What we’re about
Do you enjoy riding your bike with friends? So do we! We are located in one of the top bike friendly cities in the US, Portland, Oregon. Many of our rides start and finish in the core area of our great city.
Our dedicated and friendly ride leaders are passionate about riding and post rides according to their interest and training level. Each posted ride will have a detailed description of what to expect. Please read the description and if you have any questions, contact the ride leader. They are a friendly group and are always willing to answer your questions.
Our rides have size limits for safety reasons, which is very important to us. We have discovered the fun factor increases when we limit the size of the group to a manageable size.
The ride leaders volunteer their time and energy to plan and organize all the rides you will find posted here. We greatly appreciate each one of them and all they do for us.
We hope you join us on a ride and discover the fun of cycling with friends!
Be sure to check out Go The Distance of Facebook also. https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoTheDistancePortland
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Bike the Lights - Bike Night 2024 at PIR Winter Wonderland Sun. 12-1-24Radio Room, Portland, OR
This is a long time GTD, tradition, Bike the Lights night at Winter Wonderland. It's bikes only. No cars, no strollers, no dogs.
Yes it's cold and dark. Yes, it's a short, slow ride. But people get really excited about this ride because of lights!!!! Lots of blinking lights!!! And maybe a chat over a beer and pizza as we warm ourselves. And it's the promise hidden the dark, that the days will soon be getting longer and once again there will be a summer of riding adventures.We'll meet at Radio Room on Alberta Ave and ride over together to PIR. Once there, we'll use murmation to navigate the group through the Winter Wonderland. It's worked well for us in the past. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eakKfY5aHmY
We'll regroup in the parking lot and ride back together. If the weather is good, we'll extend the ride a little if the group is feeling frisky. If not, we'll just head back to Double Mountain
Important note: Admission for 2024 is $16 unless you're 13 years or younger (it's chronological age, how young you feel. On a bike, we all feel like kids again). Be SURE TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/1o91d8ld9e/winter-wonderland-december-st-bike-the-lights-night/2024-12-01 and be SURE TO ORDER FOR THE 7-930 pm slot.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcjOPqqX-Ak . (Sigh)
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17623638 . 12 pretty flat miles. (route may be subject to adjustments). NOTE: this is a night ride. We will be generally riding on residential streets, with a few miles on busy arterials such as Denver Ave. Consequently, we will be subject to auto and truck traffic. If you're not comfortable riding in these conditions please do not sign up for this ride.
Attitude: Absolutely slow and social. We're here to enjoy the experience of one another.
Ride Host: Ed Lanton. 971-258-6066; [email protected]
Weather Cancellation Policy: This is Oregon, so we need to ride even if it's wet. That said, we'll cancel if there are epic amounts of rain, snow, for or mud predicted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCoxOReXlHI (You'd be surprised who the driver of the Volvo station wagon was)
Required Gear: HELMETS must be worn at all times while riding. This is a requirement and not a request.
Recommended Gear: Always bring plenty of water, on for energy, a flat repair kit, including a spare tube. A tool kit and small pump is good, but if you don’t have one there is usually someone on a group ride who does. Please check to see if someone has what you might need if you don't and be prepared to ride a bus or call a cab. (Not that we'll leave you by the road broken down, because that's not us). Carry a credit card and a little cash to buy refreshments or buy that bus ticket....
Mandatory for all riders: This is a night ride. Therefore at a minimum you MUST have legally sufficient lighting front and rear. Beyond that, the cost of quality lighting has gone way down in recent years, so there's no excuse for not having good lighting on your bike. Reflective clothing is also a great assist. Obey traffic laws and remember you’re a representative of the greater cycling community and should conduct yourself that way on the road. Please represent us well. If you haven't read it lately please read the Oregon Bicyclist Manual (http://goo.gl/Q8FNe3)
All riders must have their rides in good working order and must bring a flat kit & spare tube. If there is an issue with proper working or lack of equipment you may be asked to sit the ride out. Please ask for help if you are ill equipped prior to the ride. We will try to help!
All riders must be able to change a flat should they have one or have a way to get picked up (AAA, Tri-Met ticket, a friend…). There is often, but not always someone on the ride who knows how to help you change your tire, so plan accordingly.
Note: Your RSVP signifies that you agree to the following. Organizers, event hosts and other participants will not be held responsible for any individual at any event. Each rider rides at their own risk and is solely responsible for any damage to their equipment or themselves.
Final Note: RSVP’s cannot include a +1 or Guest. If you choose to bring a friend or family member, they themselves must sign up as a member of Go the Distance.
- Powell Butte MTB ride - confident beginner/intermediatePowell Butte Nature Park, Portland, OR
It's simple. Powell Butte on mountain bikes or, if you're a confident rider, gravel bikes. I've ridden Powell on 33mm knobies on a gravel bike a it was just fine.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE146liul-g&t=296s
Powell Butte is one of the few single track trail systems available to mountain bikers in the Portland Metro area. So much for PDX being a cyclist's paradise. Anyway, I digress. There's a lot of ups and downs as well as fantastic view of the PDX area, including views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. If the trails are muddy we won't ride. We'll just reschedule and maybe substitute a close by gravel ride. I'll post a go-no go swap out no later than Sunday evening at 9pm before the ride. So check back for changes.
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38111594
Note: Although we won't see many during the week, the trails are used by hikers so we have to be fully respectful of other users, Horses and hikers have the right of way.
Ride Host: Ed Lanton. 971-258-6066; [email protected]
Weather Cancellation Policy: It's a long drive and a tough trail, so we won't do this trail unless the weather is very good.
Required Gear: HELMETS must be worn at all times while riding. This is a requirement and not a request.
Recommended Gear: Always bring plenty of water, a snack for energy, a flat repair kit, including a spare tube. You'll need to bring a tool kit and small pump.
Mandatory for all riders: Obey traffic laws and trail regulations and remember you’re a representative of the greater cycling community and should conduct yourself that way on the road. Please represent us well. If you haven't read it lately please read the Oregon Bicyclist Manual (http://goo.gl/Q8FNe3)
All riders must have their rides in good working order and must bring a flat kit & spare tube. If there is an issue with proper working or lack of equipment you may be asked to sit the ride out. Please ask for help if you are ill equipped prior to the ride. We will try to help!
All riders must be able to change a flat should they have one or have a way to get picked up (AAA, Tri-Met ticket, a friend…). There is often, but not always someone on the ride who knows how to help you change your tire, so plan accordingly.
Note: Your RSVP signifies that you agree to the following. Organizers, event hosts and other participants will not be held responsible for any individual at any event. Each rider rides at their own risk and is solely responsible for any damage to their equipment or themselves.
Final Note: RSVP’s cannot include a +1 or Guest. If you choose to bring a friend or family member, they themselves must sign up as a member of Go the Distance.
Earbuds? Let's not. Just enjoy this little bit of urban forest.
- Holiday boat light ride NOW Fri. 12-23 6:30PM start!Oaks Bottom Public House, Portland, OR
This is a GTD tradition, the holiday boat parade. Come out and enjoy the night and the lights.
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26522767 : This is a very short 11.5 mi (9.9 nmi) flat route. Nearly all of the route is on dedicated bike paths (watch out for tree roots on the west side), but there are stretches on residential roads as well as a little bit on busier arterials with significant automobile and commercial truck traffic. And it's a NIGHT RIDE with its attendant risks. Please review the route and if you're not comfortable riding in these conditions please do not sign up for this ride.
Since this is a night ride, at a minimum you must have a legally sufficient front and rear light. Above and beyond that, please utilize front and rear lights and reflective clothing and/or accessories that will enable you to be seen and to see so you can ride safely on city streets in the dark.
Ride Host: Ed Lanton. 971-258-6066; [email protected]
Weather Cancellation Policy: Since we're not paid to ride, we won't ride if the weather is going to be miserably rainy or worse. I'll post go/no go no later than 5pm the night before the ride. Of course, if the weather is anything like this . . https://youtu.be/7DjFy6SIViI . . . . we'll just put on knobbies and keep riding, right?
Required Gear: HELMETS must be worn at all times while riding. This is a requirement and not a request. LIGHTS. (See above)
Recommended Gear: Always bring plenty of water, on for energy, a flat repair kit, including a spare tube. A tool kit and small pump is good, but if you don’t have one there is usually someone on a group ride who does. Please check to see if someone has what you might need if you don't and be prepared to ride a bus or call a cab. (Not that we'll leave you by the road broken down, because that's not us). Carry a credit card and a little cash to buy refreshments or buy that bus ticket....
Mandatory for all riders: Obey traffic laws and remember you’re a representative of the greater cycling community and should conduct yourself that way on the road. Please represent us well. If you haven't read it lately please read the Oregon Bicyclist Manual (http://goo.gl/Q8FNe3).
All riders must have their rides in good working order and must bring a flat kit & spare tube. If there is an issue with proper working or lack of equipment you may be asked to sit the ride out. Please ask for help if you are ill equipped prior to the ride. We will try to help!
All riders must be able to change a flat should they have one or have a way to get picked up (AAA, Tri-Met ticket, a friend…). There is often, but not always someone on the ride who knows how to help you change your tire, so plan accordingly.
Note: Your RSVP signifies that you agree to the following. Organizers, event hosts and other participants will not be held responsible for any individual at any event. Each rider rides at their own risk and is solely responsible for any damage to their equipment or themselves.
Final Note: RSVP’s cannot include a +1 or Guest. If you choose to bring a friend or family member, they themselves must sign up as a member of Go the Distance.
No ear buds, ya' hear.