10 a.m. departure, 2 hours, $49
Start with bike fitting in the inner east side, where the best doughnuts are! At our shop at 833 SE Main Street #124, we are also in the literal center of Portland’s craft coffee roasting icons (three of the city’s best roasters surround our block).
We’ll begin with coffee, tea or hot cocoa at a shop that roasts its own beans, and sample some amazing single-origin coffee so we’ll be ready for lots of sweets to come. While the itinerary will vary based on doughnut shop hours, we’ll typically introduce you first to a hidden gem of a doughnut shop — the one locals prefer — then head to the another favorite doughnut shop (famous for their apple fritters!). We may take a slight detour to sample a brand-new doughnut trend, if you’re up for some adventuring!
Portland’s doughnut scene isn’t just about eating pastries; it’s also about the culture that makes it possible. Did you know the doughnut-loving Homer Simpson was based off a Portlander? Which came first, the Homer doughnut or the city’s doughnut boom? We’ll include fun gems of Simpsons lore, tales of lumber barons who helped early fried dough makers thrive, and check out some sugar-fueled street art.
We’ll of course chat about a shop you’ve surely heard of, one where the doughnuts are weird and the wedding “cakes” include pentagrams and other magical symbols. The ride in total is 6-8 miles (10-13 km), with some gentle hills. Bikes, helmets, water and the local favorite doughnut included.