So if you haven’t heard yet, Portland was knocked off its lofty perch as America’s top biking city yesterday. That’s right. According to Bicycling Magazine the fairer half of the twin-cities, Minneapolis, now reigns supreme as the country’s two-wheeled capital.

Such a shocking declaration has left plenty of Portlanders licking their chops. But I say there’s no better way to get over this bump in the road than by jumping right back in the saddle. And this month is a good one for doing just that. Especially for those of the knobby tire persuasion.

The healing begins this afternoon when the Northwest Trail Alliance welcomes the spring riding season with their first Wednesday night group ride at Forest Park. A friendly, supportive atmosphere prevails at these gatherings. Riders of all abilities are welcome to attend. Outings typically cover about 15 – 25 miles and volunteers take care to make sure no one gets left behind. Afterwards, everyone is encouraged to wipe off the mud and descend down to Crackerjack’s Pub for some post-ride grub. To join in, simply pedal up to the Thurman Entrance gate at 5:30 p.m.

This weekend, the Pedal Nation Bike Show swoops into the Oregon Convention Center. Both the Northwest Trail Alliance and the International Mountain Biking Association will have a booth set up. When you’re not gawking $5,000 bikes and taking notes at a bike fashion show, you can check out a cool stunt course set up by the Northwest School of Freeride.

On April 20, Portland Parks is hosting an open house on the issue of single-track riding in Forest Park. Expect to get a lowdown on hot-button topics such as trail-sharing within the park. You should also expect a packed house, so plan to arrive early. The forum is being held at the Holiday Inn Express at 2333 NW Vaughn Street, 5:30 p.m. sharp.

Lastly, on April 22, the Northwest Trail Alliance kicks off its inaugural four-day Portland Trail Fest with a party at Chris King Precision Components. Highlights include a keynote address from IMBA’s executive director Mike Van Abel not to mention plenty of Hopworks beer. The remaining three days are chock full of advocacy meetings, social rides and trail building parties, and a big dose of bike lovin’ camaraderie—just the sort of spark to put all of us right back on top of the biking world.