February 28, 2006
KBOO Bike Show
When I'm not busy typing away on this blog or doing the work I do for ORbike.com, in my free time I host a radio show on KBOO with Sara Stout. Here's what we have planned for our March program:
KBOO Bike Show - March 1st, 2006 - 9-10 am
* LIVE : 90.7 fm
* PODCAST
* STREAMING
* ARCHIVES
Vladislav Davidzon, of the Portland Peace and Justice Center will talk about the Sustainable Energy in Motion bike tours, and Steve Kung from Community Exchange Cycle will talk about promoting peace through cross-border & cross cultural exchange bicycle tours.
Sara will also be giving an update on the state of NYC Critical Mass and the World Carfree Network's legal observer project.
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February 27, 2006
Win Discounted Tickets and Beer
Filmed by Bike is holding online raffles for discounted tickets and beer. Join the e-mail list to get in on all this cheap action.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:57 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
Tour of California
The Tour of California took racers from San Francisco to Redondo Beach, CA along a demanding 600-mile course. Saturday was the final day of the race.
[ From Cycling News ]
Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) took out the final stage of Tour of California winning a bunch sprint for his second consecutive stage win and his second win of the year. In a very fast finish the T-Mobile team lead him to the line to take the win from Juan Jose Haedo who finishes this first tour of the year in style making the podium for the third time this week. Pollack's win earns him the overall sprint jersey.
[ ...See results ]
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February 26, 2006
The Stress of Running a Bike Shop
Molly Cameron, local racer and owner of VeloShop, isn't shy about telling all on her blog. The very personal writings offer an insight into a racer and the world of running a bike shop.
Yesterday was one of the days I loathe. The phone rings every 2 minutes ALL day long and everyone wants my money. Not like telemarketers or anything but y'know, debt, bills, distributors, sales reps, bills, payroll, bills and, ok, a few telemarketers.
[ Read More ]
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February 23, 2006
Pedal: A documentary about being a messenger in NYC
I saw the trailer for this movie and it looks like it's going to be pretty good. It starts off with a guy in a thick NYC accent saying, "Sometimes I pedal so fast, I feel like I'm in the air." Awesome.
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February 22, 2006
Mt. Bike Oregon Party People
Our list of who is coming to Mt. Bike Oregon is growing. You should see what they're bringing to the party. Check out this great list of participants. We've got everything from bike demos by Cannondale and Litespeed to New Belgium bringing free beer and River City Bicycles offering mechanical support.
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February 21, 2006
Trail Closure Alert
The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is going to be doing work in a
couple of places this spring/summer on sewer and stormwater projects, which
will have impacts on a few trails around the City.
[ From Bryan Aptekar at Portland Parks and Rec ]
The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is going to be doing work in a
couple of places this spring/summer on sewer and stormwater projects, which
will have impacts on a few trails around the City. There will be some
closures during the spring/summer of 2006 of various sections of trails,
which BES and we at Parks want to give you an early notification about, as
you may be planning (or know of groups planning) events, rides, etc. on some
of these sections of trail.
I'm helping BES connect with various trail users and advocates, and
neighborhood associations so that you all may get the word out ahead of
time about these anticipated trail closures. Some of the details about
exact dates and re-routes are still in flux, but we wanted to give people an
early notification, then we'll keep you posted as things progress.
The two projects that we anticipate have trail impacts are as follows:
* BES project near the Columbia Slough and Peninsula Crossing Trails. The
project contact person is Joe Annett, 503/ 823-2934. There will be
intermittent closures of the Peninsula Crossing Trail beginning in April
2006. Complete trail closure will be from May - September 2006. The Trail
will be closed from the Columbia Slough Bridge to Old Marine Drive. This is
in the St. Johns Neighborhood.
* BES project in Tideman Johnson Park, along the Springwater Corridor.
The project contact person is Daryl Houtman, 503/ 823-5756. The closure is
anticipated to start as early as 4/15/06 with trail reopening to occur as
late as 10/15/06. Closure from SE 28th to SE 45th at SE Johnson Creek Blvd.
(The nearby Three Bridges project that Portland Parks & Recreation is doing
is anticipated to be completed by September 2006.) The project website for
this is: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?&a=106228&c=33213. This
is in the Ardenwald/Woodstock Neighborhoods.
As we get closer to the start of these projects, signs will be posted on the
trails at key intersections, and more outreach will be undertaken by Joe,
Daryl and the respective project managers for each project. Signs and
outreach will include recommended re-routes.
At this point, we simply wanted to get the word out to you and others in the
trail using community, so that if you or your groups might have planned on
using these sections of trail, you would know and can plan accordingly.
While I am making this initial outreach to you all, if you have further
interest or questions, please contact the respective project contact, as
outlined above. Forgive me if I've neglected to put someone on this list,
but please do forward to whoever you feel should know.
