Ladd's 500
Portland's spring relay tradition: 500 laps around Ladd Circle, 100 miles total, teams of any size, any bike. A bicycle-themed public picnic that's genuinely stupid fun.
The vibe
It's spring, let's do something stupid
Five hundred laps around Ladd Circle. That’s 100 miles total, split however you want among a team of at least one person — though most people show up with friends and trade off laps. You have to switch riders or bikes at least ten times. Beyond that, the rules are loose and the whole thing is deliberately non-competitive. Ladd’s 500 is not a race. It’s a bicycle-themed public picnic where laps happen to be occurring nearby.
The circle at Ladd’s Addition is lined with rose gardens, which means by mid-April there’s actual scenery between laps. Non-riders can post up in the center of the circle and spectate, cheer, or just enjoy being part of something that’s hard to explain to anyone not from Portland. The tagline — “it’s spring, let’s do something stupid” — captures the energy exactly. This is an event built around participation culture, not podiums.
The event falls on the Saturday after the April Midnight Mystery Ride, making for a full weekend of Shift-organized community cycling if you’re inclined. Free to enter, donation-supported, and one of those things that’s been happening long enough in Portland that it has its own mythology. Check Ladds500.com or @ladds500 on Instagram for the current year’s date and any logistics.