I haven’t been following the news as closely as usual this week, but here are some interesting stories I’ve come across from Portland and beyond…

– Local NBC affiliate station KGW has a story this morning about all the gravel left on Portland roads after the big snow storm. The story covered the perils of gravel for people in cars (little rocks are breaking windshields) and for people riding bikes. Check out the full story here.

– Reuters is running an interesting editorial titled “Electric cars will not cure environmental woes.” The writer’s conclusion isn’t all one might hope, but it’s good to see this reality check on an increasing trend of public faith in the redemptive power of electric cars.

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Cover of January 2009
Oregon Business Journal

The Portland (and Oregon-wide) bike industry is the cover story in the January 2009 issue of Oregon Business magazine. Titled, The Bicycle Industrial Complex: Bike Madness Fuels $150 Million Industry, the lengthy story touches on many facets of Portland’s bike scene to paint a picture of how growing numbers of bikers are helping create a healthy niche economy.

Here’s a snip from one of the opening paragraphs:

The market for anything connected to bicycles in Portland runs rich and deep, and entrepreneurs are sprinting to create new ways to tap into it. About 50 new bike-related businesses have sprung up over the past two years here, and while some are destined to remain forever fringe if they survive the downturn at all, others have tremendous potential.

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It’s not too pretty
out there.
(Photo © J. Maus)

After a morning snowfall, the Big Thaw seems imminent.

I just got off the streets and it’s nasty out there. On some major streets snow, there are big ruts from bus and car tire track bordered by icy, slushy, dirty snow. I’ve been taking the lane, but at times when it’s too uncomfortable (and I feel a car breathing down my neck), I try to move over, only to nearly slide out back into the passing car (lesson: hold your ground in the lane, but watch out for those manhole covers!).

On side streets, the packed snow is slippery and it’s tough to see where the good lines are. There are also concave tire ruts that will keep you on your toes.

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Here’s the latest storm advisory from the Bureau of Transportation (online here):

Changing Conditions Create New Challenges for Road Crews, Travelers, and Property Owners

(PORTLAND, OR) – Severe winter weather conditions continue to work against City crews as they continue to plow priority routes 24 hours a day since Sunday, December 14, when an arctic air mass entered the Portland metropolitan region. Additional snowfall and icy road conditions are making travel treacherous. The public is advised as follows:

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Portlander Molly Cameron is flying the
Vanilla Bicycles team colors while
racing in Belgium.
(Photo: Nielsdewit.be)

Local racer and owner of Veloshop, Molly Cameron, is “living the dream” by spending her holiday racing cyclocross against the world’s best on a multi-week trip that includes World Cup races in France and Belgium.

Another Portland rider, Sue Butler, is also competing on the Belgian circuit. Butler was also just named to the U.S. Nationals Team and will compete at World Championships at the end of January.

Cameron is joined by friend and trusty mechanic Steven Hunter. Both Cameron and Hunter are keeping local friends and fans posted on their adventures via regular blog updates — Cameron on her personal blog, and Hunter as a guest writer on Race Cyclocross!.

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A scene from the action at the
2004 ‘Cross Nationals held in Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Local cyclocross racers and fans looking for some good news now that the season has ended got it yesterday: USA Cycling has officially awarded Bend, Oregon the honor of hosting the next two editions of the Cyclocross National Championships.

The news comes after tourism officials in Bend spent a year lobbying to get the event. They’re psyched because the event is expected to bring 2,000 competitors to Bend each year for the four days of racing, and between 3,500 and 4,500 additional visitors in the form of fans, media and support staff.

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Now that Portlanders have experienced a “real” winter storm (not the occasional dusting of snow we usually get), some folks are beginning to think about how to equip themselves to ride through anything.

If studded tires aren’t enough, maybe it’s time to consider the Ktrak. This morning Jack Bog reminded me of this bike, which I used to chuckle at when I’d see it at the industry trade shows…

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Snow can’t stop this multi-modal commuter out in Beaverton.
(Photo by K’Tesh via the BikePortland.org Photog. Pool)

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