Urban Assault Ride: Beer, Bikes and Big Wheels

by: Justin Gural

Every year between April and September, New Belgium Brewing zigzags across the country with their Urban Assault Ride (UAR) showing how a sustainable bike-loving lifestyle can be really damn fun at the same time.

Here's how it works: you and a teammate set out on a city-wide two-wheeled quest for 'checkpoints' where you'll drop your bike and complete in random challenges. Once complete, you remount your bike and hit the streets towards the next checkpoint. The goal is to complete all the checkpoints in the shortest amount of time, and you're allowed to choose your own route and checkpoint order. At the finish line you're welcomed into the After Party village, stock full of vendors, raffles, giveaways, and -of course- savory suds from New Belgium where proceeds benefit UAR non-profits.

Since the first UAR in Austin, TX in 2003, the idea has always been about combining three different events into one; including a bike race, adventure race, and music festival. With 11 events in the books for 2010, and two events remaining (Chicago on Sept. 12, Madison on Sept. 26), keep your eyes and ears open for the Urban Assault Ride coming to a town near you.

Here's a gallery of images from the Portland, Oregon UAR on May 23, 2010. Photos courtesy of Jordan Thomas Mitchell.