Tweed, Yes Indeed.

The Tweed Ride seems so appealing to me. So civil and proper and whimsical.

“We shall fashionable spin at leisure through our Rose City, noting the several sides of culture. Therefore, bring out your coats and caps, your leather gloves and monocles, and bring your baskets full of food as we pedal together without labor, strain or hurry in what is sure to be one-another’s beautiful company.”

Oh dear, I can hear my British accent begging to come out even as I am typing.

April 1st will commence the 3rd annual Portland Tweed Ride. The Tweed Ride is a group bicycle ride in which the cyclist are encouraged to wear traditional British cycling attire. Think knickers, caps, hats, vests, handlebar mustaches and pipes, with tweed being the common thread. The purpose – Pure fun! An opportunity to recreate the spirit of a bygone era. The first ever Tweed Ride took place January 24, 2009 in London and since then Tweed Rides have sprung up all over the world! Most rides are sponsored by local bike shops with an after party flowing with tea and crumpets. A proper Englishman would not go out without a flask for emergency purposes, so yes a flask or two can be seen usually storing a much stronger libation to say “cheers to a jolly-good-ride.” There is no entrance fee, it is a much to civilized event to attach such crass demands on it’s participants.

Take a look at some of the past posters, each unique to the host city. Riding Pretty is a blog devoted to this event, past and present. The blog has quite an accumulated collection of Tweed Ride posters from all over the world. The vintage and retro art lover will be delighted to scroll through this collection. www.ridingpretty.blogspot.com

Here’s a look at Portland’s 2012 poster as well as favorite of mine -Cleveland’s poster for Tweed Ride 2012.

Ralph Lauren also jumped on the Tweed Bicycle seat last year and sponsored the Tweed Run in New York City. Take at look at “The Modern Ladies’ Guide To Cycle” as well as “The Modern Man’s Moustache Essentials” as promoted by Ralph Lauren’s style guide for the ride last year.

So if enjoying a lovely day leisurely pedalling throughout Portland, donning fanciful garments, tea cups, knickers and knee-highs sounds like the perfect afternoon – start perfecting your outfit and attaching a basket to your bike and we shall see you at the Tweed Ride on April 1st.

What a lovely day I’m sure it will be. It’s a bloody shame I will be on holiday and not able to participate this year. Bugger!

Portland Tweed Ride
April 1, 2012 1:00PM
Kenilworth Park SE Holgate & 34th Ave
Prizes, After Party at Velo Cult

www.tweedpdx.net
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TweedPDX/251393805964

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