Cold, distance no match for 'extreme' bike movers
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on November 26th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Over the weekend, the folks behind Portland's proud "move by bike" tradition took on one of their biggest challenges ever; a 12 mile bike move from out past Clackamas Town Center to inner southeast Portland.
A regular at Portland bike events, and the subject of the move Matt Picio, said he was "tired of living out in the hinterlands" so he put out the call for help on the trusty Shift email list.
According to fellow bike mover Brad Reber, 27 people showed up at Matt's apartment on a chilly Saturday morning, eager to help and ready to fill their baskets, pannier bags, and cargo trailers.
After fueling up on pastries, donuts, and coffee they pedaled through suburbia together, laden with all manner of stuff including desks, tables, and mattresses.
"There were so many of us we had to cross intersections in waves of three," said Brad.
Once into Portland, they were rewarded with a sense of accomplishment, loads of good karma, and of course plenty of free beer and pizza.
For more photos of this inspiring show of human, community-powered help, see Brad and Tomas' photo galleries.
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November 26th, 2007 13:35
Awesome. Tell us where you live now, Matt.
And always remember: If you're cold, all you have to do is pedal harder.
November 26th, 2007 13:42
Great work, folks!
November 26th, 2007 13:44
Clackamas County has lost a great advocate....Welcome to Portland, Matt!
November 26th, 2007 17:24
This was a super-duper fun bike move, not to mention, my first time ever bicycling all the way out to Clackamas, which was very empowering.
Thankyou to Matt for hosting, and to everyone who showed up. It's amazing how something as stressful as moving house can be transformed into a mobile party on wheels!
It was also fun just now to look back at our Shift2Bikes Move by Bike page. There are some great reports and photos from more recent past bike moves here in Portland!
November 26th, 2007 18:38
Looks like you guys had a bunch of fun!! I wish I could have helped.
Would one of those trailers fit over the I-5 bridge? My youngest sister has been living with me for almost a year, and she is about to get evicted so she might need some bike move love! :)
November 26th, 2007 18:47
I think we just found the real Team Awesome. Team Awesomest?
November 26th, 2007 21:28
Well there should be no contest for awesomeest, but everyone who came on Saturday was definitely awesome! The most unique part of the move was cycling past Clackamas Town Center (the largest mall in the state) on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.
Thanks to the great photographers, thanks to a rain-free trip, and thanks to Dat for the lasagna.
:-)
November 27th, 2007 08:14
There were so many people that I found myself asking "Don't you have anything else to move" as I found my trailer rather lite.
I second the thanks to Dat for the balanced meal of lasagna, salad, bread, etc.
November 27th, 2007 09:19
I saw these guys pedaling through Ladd's—I had no idea how far they had come!
November 27th, 2007 10:39
you all rolled right past my wife.. sooo
cool.. Great Job!!
November 27th, 2007 18:47
a_O, I am now very close to the intersection of 2 bike routes in SE: 16th and Salmon. I love it!
Of course, I have no Internet until Monday, so I have to sneak out to free wifi spots in the interim.