October 31, 2006
New Yorkers Want Ideas From Portland
StreetsBlog is a daily source for news and information about New York City’s burgeoning livable streets movement. The blog is coordinated by the NYC Streets Renaissance organization. Clarence Eckerson, one of the coordinators, reports that the site will be a featured Portland video short every day for the next week. He also has this to say:
"We want to get a dialogue started, esp. from folks in Portland who'd like to inspire New Yorkers about what else is good/not so good, so PLEASE leave a comment if you so desire."
[ check out the site ]
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 4:59 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 27, 2006
Ride to Sauvie Island
This weekend is a great time to go to Sauvie Island. Sure, it crowded, but it's just such THE time of year to be out there. You can visit the corn maizes (there are two) and gather pumpkins and decorative gourds. The Pumpkin Patch market is only open until October 31st, so this is your last weekend to visit the old-timey place and pick up some cider or jam (or apples, or Asian pears or...). That's also where my preferred corn maize is.
BUT DON'T DRIVE! I drove out there last year two weeks before Halloween and spent a half hour in traffic trying to get off the island. I heard that this weekend it could take over an hour. As a former car commuter on Chicago expressways, I know all about long traffic delays, and I vowed to never go back to that lifestyle. It's really easy to ride to Sauvie Island and the route is not bad. My favorite route is to take Willamette Blvd. into St. John's and cross the St. John's bridge. Take a right at the end of the bridge and a left onto St. Helen's. St. Helen's is a very busy road, but there is a generous shoulder and you're sure to see a ton of other bikers out there.
Oh, but you've got heavy pumpkins? Not a problem. Bring a trailer. Or do as Joseph Aherane, of Ahearne Cycles, did last year (see photo) and strap the pumpkin to your rack.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 10:01 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 24, 2006
Friends of PIR
This news just in from Jim Anderson, the organizer for the Monday Nights at PIR race series that happens all summer long:
"Earlier this year a group called, Friends of PIR was started (see below).
They would like to have users of the track join and support their organization - its free and takes about 30 seconds. I urge you to show your support of this great venue and new organization."
[ sign up ]
About Friends of PIR
History and Introduction
Portland International Raceway (PIR) and its neighbors, the Expo Center,
Delta Park, and Heron Lakes golf course, are the legacy of the city of
Vanport. Because they were born from Vanport¹s tragic demise, each of these
facilities bears a responsibility to enrich the life of our community. For
the past half-century, PIR has incrementally addressed that responsibility
by both entertaining and accommodating families from an expanding hinterland
in Oregon and Washington, and by investing in the welfare of area
neighborhoods.
However, the scope and value of its services, accommodation and community
investments have varied over time due to vacillations in budgets, management
priorities, and income. As a consequence, PIR has periodically found itself
reacting to challenges and opportunities rather than anticipating, shaping,
and strategically securing the possibilities they provide.
The Friends of Portland International Raceway, an Oregon 501(c)3
corporation, assists the facility and the City of Portland to meet PIR's
responsibility to enrich its region and North Portland¹s neighborhoods. Led
by a board with representatives of those who use or visit the track, and who
live and work in the adjacent community, the Friends will solicit and apply
the resources and counsel of those who have a vested interest in the track
and its relationship to those it affects and serves.
Read the website for more info.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 1:40 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 20, 2006
Work Closes Esplanade on Saturday
Thanks to Roger Geller, City of Portland's Bicycle Coordinator, for sending out this message he received from Diane Hinton of the big pipe project.
Environmental Services' contractor will close the Esplanade between OSMI and south to the Portland Opera Building, this Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., October 21. The closure will allow the continued construction of the foundation for the conveyor to carry tunnel excavated material. Concrete pumping equipment will be used to pour the concrete and will cross the trail.
Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be detoured through OMSI's south parking lot, through the construction site using the west side traffic lane (old Water Avenue), and out to Caruthers Street. Flaggers will be available to assist in this effort.
The conveyor system will be used to move excavated material from the tunnel to a barge on the river. The conveyor system will be built prior to the start of tunneling activity that is scheduled for May 2007.
