March 28, 2007
Turn NW Portland Into Amsterdam
Portland Office of Transportation is leading monthly Bikeway Network Rides. the first one is April 3rd. It's a 10-mile ride that will visit sharrows (arrows on the road indicating shared use by cars and bikes), bike boulevards and six-foot bike lanes (most are much narrower). Meet at Terry Shrunk Plaza, SW 3rd and Main, at 5:15 pm. Here's the invitation from Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller:
The Days are Longer
The Nights are Shorter
Come for a Ride!
What we really want to know is: how well does the existing system work for you? How can we improve? What would it take to get more people riding?
Following the ride feel free to participate in a discussion about these topics at the Roge Ale Public House at 1339 NW Flanders. Added Bonus: If we have enough participants, we can turn NW Portland into Amsterdam for an hour or so.
For more information:
email: roger.geller@pdxtrans.org
web: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=34772
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 8:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 27, 2007
Win an Electra Amsterdam
Filmed by Bike, a festival of bike-themed movie shorts, is coming to the Clinton Street Theater on April 13-15. The festival features submissions from around the world, but it only comes to the theater once a year. This year they're raffling off an Electra Amsterdam, that super cool European style city bike. You can purchase raffle tickets online and you don't need to be at the festival to win - so get your tickets today!
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:50 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 26, 2007
Reach the Beach Amazing Video
You've got to watch this Reach the Beach video. People ride Reach the Beach for all sorts of reasons. This video features Brian, a rider who only has one lung, and how his company, Rejuvination, rallied around him to support his ride. It's a great story.
[ watch the video ]
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 9:02 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 24, 2007
Forest Service Training Weekend
If you're looking to lean more about how to build and maintain trails, the Disciples of Dirt (DOD) mtb club has an oppportunity for you to attend a US Forest Service volunteer training weekend for free. The weekend training is in Oakridge May 19-20. There will be two levels of trail maintenance classes, plus first aid and other trail-related classes. It's all free, including a dinner saturday night and camping with showers on Friday and Saturday nights.
Matt from DOD says it is a great opportunity because, "You will learn a lot, and show the forest service that the mtb community cares about volunteering in the forest." For more information, see the DOD website.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:26 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 23, 2007
Weekly Rides in Salem
Salem Bicycle Club hosts weekly rides. These group rides are a great way to get out and meet other riders in the area along some excellent routes. Check out their website for listings. The March schedule is currently up.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:23 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 22, 2007
Major Burglary for Bike Enthusiast
I just came across this story on BikePortland.org and thought I'd share it with you in an effort to get the word out as far and wide as possible.
Dave Hemming and his wife recently moved to Portland from California. Dave's a 35 year veteran of the bicycle industry and a downhill champion. But recently while back in California settle up some business, their house was burglarized and the thieves stole a ton of stuff. Dave is hoping the bike community can keep an eye out for some of his bike gear that could turn up around town.
Here are some items to look out for:
[ Read the full story ]
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 7:57 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
Flickr and Portland
Flickr quickly jummed onto the scene as one of the best ways to organize and share photos online. However, few people use it to it's fullest extent. A handful of Portland bike enthusiasts have been trying to get others to standardize their tags, or at least a handful of them. Tags are categorizations for photos, so if a photo is tagged as "PIR Racing" you can click a PIR Racing link and pull up all the photos associated with that category.
You can easily cruise through Flickr and get a sense of all the great Portland photos that are up there. Check out the collection of over 300 photos that are in the Portland Bike Culture group.
By the way, this photo is of a Pederson bike at the Alice B. Toeclips awards, shot by Dat Nguyen.
Comments (3) | Posted by orbike at 9:10 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 21, 2007
Tubeless Wheels
Everyone's talking about tubeless wheels this season. Bicycling Magazeine even has the gaul to suggest the most exciting "hoop of the year might be Mavic’s radical tubular, the $2,750, 1,185-gram Cosmic Carbone Ultimate". I don't know about you, but I have a hard time getting excited about a $2,750 wheel set.
Okay, if you're excited you can read Bicycling's full article here.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:02 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
Awesome Trail Video
Check out this awesome trail video shot by Chad Sageser of Back Country Productions for Mt. Bike Oregon. If you've been toying with the idea of going on Mt. Bike Oregon this year, just watch the video. It will give you a good sense of how great the trails are there.
The early registration price for Mt. Bike Oregon ends on April 30th, so register now to get that deal. The Saturday Middle Fork shuttles are already sold out and the tide is filling up fast on both weekends (July 27-29 and August 17-19).
