GO FOR THE GOLD ... AND GLITTER >>>

The Tour de France might be one of the coolest things on two legs operating two wheels, but it's such a commitment of time, effort and frequent flyer miles to check it out. Then they ride by and it's over. Fortunately, there are other options in bike racing-whether you're a participant or a spectator - a bit closer to home.

The Tacoma Twilight Criterium is a breakneck loop around Pacific and A Streets between 8th and 11^th Saturday June 12 from 3-11 p.m. Grab a cooler and a lawn chair and watch amazing athletes do their thing. With $3,000 in cash and prizes to winners in seven categories, the stakes are high and the competition stiff.

The event also includes a kids' bike race, beer gardens, live music, DJs, a logical appearance by U.S. Olympia speedskating bronze medalist J.R. Celski, and an art bicycle parade.

An art bicycle parade?

Yup, a gaggle of human-powered art bicycles will parade through downtown Tacoma Saturday, no doubt including at least three gorilla men on bikes and a bicycle pulling a canoe tented in green fabric and supporting a large Egyptian head. They might be bicycles built for two, or four, or maybe just involves the cannibalized corpses of multiple bikes welded into a towering hulk, but whatever they'll be, they'll undoubtedly going to be fabulous.  Tacoma's "first" Art Bike Parade will launch at 7:10 p.m., riding from South 8^th to South 12^th Street, in conjunction with the criterium cycle street race.