Weekend Open Thread

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Summer-heat wave biking attire-1

Enjoy your weekend!

What are you doing to make the most of what now seem like refreshingly low temps this weekend?

There are too many bike-related events going on this weekend to summarize succinctly — check out our Weekend Events Roundup for an enticing selection.

Whatever you do, let us know how things go in the thread below.

My City Bike: A mama’s perspective

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Marion Rice and daughter Gleneden on
Marion’s city bike: an Xtracycle conversion
with a rear child seat and front basket.
(Photo © J. Maus)

[This is the first in a series of “My City Bike” interviews with Portlanders who ride bikes intended for urban transportation. The first interview is with our family biking columnist Marion Rice.]


BikePortland: What kind of rider are you?

Marion Rice: A very experienced city bike rider.

BP: Describe the bike you ride every day.

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Blumenauer introduces bill to restore, maintain “orphan highways”

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National Bike Summit - Day three-10

Earl Blumenauer
(Photo © J. Maus)

With bipartisan support, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has introduced a new bill — the Orphan Highway Restoration Act — aimed at improving state highways that run through America’s main streets.

According to Blumenauer, “orphan highways” are former U.S. numbered highways that over the years have lost traffic volume to more popular Interstate Highways.

In a press release about the bill Blumenauer says, the bill will direct funding toward improving these “abandoned” main streets:

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Gold Raleigh Super Course 1977

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Year: 1977
Brand: Raleigh
Model: Super Course
Color:Gold
Stolen in Portland, WA 97217
Stolen:2009-07-28
Stolen From: 1021 N. Holman, Portland OR
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Owner: Scott Stephenson
OwnerEmail: j_scott_stephenson@hotmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: 1977 gold framed Raleigh Super Course. White lettering with crest falling off on headpost. Cream handle bar tape. Mountain bike clipless pedals.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Silver Specialized Hardrock Sport

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Brand: Specialized
Model: Hardrock Sport
Color:Silver
Size:15″ frame
Serial: P7DAD5822
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2009-07-27
Stolen From: Stolen in front of office building. 1400 SW 5th Ave.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Nathan Bell
OwnerEmail: nathan@digitaltrends.com
Reward: 100
Description: It is new and has front shocks and is a 21 speed mountain bike.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Weekend Event Guide: Ride to sunset, in Spanish, or for Joy of Sects

bikes at Last Thursday on Alberta-8

Enjoy the crowd (and the bikes)
at carfree Last Thursday tonight.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Looks like we’re out of the 100s, but this weekend is still shaping up to be respectably hot so remember to heed these best practices to beat the heat.

If you’re prepared to venture out, you have a great lineup of events to choose from. Here are some highlights:

Thursday, July 30

6:00pm – 10:00pm: Last Thursday
Every month this summer, a long stretch of Alberta Street is closed to cars and packed with people, art, dancing, and food vendors. It’s a magical experience.

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In record heat, a trail angel saves the day

The hot, eerily empty
Springwater Trail yesterday.
(Photos by Erin Greeson)

Today, while commuting home midday to finish my work from an air-conditioned office, a great thing happened. Just when I thought I’d prepared smartly for the 100-degree ride — dousing my head in cold water beforehand and chugging water all morning long — my lack of preparedness on another front led to an unexpected situation.

As I rode down SE Lincoln, I noted an atypically low number of fellow cyclists on this usually busy route. The heat has kept people indoors or in their cars, I thought to myself. I made my way through Ladd’s Addition, under the Hawthorne Bridge and onto the Springwater Corridor Trail (popular bike routes, which were all sparsely populated).

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Silver Cannondale Synapse 2007

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Year: 2007
Brand: Cannondale
Model: Synapse
Color:Silver
Size:60cm
Serial: A0752174
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2009-07-29
Stolen From: Shed in yard near NE 33rd and Irving
Neighborhood: Laurelhurst
Owner: Chuck Reif
OwnerEmail: reif.chuck@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Has mark on top bar where Cycle Oregon stickers were. Two water bottle holders, small hand pump, black underseat bag.
Police record with: Portland Police
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Read and ride with Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac

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I’ve just spent a lovely but overly warm summer morning hunkered down in the cool basement reading the latest edition of Boneshaker.

The small volume’s attractive recycled brown cover is reminiscent of an army field manual, but with an attention grabbing color illustration of a bicycle enticing me in to the table of contents. It turns out that the postcard-sized zine is dense with inspirational words and imagery; poetry, conversation, hope, art and community.

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