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• Long May You Bike

$4.49 per gallon. That's where we're at, people. And with summer fast approaching, the rising price of gasoline is likely to put a damper on your summer Portland/San Francisco escape attempts. Is this the toothache that gets American drivers to realize that they've been eating too many pixie sticks? History screams "no."

But coincidentally (or not) the beginning-of-summer bump at the pump happens to fall right into National Bike Month. (For those who like to keep tabs on random month designations, it's also National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, the U.K.'s National Smile Month, and Older Americans Month. But those aren't relevant to this.)

Guess what, HumCo. Local bicycle enthusiasts have no shortage of two-wheeled adventure in store for you this May. First, Saturday, May 5 sees the return of the Tour of the Unknown Coast -- the annual multi-course-length bike ride that cuts through the Avenue of the Giants to Humboldt’s Lost Coast, south of Ferndale. Hardcore cyclists have the opportunity to attempt one of California’s most grueling “century” slogs -- that’s 100 miles of pedaling, non-bikers. (There’s also lesser course lengths, on down to 10-milers. So, don’t worry.)

Have the need for (human/gravity-generated) speed? Check out tuccycle.org for more info and/or to register.

But cycling doesn’t only have to be recreational. Local bike advocacy group Green Wheels is sponsoring a pair of Bike to Work Days and rallies this month:

Bike to Work Day: Arcata takes place on Thursday, May 10. Helmeted commuters can stop by the Arcata Co-op from 7-9 a.m. for free hot drinks from the morning energy station. Then pedal on over to the Arcata Plaza on your lunch break for a bike rally at noon to show your support for non-motorized travel.

Similarly, Bike to Work Day: Eureka takes place on Thursday, May 17 with the same hot drink deal goin’ down at the Eureka Co-op from 7-9 a.m. and a noon rally at the Gazebo in Old Town.

For more details, head on over to green-wheels.org. Ride on!