

Bike to Farm to Table


Spend an afternoon with fellow cyclists of all levels and ride in the summer breeze from Bend to the Rainshadow Organics farm. This leisurely group ride, coordinated by Bend Health Guide, has a leader—so no need to worry about finding your way. Upon arrival, cyclists are served a farm-fresh lunch made with seasonal Rainshadow Organics ingredients, served on the deck. The goal of the event is to illuminate healthy living and sustainability by pairing exercise with a farm-to-table meal. 

Bike to Farm to Table
Rainshadow Organics
71290 Holmes Road, Sisters
Sat., June 15, 10:30pm to 3:30 pm
$45

Strawberry Century

Strawberry fields forever... or for at least 13 to 100 miles on scenic backroads biking through farmlands, winding along the Santiam and Calapooia Rivers. For 27 years this ride has celebrated Lebanon, the land made famous by crops of sweet, deep red strawberries and the first-ever Strawberry Festival. The Strawberry Century was voted best supported ride in 2017 by OR Bike. Cyclists choose their miles in the saddle: 13, 25, 50, 75 or 100. The longer rides include a hearty picnic lunch. A sweet reward awaits at the finish line in the form of a heaping portion of fresh strawberry shortcake.

Strawberry Century
Lebanon, Ore.
Sat. June 8,
strawberrycentury.org
$15 - $40

Bike Oregon Wine Country

True wine and bike lovers will swoon over this guided day on the bike. With stops at seven wineries and one brewery, the 45-mile or 70-mile course is broken into easily consumable segments. A support vehicle follows riders to offer respite and to transport the wine that riders buy. If those tastings weren't incentive enough, the ride also includes a Willamette River ferry ride, covered bridge crossing and views of historic sites to satisfy your sense of adventure. Fuel includes a sack lunch, snacks and a gourmet barbeque dinner and wine tasting at the Eola Hills Rickreall Winery finish. A campsite is included with registration, so no need to coordinate a ride home.

Bike Oregon Wine Country
501 S. Pacific Hwy 99W, Rickreall, Ore.
Sundays in August, 8am-6pm
eolahillswinery.com
$39 - $109

Blackberry Bramble

There is something for every cyclist at the Blackberry Bramble. Five routes vary, from an approachable 37 to an epic 117 miles. Each starts with a continental breakfast. After exploring the beauty of the Southern Willamette Valley, riders indulge in a gourmet meal with a microbrew from Claim 52 or a glass of wine and a decadent homemade blackberry cobbler dessert with Prince Puckler's ice cream. This race knows you like to have fun, so it includes an after party with live music, and for $1 you can shower or take a dip in the pool.

Blackberry Bramble
2580 Hilyard Center, Eugene, Ore.
Sun. Aug. 4, 6:15am to 5pm
theblackberrybramble.net
$55-$85

Harvest Century

Enjoy the last organized ride of the summer season riding through the Willamette Valley's lush wine growing region at the Harvest Century. The day begins with a continental breakfast and each route includes breathtaking views of Mt. Hood and The Coast Range. Choose the 45, 75 or 100-mile ride and enjoy a rest stop at Montinore Vineyards, where for $5 you get a tasting of five wines. Purchase a bottle you fall in love with and it will be delivered to the finish line. A huge dinner spread with unlimited wine and beer awaits after the race. Every dollar raised at the event benefits Community Vision.

Harvest Century
Hillsboro, Ore.
Sun. Sept. 22, 6:30am-6pm
eventsbyaxiom.com
$29 - $94

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