Bryan Aptekar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bryan Aptekar
Community Outreach and
Property Management
Portland Parks & Recreation
1120 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 1302
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 823-5594
Fax: (503) 823-5570
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 17, 2006
A Fan Video of Erik Tonkin
This video on Erik Tonkin racing in Belgium was recently unveiled through a post on the OBRA list.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 4:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
Worst Day of the Year Ride Photo Booth
Ride participants at the Worst Day of the Year Ride donned costumes and mugged for the camera at the Photo Booth. The resulting pictures are hilarious - a true indication of how much fun everyone was having that the event. Nikkie West, the Bike Art Coordinator at the Community Cycling Center, did a great job encouraging riders to ham it up. Check out this photo gallery we put together.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:23 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 16, 2006
Eugene Swap Meet
[ From the OBRA list ]
Still a few spots left for the Swap Meet happening at Paul's Bicycle Way of Life in Eugene on March 4th. It's a good opportunity to clean out the garage or pick up something for next to nothing.
3870 West 11th Paul Bicycle Way of Life
Sat. March 4th from 11- 3 pm
A limited number of 10'x10' outdoor spaces are available for $10 (Okay to share the space). Contact Richard at sweetsports@rio.com to reserve a space before March 1st.
I've also heard rumors of spring swap in Portland, but that's all I know (or will say) for now.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 12:03 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
Cranked Magazine
I recently learned about Cranked Magazine when they offered to sponsor my bike film fest. I anxiously awaited the sample copy they offered to send me in the mail and was excited to finally pull it from the envelope and hold in my hands a full color beautiful thick paper magazine packed with photos.
The editors set out to create a magazine for the cycling culture living in the Pacific Northwest. They wanted something different that wasn't like the racing and spandex warrior magazines that are already out there. Cranked proclaims that they cater to the people who ride everyday, race with friends, build choppers and enjoy talking about bikes.
After the success of their first issue, Cranked decided to branch out and cover a broader portion of the US. "The more we travel the more we realize that we're all connected. Cranked is a place to share what's going on in your part of the world for others to read and get excited about." say co-editor Jason Britton
They're also pretty dedicated to making it a visually rich publication. The first issue is filled with large, colorful photos of bike culture in Vancouver, B.C., Portland and Seattle. While the articles are definitely interesting, the photos, in my opinion, are the real draw.
The Cranked website lists locations where you can get a copy, as well as subscription information. Issue two will be out on the streets shortly and if all goes as planned you'll be able to find it at Powell's.
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 8:41 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 14, 2006
OBRA Feature on Oregonian Bike Blog
[ From the Oregonian Bike Blog ]
Did you know that Oregon is one of the hotbeds of bicycle racing in the United States? Unless you are a racer (or live with someone who is), you're not likely to appreciate Oregon's rich racing calendar and heritage.
Bike races in Oregon are held under the auspices of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association or OBRA. Under the able leadership of Candi and Mike Murray, OBRA has grown steadily and last year put on a total of 129 weekend races and 189 weeknight and evening races.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 12:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
Over 1,500 Ride Worst Day of the Year Ride!
Yup, it's true, once again this year the Community Cycling Center's Worst Day of the Year Ride
Check out this photo gallery we put together.
And as the organizers of the event, we were quite pleased all the way around. There's been some great talk about the event, including forums postings and photos, at BikePortland.org and on the Bike Gallery Website.
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February 11, 2006
Porsche Bike
Porsche makes a bike?
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 12:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 10, 2006
OBRA had a Good 2005
Candi Murray recently released these updated numbers on participation rates for the 2005 OBRA season. Looks like they had some great growth in nearly all categories. The mtn numbers may look a little low, but Mike Ripley just took over as the 2006 OBRA mtb coordinator and he has a lot of ideas and excitement for the new season.
Rider Counts 2005
Difference +/- Percentage
Total 3267 507 18
CCx only 305 5 1.6
Mtn 1134 123 12
DH 327 127 63
Road 2087 350 20
Combined 872 294 50.8
Road
Catgories Difference +/- Percentage
I 66 1 1.5
II 174 30 20.8
III 503 36 7.7
IV 659 108 19.6
V 713 225 46
Difference +/- Percentage
Jr (18 + undr) 267 32 13.6
Senior (19-29) 591 183 44.8
Master 30-39 1180 431 57.5
Master 40-49 801 298 59.2
Master 50+ 428 210 96
Women 420 124 41.8
Mtn 2005 Difference +/- Percentage
Pro 30 11 57.8
Elite 43 -7 -14
Expert 271 74 37.5
Sport 508 109 27.3
Beg 311 73 30.6
* Highest Attendance *
2005 Difference +/- Percentage
CCX 760 140 22.5
Circuit 218 -18 -7
Crit 268 41 18
Road 453 136 42.9
Stage 455 65 16.6
Time Trial 350 28 8.6
Mtn 272 -99 -26
Track 80 18 29
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:23 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 9, 2006
Best Bike Panniers?
As a part of our ongoing series of best bike gear, Greg Raisman wants to know about bike panniers. A few days ago a friend declared, "You know, there's no one pannier that does it all. You really need two different panniers, maybe even three". What do you think? How do you carry your stuff?
