July 31, 2008
All Your Summer Faves - Plus Bikes!
Remember when summertime meant no school, no worries and bike riding around the neighborhood? Lemonade stands, watermelon, sundaes, squirt guns and Slip n' Slides? The Hottest Day of the Year Ride is a chance to re-live and re-love all of that. This day of fun in the sun on two wheels features all of that - and more. You'll start and finish at the Lucky Lab NW - where a finish line make-your-own sundae feast awaits! Last year the table of fixins had huge bowls of crushed cookies, strawberries, chocolate sauce, nuts (my favorite!), caramel, marshmallows, fruit loops, whipped cream and more. Oh yuuuummmmm! I'm already looking forward to it.
You can register online until midnight tonight (7/31). You can also register at the pre-ride party on Saturday from 4-7pm at Lucky Lab NW or on Sunday at the start line starting at 9am. Lucky Lab NW is on NW Quimby at 19th. This ride is a benefit for the Community Cycling Center.
[ REGISTER NOW ]
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July 30, 2008
Celebrate Portland's Platinum Status
On Thursday, August 7th, the City of Portland will officially celebrate being awarded Platinum Status by the League of American Bicyclists. The event will take place at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, from 5-7pm.
From Transportation Options Coordinator Linda Ginenthal: "Please join us in celebrating the City of Portland League of American Bicyclists Platinum Award for being the top Bicycling Friendly Community in the country at City Hall's First Thursday event. Bring your bikes. Dress in your Platinum Best. Bring your water bottles to get 'fueled' with root beer at the Platinum fuel pump. Step inside for the Platinum cake and the Picturing Portland's People, Places (& Platinum) 1st Thursday exhibit (with some great photos of bicyclists too)."
At the event, they will announce the first recipient of Portland Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community award for helping make Portland the #1 bicycling city in the US. The awardee will be the Providence Bridge Pedal's 1st Grand Marshall for the ride on Sunday, August 10.
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July 25, 2008
Mt. Bike Oregon Rocked!
I was down in Oakridge for the July weekend of Mt. Bike Oregon, and really there's nothing quite like it. The camaraderie is great; people come from all over the country (and as far away as Switzerland) to hang out in the forest together. In fact, Oakridge is surrounded on all sides by National Forest. The trails offer miles and miles of sweet singletrack. The event is limited to 300 riders so if you want to get in on the August event (and you should), sign up today. 50 volunteer guides lead you on the trails, answer questions, share knowledge and make sure you don't take a wrong turn. They're all really enthusiastic and supportive, and they make the weekend what it is - rockin'.
Check out the photos from July and sign up today!.
Photo gallery | Registration
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July 16, 2008
The Nighttime Club Rides Again
The Night Ride last Saturday in Portland was off the hook! There were costumed riders everywhere. Over 1,300 people hit the streets for a nighttime adventure, and gobbled up 2,200 doughnuts at the finish line. The mysterious bagpiper, tucked away on a dark, quiet trail, was a huge hit. Riders also rode along the Columbia Slough Trail, the Peninsula Crossing Trail and other great routes as they snaked through the city.
Check out photos of the ride in the photo gallery. Did you go on the ride? What did you think?
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July 12, 2008
A Nighttime Adventure Like No Other!
It's time for The Night Ride! This quirky-fun t-shirt is a hot Portland tradition that is not to be missed. Get your costume on and head down to the Amtrak station and get ready for an off-the-hook adventure. Registration is 8pm and the ride starts at 9pm. You may register at the event starting at 8pm.
I'm actually typing this live from the pre-ride party at the Lucky Lab NW. Glow necklaces are everywhere and people are swapping stories of what they're wearing for their costume, but others are keeping their clever ideas hush-hush; they're determined to win one of the great prizes. The disco lights are already in action (the organizers couldn't wait to hook them up for the disco party rest stop) and people are really excited for Saturday's ride. See you at the Amtrak station!
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July 9, 2008
Rider Profile: Shanti Ware
If there were an award for being Mt. Bike Oregon's biggest fan, it would definitely go to Shanti Ware, who loves MBO so much she brings friends she knows through MySpace and helps lead clinics for women. Her enthusiasm for MBO is contagious. "The trails are just plain amazing. The camaraderie cannot be beat. The people are outrageously fun. It's a must-do for mountain bikers!"
