Weekend open thread: Something for everyone

DSC_2519

Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie, shown here before
his all-family trans-Canadian adventure,
will share tales and tips this
weekend.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Even though the kids are back in school and its feeling like fall, the weekend is still full of bike events.

Once again, there’s something for everyone; families, racers, easy-riders, you name it.

What are your plans? Share your adventures in the comments below. If you need some ideas, I’ve listed a few events below:

Sat. September 20

Sun. September 21

Enjoy the weekend!

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Vance
15 years ago

Hey Jonathan. Been dropping in occasionally to post. Rain ride today, in the Grande Ronde Valley, with a novice MTBer-cum-roadie. Still warm enough for shirt sleeves, and miles and miles of vacant two-lane. Bliss. Everyone have a safe weekend!

KTesh
KTesh
15 years ago

Pruned trees, did a BBQ with the CCC, and caught up with the Recycled open house crowd… not a bad saturday…

Beefa
Beefa
15 years ago

OMG I want that bike in the picture you posted. It would add to my collection quite nicely

Jebus
Jebus
15 years ago

Just working all weekend, maybe a ride up to the NE along the corridor to see my brother and grab a growler from his keg…

Jim Labbe
Jim Labbe
15 years ago

I was touring through Canada this summer and dropped into a bike shop in Terrace, B.C. to fix broken spoke. When I told the mechanic I was from Portland he asked me with enthusiasm if I knew (or knew of) the Metal Cowboy and family. Apparently MC, his family and their cross-country kid-bike-caravan left quite the positive impression of Portland.

Barbara Kilts
Barbara Kilts
15 years ago

Did the ECT Asa Lovejoy ride with a small group of folks. It\’s always fun to find places you\’ve never seen – like the Lovejoy fountain tucked in SW downtown – who knew? The ride took in Lovejoy street, with the bike lane along the street car route – no love or joy riding along tire catching tracks! Doesn\’t strike me as the best choice for a marked bike lane…

We trundled across the river to Lone Fir cemetery to see Asa\’s and other pioneer Portlander\’s final resting places. A peaceful and pleasant end to a sweet little urban adventure!

Barbara

Tom Knipe
15 years ago

I\’m looking forward to trying out cyclocross this year… I\’ve always been a commuter and occassional recreational rider (touring, mt biking, etc) but I\’m intruiged by racing… A wrote a little article about my experience at the Kruger\’s Kermesse last weekend. Check it out: http://blog.orbike.com/archives/2008/09/commuter-dad-tries-on-racing.php
I think I\’m going to need a different bike!

Alison
Alison
15 years ago

We had a blast at our BBQ at Wilshire Park yesterday. Russell Street BBQ celebrated its fifth anniversary by throwing the Community Cycling Center a party. Despite a less-than-summerlike day, we had about 500 people enjoy the deeelicious food, and the great music from Julia Dawn Band and Alan Singley and Pants Machine.

Plus, we had a popular photo booth where people posed for a portrait with their bike and completed a survey by filling in the blank: \”I ride _________…\” We\’ll roll out the results soon.

Thanks to everyone who came out to say hi!

finamin
finamin
15 years ago

nw to blue lake,
the top of rocky butte
gray, gray beautiful

Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

Went to Mt. St. Helens to ride the Ape Canyon/Plains of Abraham/Smith Creek loop. It was cold and wet, but awesome up on the PoA even though we couldn\’t see anything. It went well until we took a wrong turn and ended up walking our bikes 2 miles up some of the most treacherous hiking trails I\’ve ever been on. At one point We had to climb a 30ft. ladder with our bikes. About 38 miles and 7 hours car to car.

I highly recommend the route as long as the weather is good and don\’t end up where we did!

Laura
Laura
15 years ago

Did \”Todd\’s Eastside Ride\” from R2R-2, and participated in a Race for the Cure event this morning.

(Hey…this is Portland…why don\’t we have a Ride for the Cure? We have a Row for the Cure and a Sail for the Cure!)

Trees in the eastside nurserys and the Sandy River Valley are starting to turn…lovely ride.

Anyone know when they\’re going to be finished tearing up the Springwater out by Gresham?

rex burkholder
rex burkholder
15 years ago

My weekend fun is going all week. I just left Quito where they held their bi-monthly Ciclopaseo, shutting down 23 km of streets for cyclists and walkers, part of the international Ciclovia movement (ciudadhumana.org)

Tomorrow, Monday the 22nd is Global Dia sin Automovìles. I am in Lima, Peru where the Universidad Catòlica (kind of like the Harvard of Peru) is sponsoring a big bike to University event, then on to the Peruvian Congress where they hope to introduce a law like the Oregon Bicycle Bill. I am speaking tomorrow night (after lots of riding around Lima, wish me luck) about the Portland experience since the founding of the BTA in 1990. They are VERY interested.

