Pacific Northwest - What event rides are you doing this year?

I live in Eugene and am just getting back into riding. I'm going to be out of state for the Monster Cookie Metric in Salem, but hope to do Reach the Beach (Portland to Pacific City), the STP (if I can figure out lodging), and the Blackberry Bramble (local Eugene century in August). What else should I look at?

If you're into rides longer than 100 miles, you might want to check out the OR Randonneurs, and look at their schedule for 200k rides. They also have routes called Permanents, and you can find routes from 100k up to far longer than most people ever want to ride. Permanents can be ridden any time, you just schedule them with the club's Perm. coordinator.

In addition to MC and STP (trying it as a one day this year), I am doing the Petal Pedal, a century based in Silverton. You may want to check it out. www.petalpedal.com (http://www.petalpedal.com)

I plan on doing the "OTP" (Olympia-to-Portland.) I accomplished my goal of a one day STP two years ago. It was hot. It was brutal for an out of shape clyde cyclist. But, it was pretty exciting at the same time. However, I would like to enjoy the ride a bit more. So... no waking up at O'dark-thirty to get to the start line at 5:00 am. No worrying about the crowded start and possible accidents in the first few miles. No hassles at the first rest area.

I'm going to wake up at 8:30, climb on my bike, and casually begin my ride down the chehalis western trail until it meets up with the STP bike route along Hwy 507 between Yelm and Tenino. It will be about a 140 mile day rather than the 203 miles for the full STP. I would like to do a two-day STP, however, I have prior committments for my Sundays.

I'll be registering for the event and paying my full dues. I think there are many riders that don't register and just "tag along" because they don't want to pay the $100 fee. If I remember correctly, this is a fund raiser and I'll be happy to donate to the cause.

Someday, I'd like to do the Friday-Saturday Seattle to Vancouver ride sponsored by the Cascade bicycling club. It just sells out so fast. It looks like the only way to get in on that ride in the future is to join Cascade. I'm sure it would be worth it!

I live in Eugene and am just getting back into riding. I'm going to be out of state for the Monster Cookie Metric in Salem, but hope to do Reach the Beach (Portland to Pacific City), the STP (if I can figure out lodging), and the Blackberry Bramble (local Eugene century in August). What else should I look at?

Check out the Peach (Salem in Sept.). I've also heard good things about the Strawberry and Covered Bridge rides which are fairly close to you.

I've met some Oregon riders on the Tour de Blast (the ride up Mt. St. Helens), which is in late June. I may do it again this year - it's a very pretty ride.

My schedule appears to be opening up, so I'm hoping to get in on the Strawberry century ( http://santiamspokes.org/Strawberry%20Century.htm) on June 12th in Lebanon, OR. If things work out so I can participate, I'll probably just be doing the 72 or 53 mile rides. I doubt I'll be in good enough shape to try the 101 mile route.

I'd like to do the Peach of A Century (http://salembicycleclub.org/content.plx?page=majrides) on Sept 26th if some other plans don't work out.

Then there's the Harvest Century on Oct 9th that I shouldn't have a problem getting to.

Gutbuster, Here is one ride not too far from you to the south for Memorial Day wknd. http://www.ohivey.com/PFG/bike1.php
The Alpine Century/Half Century is a small one in mid-August, but a great ride, also quite close to you. http://www.alpinecommunity.net/pg23.cfm
If you miss the Strawberry (I ride with Santiam Spokes and will be volunteering out at a rest stop), you might consider the Covered Bridge ride put on by the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club in August. http://mvbc.com/event-CBBT.html
I have done Peach, Monster, Covered Bridge, Harvest, Alpine and a few others over the years, and all are great rides. But this year it is Cycle Oregon for me, so no budget left for weekend event rides.
I have found this site very useful in keeping track of Oregon rides: http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_WebPages/OregonRideCalendar.html

I've heard good things about Tour de blast, that and Crater lake century.
I have also heard the pioneer is nice but a menace on your alergies.

So far the wife and I are doing Tour de Blast and Crater Lake Century. Haven't planned out anything else yet. Was thinking of doing Monster Cookie, but I don't want to ride it by myself.