[ watch the video ]
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 8:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 20, 2007
River City Crowns Bike Commuter of the Year
A while ago I mentioned that River City Bicycles in Portland was holding a contest seeking nominations of stellar bike commuters for their Bike Commuter of the Year contest. The results are out. They planned to crown just one person, but they got so many, and such creative, nominations that they couldn't resist choosing three. BikePortland.org has a great recap.
[ read the recap ]
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:36 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 18, 2007
Everyone Can Reach the Beach
If you've never ridden to the coast, Reach the Beach is a great way to do it! You can choose a variety of routes, from as few as 26 miles (starting from Grand Ronde) to as many as 110 (Corvallis Challenge). And if you've done this ride or your own ride to the coast before, you know how great the routes and scenery are.
Reach the Beach makes it easy, carefree and fun with yummy food along the way (including a hot lunch and a Deli Sandwich Stop), rest stops nearly every 10 miles, support vehicles to carry your baggage and a fabulous beach party - on the sand, at the Pelican Pub - in Pacific City. When was the last time you sunk your toes in the sand while drinking a pint of beer? That's what I thought. It's been TOO LONG. Sign up for Reach the Beach today and cure those winter blues.
Comments (3) | Posted by orbike at 9:58 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 15, 2007
2007 Filmed by Bike Program
The program for the 2007 Filmed by Bike festival has just been released. Check it out and see if you and your friends made the cut. Though submissions came from around the world, including Ireland, Victoria, Australia, France and England, the majority of the winning submissions came from NE Portland. No, not SW, not SE, NE. Go figure. I guess NE is the new hot bed of creative cyclists. NYC watch out, NE Portland's giving you a run for your money.
[ View the program ]
Comments (3) | Posted by orbike at 10:27 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
Bamboo Bicycles
I once saw a guy with a bike made out of bamboo. I can't recall where it was, but I'm fairly certain it was here in Portland. Well, today I was again searching for vintage bicycle posters for work and came across this old image of a bamboo bike. Bamboo is really strong and light, but for a bike? I don't knnow about that. They obviously didn't catch on.
Man, again, I have to tell you, don't go searching the internet for vintage bicycle posters! There are so many great ones out there you could get lost all day - and you could go broke. Fortunately I left my credit card securely locked in my wallet, but it was TEMPTING! Click this image for a larger view.
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 8:46 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 13, 2007
Thank You, TriMet
I'd like to send my most sincere thanks out to the operator of the #4 going up Williams Street in Portland today around 5pm. I think you were driving bus #2232. As I've mentioned before, Williams can be a bit of a cyclists' super highway and this evening was no exception. Perhaps in a bus operator's ideal world we'd all be going the same pace and we'd stay in a group, but of course we were naturally spread out.
But you, dear operator, you drove steady, slowly, cautiously. You watched us as we watched you. Cars, pedestrians and us - the street was crowded. I really appreciate your calm patience as you drove what really is only a handful of blocks. Other operators may have taken a more rash approach and tried to speed through the madness, but you took is with grace.
On behalf of all of us who were out there this evening, I thank you!
Comments (5) | Posted by orbike at 6:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
Bicycle Car
They call it a bicycle "car" which I think is a poor title for a pretty cool-looking bike. They come in various styles, some without that canopy over head. The site is quick to hype up the "delux arm rests" . It's aso got six speeds and 20" wheels. Kind of looks fun for cruising around Florida.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 8:00 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 12, 2007
Alice B. Toeclips
This year's BTA Alice B. Toeclips awards was a great gala affair. I've been to the event maybe four times, and I have to say, this year's was the best. I guess when you pack a room with some of the most inspiring and exciting cyclists in Oregon, you're bound to have a good time. For a great recap of the event and photos, see BikePortland.org. Jonathan Maus of BikePortland was a very deserving winner of an Alice award. From all of us here at ORbike, Jonathan, we send you a hearty congrats!
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 12:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 8, 2007
Seven Screenings for 2007
Filmed by Bike is holding SEVEN screenings of bike-themed movies this year, up from two last year and just one all the previous years. The festival will run April 13-15, 2007 at the Clinton Street Theater. The Opening Night Throwdown is Friday with a raffle featuring an Electra Amsterdam donated by Bike Gallery. Tickets for the raffle will be available online later this month.
The deadline for entries was today, so if you didn't get your movie together, you've got 365 days put it together for the 2008 screening - plenty of time.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 8:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 5, 2007
Students who Bike to School
There is an article in today's Oregonian about an inspirational group of kids who bike to school every morning. They are students at Cleveland High. Keegan Heron, one of the organizers, says "Our culture is all about getting from one destination to the other. We have stopped enjoying the journey. Biking slows us down a bit."
[ Read the article ]
Comments (14) | Posted by orbike at 8:42 AM | Permalink | TrackBack