Diana Hinton
Community Relations
Willamette River CSO Tunnel Projects
Environmental Services
503-823-2827
dianah@bes.ci.portland.or.us
CleanRiverWorks.com
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 12:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
MTB Film at Clinton St. Tonight
This announcement just came through on the ORbike calendar:
The Fat Tire Farm is proud to present New World Disorder 7: Flying High Again at the Clinton Street Theater. One night only, Friday, October 20th at 7:00 and 9:00 pm. Please note that the 9:00 pm show is 21 & over only!! Anyone under 21 will NOT be admitted, no exceptions! There will also be a raffle and prizes given out! Tickets are $10.00 and are available now at the Fat Tire Farm. Buy early, last year sold out fast!
[ full listing ] [ New World Disorder 6 - peak ]
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:20 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 19, 2006
Celebration of Portland Transportation at the Bagdad Theater
On Saturday, October 28 the Bagdad Theater will feature an afternoon of transporation-oriented entertainment. A series of locally made short films will be shown along with live historical presentations highlighting how our community has created Portland's world class transportation system that serves families, seniors, pedestrians, bicyclists and businesses. The program is two hours long and starts at 2:00 pm.
This free event will be MC'd by Commissioner Sam Adadms.
Samples of some of the films can be watched on the BikeTV website here and here.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 5:02 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 18, 2006
Another Bikey Job Opening
The City of Portland is hiring a Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator. This person will provide overall program coordination for the programs of the Community and School Traffic Safety Partnership, which address driver error, pedestrian and bike safety and safe routes to school. It sounds like a a very rewarding job. Whomever fills the role will have the opportunity to work with so many gerat people working on transportation issues in our city, like Janis McDonald, recently profiled here for her cyclocross racing.
[ Job announcement ]
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:33 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 17, 2006
Filmed by Bike : Call for Entries
Filmed by Bike, a festival of bike-themed film shorts, has an open call for entries of films that are 8 minutes or under. Every spring, with a team of judges, I am one of the lucky people who gets to screen and select the films. It's a lot of work and the movies are all a mixed bag. Other than bikes, the only constant theme is that we get a glimpse of what goes on in the creative minds of cyclists world wide. Some are professional, others are grassroots "first-timer" videos. There seems to be very little correlation between the quality of the filmmaking and the merit of the movies. A lot of the very grassroots pieces are the most clever.
It's now easier than ever to edit a video on one's home computer system and Filmed by Bike has seen an increase in the number of submissions over the years. In fact, the crowning film of the 2006 festival was shot completely on a digital still camera using the video feature. It was the creator's first movie and it wound up being a favorite of the judges and of the crowd.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:19 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 16, 2006
Cross Crusade Steps up the Creativity
In our local cyclocross scene, people race HARD, but they don't take themselves too seriously. Some of the racers train hard, some don't train at all. Some of them eat carefully leading up to a race, others roll out of bed hungover and barely make it to the start line but still pull in a great race. Some race in their undies for extra points, and on Halloweeen you can bet they come out in costume. They're having fun, and that's what's important. It's great to see that mix of good racing and having creative fun.
[ Crack the Code details]
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 8:44 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 12, 2006
Candi Murray, Tireless Volunteer, Retires from OBRA
Candi Murray, a 25-year OBRA volunteer, is now retiring. Along with her husband Mike, Candi has been a tireless contributor to the local bike racing scene. For 10 years she was the Oregon representative for USA Cycling until OBRA broke from that organization. At that time, Candi became exclusively and aggressively involved in the success of OBRA. Under her guidance, Oregon grew from just 700 racers to over 3,000 this year.
Candi says her involvement with racing was a natural evolution. "It was something that my husband did and I wanted to help and be involved. Mike, has been the director of the Alpenrose Velodrome for over 20 years and it just grew from that."
Though Candi makes it sound simple, Candi volunteers 50-60 hours a week during peak season and "only" 20-30 hours a week in the off season.
It's the riders, she says, that keep her going. "I absolutely love them. It is a real community and we all look out for each other. The other nice thing is that there are no age lines. One day I will be with people my age and the next minute I am with juniors and young adults. I always said that it would keep me young."
