June 30, 2008
NW Tandem Rally
The NW Tandem Rally is coming up this week in McMinnville. Grab your favorite riding partner and saddle up on a bicycle built for two (or more!) for a Fourth of July weekend packed with bike activities. Proceeds will benefit the McMinnville Police Department Kids Bicycle and Safety Fair, Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Community Cycling Center.
There are supported rides every day, ranging from about 25-70 miles. This event is a great opportunity to hang out with other tandem riders and explore McMinnville.
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June 25, 2008
Exciting Times: More People on Bikes! (video)
It's summer, so naturally there are more people on bikes right now. But there are EVEN more people on bikes these days because of gas prices, economic woes and health concerns. We can also attribute the increase to more education, better infrastructure and the snowball effect. I'm pretty excited to see so many people riding. I love that I over hear conversations about bicycles every time I am out in public.
As cyclists, we are living in an exciting time. It's easy to become smug, knowing that many of us have been at it for years, but with this post, I encourage you (if you are prone to velo smugness), to instead don your ambassadorial helmet! Congratulate the new cyclists and offer your support. Let's work together to make that if sure that if gas prices miraculously go down or if the economy turns around these new cyclists continue riding their bikes - and have fun doing so!
Sunday Parkways last weekend in Portland was a great example of tons of people riding bikes. Read all about it here and continue on to watch the video:
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June 20, 2008
Favorite Trails?
Oakridge, Oregon - surrounded on all sides by national forest - has some of the nation's best trails. Even Gary Fisher agrees. But what do you think? What are your favorite trails in Oakridge? Have you had the epic Mt. Bike Oregon experience? What did you think? We want to hear from you! Weigh in below.
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June 17, 2008
Mountain Lakes Challenge
The Mountain Lakes Challenge, set in the mountains of Southern Oregon, is a stunning ride on country roads. With Mt. Ashland and Mt. McLoughlin in the background you'll ride through meadows of wildflowers, beneath towering conifer forests and by dazzling mountain lakes.
In addition to the full century route, there are two metric centuries that both offer some of the beauty and challenge of full century. This year the organizers have added 25 and 50 mile routes that remain at the lower elevations of the Rogue Valley but still allow riders to explore the landscapes that Southern Oregon is famous for. Even the youngest cyclists as there is a 5-8 mile Jack and Rogue ride along the Bear Creek Greenway for kids 12 and under.
Proceeds go to the Bear Creek Greenway Foundation.
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June 15, 2008
Volunteer for Sunday Parkways
Sunday, June 22nd, will be a landmark day for Portland, this region and the United States when the City of Portland hosts the first authentic ciclovia, a Latin American tradition of closing city streets on Sundays for families to walk, bike and play. The City of Portland is the first in the country to give ciclovias a try. The event takes place in north and northeast Portland.
Volunteer shifts are four hours long and you get to be in the heart of the action. You also get a t-shirt, snacks and water. There are two training sessions from which to choose: June 17th, 6:00-7:30 pm, Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave., Portland or June 21st, 10:00-11:30 am, Kaiser Town Hall, 3704 N Interstate Ave., Portland. To volunteer, you can sign up here online.
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June 13, 2008
Here Come the Freak Bikes
The freak bikes are coming out on Saturday (June 14) for Cirque du Cycling, a bicycle street fair. Tall bikes, swing bikes, choppers and more will be out in force to parade down Mississippi Avenue and strut their stuff.
One of Portland's longest-standing bike clubs, the venerable Belligerantes, spent the last two weeks shining up their vintage Schwinn Sting-Ray for the affair. I spent some time catching up with Craig Babb, one of the founding members of the 12 yr. old club.
Where'd the name come from?
Belligerantes is sort of a mix of Belligerent Vigilantes. We are Portland's only all Schwinn bike club.
Tell us more about your rides
We roll on customized vintage Schwinn's. Our motto is 'If it ain't Schwinn, don't bring it in. Mike "The Commander" developed what we call the Mega-Ray, reproducing the look and feel of the classic Sting-Ray on full sized adult frames.
What do you have planned for the parade?
As parade veterans, we have a well rounded, crowd pleasing display of stunts, tricks and maneuvers. At the very least, our classic American steel and chrome wows the crowd every time. By the way, we proudly took home a first place ribbon in the St. Johns Parade this year.
So why Schwinns?
It is our unending goal to promote the Mega-Ray as the most desirable mode of urban transport, maintaining the preferred style of the vintage Schwinn, as well as celebrating the overall joy and festiveness of bicycle riding.
We look forward to seeing you out there!
The Cirque du Cycling parade takes place at 5:00 on Mississippi Avenue in North Portland. A full day of festivities is planned. See the website for details.
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June 12, 2008
Get Your Sleep While you Can...
It's that time of year again - when you don't get enough sleep, when you plan your days based on a calendar of 200 free bike events, when the streets are constantly flooded with bikers and when you have a renewed faith in humanity. It's Pedalpalooza, Portland's annual two-week festival of bike fun that starts today and goes until the 28th.
From workshops and rides to competitions and bike-themed events, there is a little something for all types of cyclists during Pedalpalooza. Some days you have as many as 16 events to choose from. There are more than 200 events spread out over the course of a mere 17 days. And best of all...
events are led by cycling enthusiasts just like you, the festival is 100% volunteer powered and nearly all activities are free. Pedalpalooza, which started as BikeSummer in 2002, is the very best way to meet other bikers and celebrate cycling in Portland.
If looking through the calendar has your head spinning, try creating your own custom pocket size calendar. This neat feature allows you to pick the events you want to attend and print them in a small format - perfect for carrying around with you at all times. So while you're munching on a cruller at the Cruller Crawl and someone asks you what event you're headed to next, you can whip out your guide and consult your personal schedule. Get your sleep now while you can.... madness is about to ensue.
