May 31, 2007
Mt. Bike Oregon
OH HURRY! The price for Mt. Bike Oregon goes up tomorrow, so register today while you can still get in at the advance registration price.
You could call it a mt. biker's dream weekend get away and it really doesn't get much better than this. Mt. Bike Oregon is set in Oakridge, Oregon, at the base of the Cascade Mountains and surrounded on all sides by Willamette National Forest. Shuttles will take you to the trailheads of some of the world's best singletrack. Advanced riders will find no shortage of challenging trails, but if you're new to mt. biking, you'll have plenty of beginner support and easy trails right out of camp.
When you're not on the trails, you might be honing your skills at the daily clinics, taking advantage of mechanical support and expertise, checking out demo bikes and gear from top-of-the-line manufacturers or just hanging out in the free beer garden as evergreens tower overhead and the river rushes by. Camping, shuttles, hot showers, entertainment, yummy meals, and clinics are all included in the package price. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the most beautiful areas of Oregon. Mt. Bike Oregon will sell out so sign up today.
Comments (5) | Posted by orbike at 10:19 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
Get Ready for Summer!
This hot weather has been really great. Kind of makes it hard to sit still, doesn't it? If you're on our mailing list, you received our June newsletter this morning and you know there are just tons of great events coming up. If you're not on our newsletter list, you SHOULD be! You can join on the front page of our website.
Pedalpalooza is about to kick off and all of the summer rides and races are coming into full swing. What does your summer riding schedule look like? What events are on your calendar?
[ June Newsletter ]
Comments (5) | Posted by orbike at 9:26 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 24, 2007
Bike Powered Pizza
Hot Lips Pizza in Portland is all set to start offering pizza delivery by bike at three of their five locations. They currently deliver to addresses within a two mile radius of the stores, so delivery by bike makes perfect sense. Owner Dave Yudkin has long been an advocate for sustainability, with locally-grown ingredients added to their pizzas whenever possible and seasonal produce on specialty pizzas (like the yummy asparagus pizza!). Delivery by bike fits right in with Dave's commitment to the environment.
Under this new delivery program, the bikes outfitted with converted kids trailers will be their first choice for deliveries, but if the orders are too large or there is a time crunch, they will use their electric car or standard car. Dave says the bike delivery option will be available at their Hawthorne, Pearl and Killingsworth locations, but they're not quite ready to implement it at their PSU location.
Yudkin is committed to the safety of his employees and he has some concerns about the traffic behavior downtown with the current construction. After they give the other locations a whirl, they'll work toward implementing bike delivery at the downtown location. As for Raleigh Hills, at this point it just doesn't make much sense, Yudkin says.
In addition to bicycle deliveries, Yudkin is also working with his staff on a partnership with The Bike Gallery that will allow employees to receive discounts on bike safety accessories such as helmets and lights.
Comments (5) | Posted by orbike at 2:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
A Truck on the Bike Path
I don't know if any of you have been following this story, so I thought I'd share it here. A week ago, BikePortland.org reported a story about a guy who was riding north on the Glen Jackson bridge bike path when a truck came up behind him. That path is in the middle of 205 with concrete walls on either side. It is for bikes and peds only and is completely separated from car traffic.
But apparently a truck got on the path. The original story was that the truck ran the cyclist down and he had to hop the concrete wall and jump into the left traffic shoulder to avoid being run over. His bike was crushed by the truck. When I read the original story, I was shocked. I feel really walled in when I ride that path and I can't imagine needing to jump over the barrier and into traffic.
More information has been released and it looks like the situation wasn't exactly as it seemed. Apparently the truck driver made a wrong turn and wound up on the bike path. Instead of backing out, he proceeded forward until the encountered the cyclist. He asked the cyclist to move aside so he could pass. Okay, not a smart move, but not quite the horrifying original story. You can read the updated story and follow its progress on BikePortland.org.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:11 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 22, 2007
The Gorge Ride
Last Memorial Day weekend I rode out along the historic Columbia River Highway to The Dalles and came back on the Washington side. It was awesome. That historic highway has large sections that are for bikers and hikers only and it's just gorgeous.
There's a new organized ride heading out that way, The Gorge Ride on June 16th. Here's what the organizers say, "Starting at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles. This route, with its world-class scenery, will be a combination of historic highway that is open to motor vehicles, with very low traffic, and the HCRH State Trail that is open only to hikers and bicyclists. This will be an out and back route of 38.5 miles and a total elevation gain of 2,974 feet. This ride is supported with water stops, snacks, mechanical support and a SAG wagon." Sounds pretty great!