Big challenges in all of S. America even though only 20% of the households own cars, they are the rich and the powerful and the bicycle is thought of as the poor man´s vehicle. Still, they know that the car is killing their cities.

For example, Lima relies on one high ice field in the Andes for all their water supply. If it melts away, and it is, the 8 million residents will run out of water in the summer.

Great people working very hard down here to support the bicycle.

ciclopolis.ec
http://www.biciaccion.org
ciudadhumana.org

Ciao de Lima

Rex

David
15 years ago

yea im going to bring my family. it would be a disaster if we all would try do ride that long bike. 🙂

Mark Allyn
15 years ago

Good news! Finished the colored lighting system on my bike. Now it\’s time to create the mascot that will ride with me!

Mark Allyn

jay
jay
15 years ago

just crossed the canadian border coming from velamutations. eta 1am. zoobomb.

maks
maks
15 years ago

i had a great weekend…

BUT…

what’s with the new layout? its NASTY. i could not find where to input close calls, read their stories. and the whole layout… i already said, nasty…

ugh.

mi7d1
15 years ago

Got back last night from Battle Mountain, NV. where I watched Sam Whittingham of Canada break and set a new world’s record for the flying 200 meter bike speed category. Sam rode his bike, the Varna Diablo 3 to 82.33 mph.

Anonymous
Anonymous
15 years ago

Ah, Terrace BC. We had a blast there – we had to repair the drum brake and spent an extra day on Ferry Island – which is a cool island campground just south of town. Just for the record – the hills after terrace who a bitch, or was it before, either way, it was still the Rockies. Made a bunch of friends around there. Itry to be a diplomat for Portland bike scene whereever our adventures take us – kinda easy considering how much we have here! Good to know we’d be welcomed back. Oh, thanks to those who came out to the shows over thwe weekend. Those who didn’t – it’s really a crime against man and nature so what are you waiting for? I’ll pop up at another venue soon. Thanks J, for posting the shot from our canada bike prep. The next book, Mud, Sweat and Gears – about this adventure, will be out in the Spring. BTW, an update on onemillionbicycles.org will be winging its way to Mr bikeportland soon. Stay tuned.
Cheers, Joe Metal Cowboy Kurmaskie

Kt
15 years ago

We did the Bike Gallery’s latest winery ride, out of Vista Hills Winery.

I have to say, that was one of the funnest organized rides I’ve been on in a long time!

Capping the number of riders at 70 means it’s easier to actually ride… and you can find someone to ride at your pace.

And the great gourmet meal at the end– and wine tasting– awesome!

The only thing I didn’t like was the abomination of a hill to the finish. It killed me dead. 🙂 I admit to walking some of it. One of the other riders with a gps said that the gradient was 11, 12, and 15 percent– and the last steep pitch was the worst!

Large quantities of thanks to Kelly at the Lake O BG, and the fine folks at Vista Hills. It was a great ride!!!

Robert Ping
Robert Ping
15 years ago

Rode to Hood River with three roadie friends -fast and furious with a strong tailwind! We took Marine Drive to Crown Point, then along the waterfalls to Cascade Locks, but soon after that had to ride the last 16 miles on Hwy 84. Not terrible, though, since it has a big ten-foot shoulder, but not a country rode, of course. Next day the families came out and we played at Rasmussen farms, six miles up 35 from Hood River, very nice! Fruit galore!! Anyone know of a way to get from a few miles east of Cascade Locks to Hood River without riding 84 or crossing over to 14 on the Washington side?

Icarus Falling
Icarus Falling
15 years ago

I know this is Monday, and no longer the weekend, but I got my first new bike since age 13 today. (and I am now 42)

I got a 2009 Lemond Poprad.

I will be racing it at the “Rickreall Rampage” Cross Race at my friends farm this next Saturday.

http://www.obra.org/flyers/2008/rickreall_rampage.pdf

Cecil
15 years ago

I rode the Oregon Randonneurs’ Desert River 600K (375 miles with a 40-hour time limit) – we started and finished in The Dalles. The headwinds were brutal and the scenery beautiful. Pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cecilanne_r-s/sets/72157607433142370/detail/