Pedal Power: A bike ride fund-raiser sends friends and families cruising the city and taking in the sights

Clouds broke open on bright blue skies and dazzling sunshine Sunday morning as the Worst Day of the Year Ride proved otherwise.

With a slight wind to their backs and a drum corps pounding out a raucous beat, about 750 bicyclists -- some in skin-tight spandex and designer vests, others outfitted in jeans and sweat shirts -- cheered the moderate weather and zipped in colorful waves from the back lot of the Lucky Labrador Brew Pub on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard for a leisurely 18-mile ride around the city.

"About this time of year, you start to get that fever and look for a good opportunity for a ride," said Pat Deeks, who joined her friend Denise McVay both of Beaverton, for the 10 a.m. start. "This is especially low-key and gives you a chance to enjoy the city without worrying about much traffic."

Now in its fourth year, the annual February ride is a fund-raiser for the nonprofit Community Cycling Center at 1700 N.E. Alberta St. The $20 registration fee is earmarked for the center's innovative program to restore and donate, or sell at minimal costs, more than 2,500 bikes yearly to low-income children.

"There are people who have a political agenda or a certain view of who or what bicyclists should be," said Daniel Bohn, executive director of center. "For us, it's to teach as many kids as we can about bicycle safety and to provide bicycles to families who need them."

Fred Menche and his 6-year-old son, Dylan, saw the ride as an opportunity to pedal their tandem bike alongside friends Katie and Joel Zalin and their son, Zach. While the two first-graders from Laurelhurst Elementary School were distracted by the rubber duck on Dylan's bike helmet, the parents flexed their leg muscles and joined the giddy riders at the starting line.

"This is our first ride of the year, and I want it to be an especially good one for my son," said Menche. "Actually, I'm glad that it's not the worst day of the year."

After a scenic ride along the Eastbank Esplanade, groups of riders stopped for hot tea at REI in the Pearl District. "We're loving this," said Sherri Riley, who straddled her bike next to longtime friend Randi Dawdy from Gresham. "This has some of the same spirited elements as Cycle Oregon but without the long distances."

To highlight the festive day, a pair of riders wore bouquets of flowers on their helmets and followed Steve Peters whose homemade bike, called the Kon Tiki, looked equally prepared for a South Sea voyage as the streets of Portland.

Many riders crossing the Broadway Bridge paused to admire the view, snap photographs and bask in the warming sunlight. A few lost their way as the route zigzagged through several Northeast neighborhoods.

"We saw a woman out gardening who was waving people around and pointing them in the right direction if they made a wrong turn," said Barbara Byrd, who moved to the city from Texas. "That's what makes Portlanders so special and a ride like this a real community affair."

"This is the second year in a row when the weather has fooled us," Crotty said. "But, we had 200 more riders than last year and that's got to make everyone happy."