But don't worry, now that Candi is retiring, her youthful spirit won't accelerate into old age and she wants to be very clear that she is definitely not going to disappear. "No, I am not" she says. "I just want to get out from under the burden of the administrative details. I will still be going to races. I will still be officiating. They are not going to get rid of me so easy!"
And the OBRA volunteers are not replacing Candi easily, either. Candi's one-person position be being divided amongst three people, with Sal Collura from Eugene taking over a majority of the duties. Terri Camp will handle membership and Michael O'Hair will oversee equipment. Yes, Candi did all of that. And more.
Candi is rightfully very proud of the growth of the Oregon racing scene. It is something close to her heart. "I look at it like a parent. When Mike and I took over there were just under 700 racers in the state. We will top over 3000 this year. Velonews just did a survey and we were ranked first in the "Racers per Population Base" category and second in both "Total Number of Racers" and "Total Number of Events". I feel that we are personally responsible for most of that growth. We made it inexpensive to join and tried to make the community very inclusive and accepting of all riders."
With all this newly-found time on her hands, Candi is (surprise) going to spend her free time riding her bike. When asked about her position as a racer or a rider, Candi enthusiastically proclaims, "[I'm a] racer!!! I have one speed. Whether it is uphill, downhill, on the track or road. I used to say that I have never passed any rider in any event. While that is no longer true it is still pretty close! We live out in East County. I like to ride out by Rosalyn Lake and up to Lolo Pass. I like to ride the Springwater Trail on my fixed gear. I like to ride out to PIR via Marine Drive."
So if you see Candi out there on the road, or at a fall Cyclocross race, congratulate her, thank her and wish her well in her new adventures. We here at ORbike certainly do. Thank you, Candi, for all you have done for Oregon cycling.
Comments (4) | Posted by orbike at 10:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 10, 2006
Barlow Cyclocross
I didn't make it out to the cyclocross race at Sam Barlow High in Gresham this past Sunday, but ORbike reader Sherry Schwenderlauf did. This is a photo she took of the extreme mud that was out there. Here's what she had to say:
I was at Barlow yesterday! What a blast! I'm going to try to be at as many races as possible...especially since I now have friends who are racing...all the more exciting! In fact, I haven't been able to get my mind of cyclocross all day...I keep looking at my pictures :)
Yay mud!
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 7:22 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 9, 2006
Cyclocross Rider Profile: Janis McDonald
Janis McDonald is a project manager for PDOT's Transportation Options program. But bikes are not just her job: Janis loves riding. She enjoys long distance rides and participating in organized rides, but this year Janis decided to challenge herself even more by trying cyclocross.
"Every year I say to myself 'this year I will race cross' - and then I chicken out." Janis says. "But his year I told a friend I was going to do it so then I had to. I commute everywhere by bike and feel pretty confident about my riding skills. But cross was a challenge to those skills. Sometimes you can get too comfortable and need to shake it up. I can't believe it took me this long to try it."
Janis got ready for the day by going to a clinic out at Alpenrose. At the clinic she learned how to jump off her bike - because cross racers are constantly hopping off the bike to go over hurdles, up stairs, etc - which was one of her biggest fears. "Rhonda and her crew were patient and broke all the skills down for the beginners to understand. I would definitely recommend the clinics for anyone just starting." Janis says.
Janis had never raced before, but, she says, "Going around the velodrome, feeling that speed, may change all that."
Janis arrived at Alpenrose on Saturday and walked around to scope out the course. She felt overwhelmed by the stairs and the hills. But once she got riding the course was bumpy, challenging and rewarding. She raced hard after the first lap. Not against the other women so much - but against herself, to push herself harder. "I loved it. I felt strong afterward."
Part of the appeal of cyclocross is the scene that unfolds off the course. Janis describes it as "electric." There were 120 women racing that day and Janis loved being a part of the action. As for the spectators, Janis says, "Their energy was just as high - and contagious. They gave me the extra push I needed when I was running up a hill. Or when they yell out that you did a great job over the barricade it makes you jump on your bike and ride harder...with a smile on your face."
So will Janis be out there again? The answer: "YES! It is just plain fun. Makes you feel like a kid just playing around."
The next cyclocross race is October 15th at Hillsboro Stadium.