Shanti, a Portland Urban Mountain Pedaler, says her number one rule is that every weekend is spent on singletrack. "I am in love with Northwest-style singletrack. I get the biggest biker high from butt-over-your-backtire downhill. Narrow, rooty, rocky, technical: that's what I'm talkin' about! Downhill rocks and roots that provide air opportunity give me just a little more to smile about." She's s self-described thrill-seeker by nature who loves pushing her limits (see her injured shoulder photo below).
So what is it about MBO that keeps Shanti coming back? "You wake up at MBO, ride your bike over to breakfast which is served by some of the sweetest folks you could meet. Like your Mom, they all just want to feed you more. You sit with your new best friends and talk about the funny stuff that happened at the beer garden the night before and get each other amped up about the trails you're riding today. The cool energy in the air is intoxicating. Is it biker Christmas or what?"
And then, she says, there are the trails: "Trail, oh sweet trail - how we love you so! Technical climbs, switchbacks, screaming down narrow singletrack through beautiful firs (do you feel like an Ewok yet?), trail dips that allow you to stand up, let your suspension do its thing and catch some air on the back end. You hear the sound of your breathing and an intermittent 'Whoooo-hoooo' from your fellow riders as the trail and your bike are rockin' your world. And the views: Mountain Bike Nirvana! Pack some floss in your Camelback, 'cause you'll need it to get those bugs outta your teeth at the end! High-fives and shouts of pure biker joy at the end."
But Shanti's day isn't over yet: "You're tired, you're hot, and you're sweaty, but you are still stoked. Take heart dear biker: Now back for a shower, some hot food and crazy trail tales with 300 of your new best friends over a beer in the beer garden. You'll even get to see some of the pictures and video of the rides that day on the big screen."
Shanti wants to see more women on the trail so she helps lead clinics for women at Mt. Bike Oregon. "I feel that those of us who are already biking need to help women see that mountain biking isn't just for "The Dudes." Some of the strongest climbers I know are women. Because of our geometry and size, we ride the trail a little differently than men do, so it gives an opportunity to address women specific trail needs. The women's clinics are a great way to meet and bond with other women riders. We are a growing minority in the mountain biking world and its pretty cool to build our sisterhood. It took me two years to "get my wheelies." Last year 10 women got wheelies and bunny-hops mastered in a couple of hours. It was so cool to hear a woman remark, 'My husband can't even do that! I can't wait to get home and show my son his Mom can wheelie!' I think that was my favorite class moment."
Though Shanti has more mt. bike enthusiasm than most club members combined, she's actually relatively new to the game. Shanti just started riding three years ago when she discovered that her knees couldn't handle other sports and her boyfriend was a 20+ year mt. bike veteran. She says her first ride was love at first loop, "Mountain biking combined the skills I knew for year: the balance of horseback riding, strategy of tennis, and the physical and nature aspects of trail running all in one sport. I came home and bought a bike off Craigslist. I'd just turned 38 when I sat my first mountain bike. I'm 41 now and growing as a rider every day. I am stoked to meet killer riders in their 60's and 70's. No one is 'too old' to start mountain biking!"
So what's Shanti's favorite MBO trail? "It's really hard to say just one. If there were only one to ride ... It would either be Alpine or the Hardesy/Lawler. I've not ridden Goodman yet. With that added to the Hardesty/Lawler ride, that might trump Alpine (gasp!). Guess I still didn't give you "one." That's just how good MBO riding is."
Look for Shanti out there on MBO and give her a high five or bring her a beer in the beer garden.
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July 3, 2008
ORbike Member Profile: Megan Kent
ORbike member Megan Kent bought her first road bike last October, after she was informed by her doctor that swimming and cycling were the only safe sports for her because of injured knees. Just two months later went on a century ride from Sacramento to Stockton. "There was an unbelievable head wind. I didn't think I was in good enough shape for it but with the help of my friend Motrin, I did just fine."
Meghan, a 30 year old from Wilsonville, loves perusing the ORbike calendar to look for events. "There is always something to do under the events section - from Taco Truck Tuesday to Bike Polo - and it all looks like fun!" she says.
This year she, Meghan says, she's looking forward to STP and the many other great events she'll discover through ORbike.
What's your member story? Tell us why you joined ORbike. And if you're not already an ORbike member, join today! The next upcoming event to use your membership discount is the ever-fun Night Ride on July 12th.
Become a member today! | The Night Ride info
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