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:45 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 18, 2007
Summer is Upon Us
Well, it's pretty obvious that summer is upon us. This weekend alone has tons of events incuding Reach the Beach, Blazing Pedals in Maupin, the Table Rock Road Race, Swan Island Crit and the Plastics Recycle Ride. Pedalpalooza in Portland/Vancouver is fast approaching. Check out our calendar to see all of the great stuff planned for the two week festival with nearly 125 free events. But get ready for a little bit of work: some days you have as many as 10 events from which to choose.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:46 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 15, 2007
Rider Profile: The Clydes
Joe and Margene Clyde live on a farm 13 miles outside of Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Joe says he and his wife "ride to eat and eat to ride." Last summer the couple, ages 69 and 67, spent two weeks in Southern France doing 50 and 60 miles a day. Spain was on their list for this summer, but instead they'll be building a house "closer to town" so they can ride more with friends. Joe says they ride year round, "This time of year we are riding 100+ miles a week. Our riding in general we do as part of our healthy lifestyle."
The Clydes are two of the 2,000+ people who will be participating in Reach the Beach this Saturday. They say they like the event "because it is for a great cause, is well supported, has lots of great people to visit with - and it's not a killer ride." They have participated in the ride six times: three along the Salem (80) mile route and three along the Portland (100) route. "We enjoy the whole scene," Joe says, "the ride, the food, the people and the finish with a visit to the Pelican Pub!"
So look for the Clydes out there this Saturday! And let's all cross our fingers that the weather continues to be as great as it has been lately.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:14 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 11, 2007
Reach the Beach - Take the Ferry!
(Today is the last day to register online, but you can easily register at the event also.)
It's hard to want to write about anything other than Reach the Beach these days. The amazing weather we're having (albeit a little chilly in the morning) makes me think about sunny days spent lounging on the Oregon Coast. Reach the Beach lets you do just that - after a bit of riding.
But the real kicker this year is the FERRY! The southern routes now go over the Wheatland ferry north of Salem. If you like the idea of hopping on a boat for a little rest and a fun ride, you've got two ride options:
the 80 mile route out of Salem or the 110 route out of Corvallis. Reach the Beach has three other routes: 100 miles out of Portland, 55 miles out of Amity and a nice introductory 26 miles out of Grand Ronde.
Online registration closes today, but you can still register at the start line.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 9:13 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 8, 2007
What's your Shark Tale?
Reach the Beach puts out a rider newsletter called Shark Tales. It gives details info on the ride, tips for fundraising and features profiles on some of the riders. It also have photos of the ride and all sorts of other cool pre-ride info. We want to know about your personal shark tales! Have you participated in Reach the Beach? What was the ride like for you? Are you riding this year?
Comments (6) | Posted by orbike at 9:00 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 7, 2007
Not Scary: Fundraising for a Benefit Ride
Here's a little help for those of you who are riding Reach the Beach. I spoke with Jennifer Baldwin, the fundraising guru at the American Lung Association of Oregon, and she assured me fundraising isn't scary, it's simple. Here are the five tips she suggests that make it quick and easy to qualify for cool fundraising prizes (like the sold-out Cycle Oregon).
* Start by sending an e-mail to all of your friends. Tell them what you're doing and ask for their support.
* Don't be afraid to follow up with people who have said they will donate to your fundraising efforts. A quick reminder e-mail.
* Ask everyone to support your fundraising efforts. You never know who has been affected by lung disease.
* Include pictures: of you on your bike, of your loved one with a
lung disease, of you and your family. This reminds your supporters that it’s an important personal issue.
* Use the online fundraising system. These easy-to-use tools make it a snap to quickly meet - and exceed - your goal.
Comments (3) | Posted by orbike at 10:38 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 4, 2007
All the Bike News
Hey, did you get our latest newsletter? There are some great rides listed, aren't there? If you're not subscribed to our newsletter, you should be. Twice a month we deliver a concise summary of some of the area's best events, as well as links to a few other events. It's short and sweet so you can spend less time on your computer and more time on your bike.
Sign up here, left hand side | Archive
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:08 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 2, 2007
Rider Profile: Jessica Judah
There are tons of people riding Reach the Beach this year. Jessica Judah, 24, is one of the 1,500 riders who has already signed up. Everyone who rides has a different connection to the event. Some people like the physical challenge. Others like the camaraderie among riders. For Jessica, it goes even deeper. Jessica is participating memory of her grandmother who died of lung cancer. Every one of her pedal strokes will be supporting the American Lung Association of Oregon's efforts to promote clean and prevent lung diseases.
So why is Jessica riding? "First of all...it's for a great cause! Secondly, it sounded like a great event to do with my husband and brother in-law and a great way to stay in shape." Of the six route options, the Jessica, who will be riding for the first time, chose the 100 mile route from Portland. "We chose that distance because we really want to push ourselves. Neither of us have ridden that far in one ride and look forward to the challenge!" But Jessica and her husband average about 50 miles a week and usually go for a longer ride every Sunday.
Comments (4) | Posted by orbike at 9:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBack