Ride bikes to bars named “inn” or which are in inns, by way of in-between spaces variously literal and figurative. The rides are free, but bring money for drinks and food.
Join me on 3rd Tuesdays for Pedalpalooza 2024:
- June 18, 2024, for ride #1 (SE/Central City)
- July 16, 2024, for ride #2 (NE/East Portland)
- August 20, 2024, for ride #3 (Gresham/East Portland)
Check the Shift calendar for any last-minute updates in the event of severe weather, etc.
Short link to share these rides: bit.ly/inn-between-ride-2024
Josh (aka carrythebanner)
Email: innbetweenride@joshuahetrick.info
Mastodon: @press1forjosh@mastodon.social, #InnBetweenRidePDX
Inn Between Ride #1 — SE/Central City edition
Shift calendar listing: Inn Between Ride #1
Approximately 12 miles; not a loop. Stops at:
- Holman’s (aka Hello Inn)
- Press PDX (at Residence Inn)
- Bear Paw Inn
View Inn Between Ride #1 route on RideWithGPS
I don’t remember Holman’s ever going by the name “Hello Inn” before they shut down & reopened. But whatever the reason, they now have a big neon sign in the front window with said inn moniker (in addition to the Holman’s sign, which is still their proper name as far as I can tell). Regardless, as far as I’m concerned they’re officially Inn Between canon now.
This route takes advantage of some older, narrow streets and a quirky street layout courtesy of Sandy Blvd’s diagonal cut through the neighborhood. We’ll skirt around the Burnside bridgehead, then pass under and eventually on the Morrison Bridge into downtown. Some newer bike paths connect to older ones for a mish-mash of pathways which will take us to Press PDX, a bar inside of a Residence Inn in South Portland. This stop marks the first time that we go to a bar in an inn, where the bar is not named “inn” but the inn is. If that represents some sort of achievement I don’t know what it is, but it’s new so there you go.
Departing from there, we’ll pass through a couple of my favorite downtown parks before winding into Lair Hill for some of my favorite (and oddest) downtown bike routes. Eventually we’ll cross the Willamette back into southeast via Tilikum Crossing, skirting around and through my home neighborhood of Brooklyn to arrive at the Bear Paw.
Bonus: There’s a print shop across the street from the Bear Paw Inn called Lowell’s Print-Inn, so if you stand in Franklin St just west of SE Milwaukie Ave, you’re in between inns.
Inn Between Ride #2 — NE/East Portland edition
Shift calendar listing: Inn Between Ride #2
Approximately 15 miles; not a loop. Stops at:
View Inn Between Ride #2 route on RideWithGPS
Returning to the Kennedy School for a second year, this time we head east instead towards NoPo. From there we’ll wind through Cully, cross Columbia (Blvd, not the river*), take a couple of trails, and end up at a hotel bar by the airport — Bella’s, at Shilo Inn.
After that we’ll start heading south-ish, loosely around 122nd Ave (though only riding on it very briefly, and almost entirely on side paths). Once we pass under I-84 we’ll also start drifting westward. Our path will zigzag through East Portland and ultimately end at Tik Tok, which is dubiously counted as an on-site restaurant for an otherwise unrelated but adjacent motel, Best Value Inn.
There is also an opportunity for a bonus inn en route, not to be named here — we’ll follow the whims of the group night-of to decide whether we stop or not.
This route is a bit longer than most other Inn Between Rides, about 15 miles in total. It also carves a path alongside some busier roads like 122nd Ave, Columbia Blvd, Lombard St, and 82nd Ave. We stick to side paths, cross streets, and parallel routes as much as possible rather than those actual roads, but there will be some short stretches of slightly spicier riding than usual. We won’t be taking a lane alongside highway traffic or anything even remotely close, but do note that this ride’s length and adventurousness are an extra notch up from other editions of this ride.
If you need transit service home after the ride, there are multiple TriMet options to head back. The end spot is right on the #9 and #72 buses, and also a short ride from the FX2 bus, #17 bus, and MAX Green Line (all frequent service). There are also a few good transit-adjacent spots mid-route if you need to drop early; ask for details.
(* If someone knows of a suitable inn in VanWA, please share; I’ll totally take this contrived idea across state lines.)
Inn Between Ride #3 — Gresham/East Portland edition
Shift calendar listing: Inn Between Ride #3
Approximately 12 miles; not a loop. Stops at:
- Cedarville Inn
- Bridge City Taproom (stand-in inn for Magic Inn)
- Andy’s Inn (aka Andy’s Bar)
View Inn Between Ride #3 route on RideWithGPS
Last year, Inn Between expanded beyond Portland city limits to Milwaukie and Oak Grove; this year, we go to Gresham. The ride officially starts at Cedarville Inn, just off the Springwater Corridor at Linnemann Station Park. (See below for a “R2R” aka ride to the ride if you plan to arrive at the start by transit instead.)
The route starts with a brief return westward on said Springwater Corridor. But in short order, we’ll exit north and wind our way around the foot of Powell (Butte), crossing into East Portland. The route snakes through neighborhoods north of Powell (Blvd), arcing generally northward and westward.
That will place us right where Magic Inn should be, had it not closed permanently in the time since last summer’s ride. There is a bar across the street, however — Bridge City Taproom — so that will have to do as stand-in inn. While we quaff at this alternate saloon, we can wistfully gaze across 122nd Ave at the shuttered inn as well as at its neighbor, Mr. Peep’s Peephole, which I assume is still there and always will be.
Perhaps to make up for a not-technically-an-inn stop, our final inn of the ride will be another not-yet-visited-by-this-ride inn. Our path’s arc will crest and pass back down southward while it continues heading west, eventually landing at Andy’s Inn on SE Foster Rd.
Like ride #2, there are a handful of transit options home from the final inn. The end spot is right on the #14 bus as well as a short ride from the #17 bus, #72 bus, and MAX Green Line (all frequent service). Likewise there are some spots to drop mid-route if needed, though for the first third or so of the route the options are a bit thin.
And speaking of transit — if you’ll be arriving at the start location via transit at Gresham Transit Center, the pre-ride R2R begins there. Come early and ride a few bonus miles between the transit center and Cedarville Inn, eschewing the obvious route of the Springwater Corridor for some cut-throughs, side streets, and other paths.
Carry the Banner 