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June 10, 2008
Racer Profile: Mark Ginsberg
Mark Ginsberg is a bike lawyer, a dad and a racer who loves it all: "The competition, the speed, pushing myself to develop further as an athlete and mainly I love riding my bicycle. Racing gives me one great opportunity to do that."
In 2007 Mark won the Health Net Portland Twilight Crit for cat 3. So how did it feel to win that prestigious race? "I was very happy to win that race," Mark says. "I love that course. My first ever cat 3 race was on a different version of that course, and in 1994 I won the Mayor's Cup as a cat 3 on yet another version of the same course. I've also crashed coming out of what was last year's final corners, so I have a lot of history on that course.
"I was a cat 2 from 1996-2006," Mark says, "but they let me downgrade because of being a busy dad. Because I won the Twilight Crit, I was sent back up to the big show." Which means that Mark will be racing as a cat 2 at the Cirque du Cycling criterium, a bicycle street fair on North Mississippi, this Saturday. And Mark is ready for the challenge, "I hope to have a good placing. Top 10 would be good. Top 5 would be great!"
Mark says he's confident he'll do well, but admits a little rain wouldn't hurt:
"I race well in wet conditions. But if I were a horse I don't know that I'd be a mudder because I am pretty bad at cyclocross." Mark likes the looks of the course for Cirque and loves any race where there is a big crowd. "As a racer, while you might not hear a particular person cheering for you, you do hear the crowd as a whole, and it adds a lot of excitement.
Through his many years in racing, Mark has seen quite a change in the sport. "The number of races and the number of racers has grown very dramatically through the years, which is great to see. People who are 'weekend warriors' are trying different types of bicycle racing from road bikes to cyclocross to track."
You can catch Mark later this summer at the State Track Championships and the State Master Track Championship.
And be sure to head out to Cirque du Cycling, taking place on North Mississippi Avenue this Saturday, June 14th. The day begins with a free family ride at 4pm, there's a freak bike parade at 5pm and the racing starts at 6:30pm. There is also entertainment by the Sprockettes bicycle dance troupe and the SEI Soul Choir and Drum Corps. The exhibitor area features bike art, custom-made bike apparel like cycling hats from Shaun Deller and much more. Best of all, it's free.
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June 9, 2008
The Circus is Coming to Town
The circus is coming to Mississippi Avenue and you definitely don't want to miss the fun at Cirque du Cycling on June 14, a wild bicycle street festival. Whether you like racing, freak bikes, riding your bike with the kids, listening to music or the intense beat of a drum corps, there is plenty to do and see all day. The evening event kicks off with a free three-mile family ride that takes kids and parents on a leisurely, safe, residential course to Peninsula Park and back. This escorted ride is a great way to kick off a summer of family riding and there is a rest stop at the park.
Later on, the freak bikes come out as the Last Regiment drummers and bike clubs parade down Mississippi. This is your chance to see some of the wackiest bikes imaginable: like looming high tall bikes, choppers and swing bikes. There is still room in the parade, so if you and your biking friends want to march as a team, club, or just as a group of people who love riding bikes together, see the website for details and sign up before midnight on the 12th.
In the evening, the street shuts down to all but the fastest racers as they zoom by in both directions on Mississippi for a super fast criterium street race. The course features tight turns and plenty of solid racing action with some of the area's most skillful racers competing for cash and prizes.
There will also be performances all day by the Sprockettes bicycle dance troupe, the SEI Soul Choir and the SEI Drum Corps. Exhibitors, food vendors and a beer garden will line the streets. Bring the whole family, bring your friends, head to the beer garden and get ready for a full evening of bicycle fun in the sun on Mississippi Avenue!
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June 6, 2008
It's Time for the Nighttime Club
If all that daytime riding leaves you wondering what the city looks like at night, it's time you signed up for The Night Ride, Portland's signature nighttime ride and an annual tradition for thousands of bikers (July 12). The ride will take you past fire jugglers and nightlife party-goers cheering you on as you head to a special outdoor bike-in movie screening of short bicycle movies from Filmed by Bike.
Once you've had your fill of movies and popcorn, you'll travel along the Peninsula Crossing trail on your way to the Candy Land disco party rest stop where you can be a wallflower or step out on the dance floor - and eat all the candy your stomach can handle.
The fun keeps going as you cruise right back to where you started - to the Portland train station for a midnight all-you-can-eat doughnut feast. The Night Ride is a benefit for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.
It all kicks off with the resounding drums of the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers. There are prizes for the best costumes and decorated bikes, so don't be shy and come dressed to impress. All riders will receive glow necklaces and glow-in-the-dark tattoos to ward off vampires along the way.
[ register ]
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June 4, 2008
BIKE MS | July 19-20 - Sweet Home
The Oregon Chapter of the National MS Society is hosting their annual BikeMS ride in Sweet Home, Oregon. You'll be graced with a route through peaceful farmlands and rural communities in search of historic covered bridges.
There are several distance options including a 10 mile ride on Saturday that is sure to be entertaining for kids of all ages. The intense century ride will challenge even the best of the bunch. We hope you're geared up for the challenge and ready for the ride of your life. The sense of accomplishment that you'll feel as you cross the finish line can only be matched by the difference you'll be making in the lives of people affected by MS.
Sign up to ride and the organizers promise to be there to support you every mile with tools to help you train and fundraise. You will pedal along some of the most beautiful scenery in the Mid-Willamette Valley while enjoying a fully supported, fun and truly inspirational two day event.
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