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 8:21 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 7, 2006
Battle at Barlow
It's the off week for the Cross Crusade cyclocross series, so in the meantime maybe you want to race the Battle at Barlow, a cross race being held in Gresham. The race is this Sunday. There is a full day of racing with Beginner Men and Masters 50+ (45 min); Cat C, Masters C 35+ (45 min); Masters B 35+, Junior Men (45 min); Cat B, Single Speed (45 min); Women A,B, Masters 35+ Women, Beginner Women, Junior Women (45 min); and Men A, Masters A 35+ (60 min). For more info, see our calendar.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 12:50 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 6, 2006
World Exotica Bike Dance Party
Community Exchange Cycle Touring Club is an organization that promotes cross-border and cross-cultural bike touring, offers free clinics and encourages rider self-sufficiency. They're known for showing up at local bike events and offering free repair service. At their headquarters in SE Portland, they offer free bike repair clinics.
Community Exchange is a collaborative effort, but the mastermind behind it all is Steven Kung, a charismatic person with an infectious spirit. I guarantee you, spend 10 minutes with this man and you'll be inspired to contribute more to the world. Steven is filled with ideas and ways to make them happen. He is systematically building the organization on a local level with hopes for global reach in the future.
And in the meantime, Community Exchange needs a revenue stream to help float their projects and pay for their planned web projects. Their first fundraiser, World Exotica, is this Saturday at Center Space, 420 SE 6th Avenue, from 8pm-2am. The event features live music and DJs throughout the night, free food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and hundreds of dollars in raffle prizes. The venue is smoke free, there is free bike parking and entry is $15. You can get free entry with a used bike donation or $5 off if you wear an exotic world costume or bring a healthy potluck item. For more information, contact them through their website or call 503/957.6672.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 11:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 5, 2006
Older Adult Bike Program Video
About a month ago I wrote about the City of Portland's new Older Adult Three Wheeled Bike Program. Today I stumbled upon a video about the program shot by Clarence Erickson of BikeTV. Bike TV is a New York City program, but Clarence really gets around to cover stories about bike culture and programs across the country.
[ Watch the video ]
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 1:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 4, 2006
International Walk and Bike to School Day
Today is International Walk and Bike to School Day. The BTA was out in force at schools to help them celebrate the event which raises awareness about the feasibility and importance of helping children walk or bike to school. This morning I spoke with Robert Ping, the youth programs coordinator at the BTA, about the event. He was at Sunnyside Environmental School amidst a huge celebration. Robert told me that here in Oregon, the event has made a huge leap from having the involvement of 12 schools initially to this year having 90 schools participating in the day. Only 30% of all school children walk or bike to school, a drastic decline over the years. One reason for the decline is that parents are nervous about the safety of their children. The BTA is working hard to combat the misconception that biking is inherently dangerous for kids and they are working to make streets around schools safer. They're also in the schools educating children and parents about how to find safe routes to school and the benefits of the physical activity.
In addition to speaking with Robert, I also got to talk with some of the kids who had ridden their bikes to school today. These kids were awesome! Forrest told me that his ride to school is a healthy way to start the day and he likes that it's good for the environment. John told me that it's a good way to clear his head. These kids are definitely off to a great start!
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 11:10 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
October 1, 2006
Cyclocross Kicks off at Alpenrose
The cyclocross season kicked off with a bang today at Alpenrose Dairy at the first race of the Cross Crusade series. So why do people love racing cross? I think one reason is that cyclocross extends the biking season. Rain is no problem because a muddy course it part of the challenge. Race organizers carefully design a course that makes best use of the terrain, depending on the weather. I think another reason is that it's not always just about the terrain. Organizers plan hairpin turns plotted out with orange and yellow cones, they send 'crossers up stairs, over mounds of dirt and they make them leap barricades. This makes it awesome to watch. Spectators run to different spots of the course to get alternate views of the action.
And today, the action was hot.
[ photo gallery ]
Veloshop (a bike shop that pretty much exists to race and support cyclocross) was out in force with their signature pink and black. The kiddie cross was great to watch, but even better was the "micro cross", the tiniest kids on bikes. You should have seen them trying to get over the barricades! Adorable.
Check out our photo gallery for a glimpse at the day.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 5:33 PM | Permalink | TrackBack