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February 7, 2006
53 Degrees and Partly Sunny - Worst Day of the Year Ride?
Well folks, it looks like for the fifth year in a row the weather might be pretty nice for the Worst Day of the Year Ride (2/12 at the Lucky Lab). The ride is scheduled to honor some of the worst weather in Oregon's history: the great flood of 1996 and the coldest day recorded (-54 in 1933), but every year the sun is shining.
Portland riding doesn't get much better than this: 18 miles (or a 40-mile challenge loop), four rest stops with hot drinks and yummy snacks, all-you-can-eat veggie chili and chicken noodle soup plus fresh-from-the-oven cornbread at the finish line, Last Regiment Syncopated Drum Corp, Lucky Lab beer for sale and it's a benefit for the Community Cycling Center.
Register before store closing at REIs, Bike Galleries, Lucky Labs, CCCs or River City and get a discount.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:41 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 6, 2006
46 Bike Enthusiasts
The BTA received nominations for 46 bike enthusiasts for the Alice B. Toeclips awards. These 46 are being recognized for their outstanding efforts to make Oregon the best state for biking. Tickets are on sale now for the awards dinner where eight of these people will be chosen to receive an Alice award.
Check out the nominees...
-Sam Adams, Portland City Commission
-Eileen Adee, Medford
-Matthew Arnold, SERA Architects, Portland
-Jeff Bernards, Get Lit Program, Portland I nominated Jeff
-Joe Blowers, East Sylvan Middle School, Portland
-Gary Brannan, Portland
-Tom Brian, Chair, Washington County Commission, Hillsboro
-Senator Ginny Burdick, Oregon State Legislature, Portland
-Representative Chuck Burley, Oregon State Legislature, Bend
-Graham Clark, Portland
-Chuck Coleman, American Medical Response, Portland
-Critical Mass Working Group, Portland
-Hannah Cross, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland
-Representative Jacqueline Dingfelder, Oregon State Legislature, Portland
-Theresa Egan, Portland
-Lillie Fitzpatrick, Bridlemile Elementary School, Portland
-Mark Ginsberg, Portland I nominated Mark
-Brandon Gordon, Portland
-Paul Grow, Crosstown Traffic, Joseph
-Bill Haskins, Crater Lake Century Bike Tour, Klamath Falls
-Jim Henry, West Salem High School, Salem
-Edgar Hee, Medford
-Matt Larsen, Multnomah County Bicycle Program, Portland
-Jim Lawrence, Albany
-Kiran Limaye, TriMet, Portland
-Gregg Leion, Washington Co Dept of Land Use & Transportation, Hillsboro
-Jonathan Maus, bikeportland.org, Portland
-Jeff Monson, Commute Options for Central Oregon, Bend
-Peter Nierengarten, Portland
-Gareth Parker, Portland
-Darren Pennington, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland
-Lynn Peterson, Lake Oswego City Council
-Jacquie Phelan, Women’s Mountain Biking & Tea Society, Fairfax, CA
-Providence Portland Medical Center Bike Group
-Phil Richman, Portland
-Andrew Ross, Corvallis Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
-David Ross, Portland
-Randy Sebastian, Renaissance Homes, Lake Oswego
-Jeff Sims, Sisters Trails Committee, Sisters
-Chris Smith, portlandtransport.org, Portland
-Amy Stork, Portland
-Sara Stout, Portland
-Ray Thomas, Swanson Thomas & Coon, Portland
-Amy Wantulok, Bike Gallery, Portland
-Caleb Winter, TriMet, Portland
-Bob Woodward, Bend
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:12 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 2, 2006
Nervous About Cleats?
People who race wear cleats all the time. Tons of other riders do too. It's looks effortless, but if you've never clipped into your pedals, locking in your feet is an intimidating concept. Reader Steve Winslow recently wrote in to say:
For a while I've considered that wonderful shoe/pedal combination held together by cleats.... They kind of scare me, but look like they add a lot of power, control, and exercise to a ride. Recommendations on where to start? Looking for something that works, but is cheap enough for someone who's not ready to commit uber-bucks to a new system. Also, what about ease/difficulty of release from cleats?
All great questions, Steve, so I thought I'd bring it to the experts, our readers who ride and know. What do you think?
When I first got started, a friend recommended I hold on to a pole and clip in, clip out, clip in, clip out. So I rode over to the playground across from my house and spent a half hour getting used to the motion, then rode around the block. It was great. I recommend a multi-directional release on a loose setting for first-timers. I also really like my 2-way pedals (flat on one side). Some used shops have used shoes if you're looking for a cheap shoe to start off with.
And once you start, you won't want to go back.
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February 1, 2006
Cyclocross Just Won't Stop
The Cross Crusade series ended, then Salem put together a ride, Nationals happened, Veloshop put on one last ride at Blue Lake, the Worlds happened, and Jeremy Burlingame just launched his cyclocross blog. The season just won't end.
There are other cyclocross blogs out there - Brooke Hoyer, Steevo, John Turn - but most of them are still resting up from the season.
Jeremy will be moving to Portland from Sacramento this coming summer. He's excited to take full advantage of our rockin cyclocross scene (he's heard all about it).
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