(Photos © J. Maus)
Saturday was one of the most gorgeous days Portland has seen in recent memory. The warm sun and the spring blooms on trees all over the city combined for a nearly perfect day to be on a bicycle. Riding under Portland’s blossoming street trees this time of year is something I can’t get enough of. And I’m not the only one.
On days like Saturday, Portland streets come alive with people on bikes. I rode around north and northeast Portland for a bit, just taking it all in and snapping photos…
Did you get out for a ride on Saturday?
I rode all over on Saturday, in a TANK TOP. It was mindblowing.
Yes I did! I rode from my house in Sellwood, into Woodstock via Bybee Ave. I then rode the 42nd street Bike Boulevard to the Lincoln Street Bike Boulevard and into Ladd’s Addition (where I remembered to turn on my handy iPhone tracking so I can share the route with the world). I met up with a couple friends by the Hawthorne Bridge and we rode along the Eastbank Esplanade – total zoo! – to the Steel Bridge and into NW, then up Vista towards Council Crest. We circled Fairmont Ave (if you’ve never ridden that loop, you should!) and rode down to OHSU where we rode the tram to the South Waterfront. We then rode the Willamette Greenway to Sellwood Bridge (and held our breath as we crossed!) and ended with beers and pizza with our families at the Muddy Rudder. All in all, an amazing day in Portland!!
We didn’t go riding on Saturday, but we did get out to Rooster Rock in the Gorge to do some disc golfing with a couple of our friends and their families. It was gorgeous out there (although windy).
Later on in the day we took a walk from the South Park Blocks downtown to NW 23rd with another friend so he could get his ears stretched at Robot Piercing. I took a crap-ton of pics. The blossoms were incredible and the sunlight was just right on the buildings.
Beautiful day. Larch Mountain is gated but snow free all the way to the top. Windy in the Gorge!
I rode to Cathedral Park from SE. I took the Eastbank Esplanade both ways, and “zoo” doesn’t begin to cover it. Everyone and their cousins and their kids and their dogs and bicycles. Total mayhem.
I did 90 miles — Canby Ferry to Wheatland ferry, and to/from Portland. Flat and windless sure but that won’t stop me from bragging. I saw some riders out from Salem, north of Keiser but otherwise not many bikes which is just wrong. Drop dead gorgeous out there, daffodils everywhere, hawks over the fields, saw an eagle over the river … you get the idea. A really good day to ride!
We took the max out to the end of the blue line in Hillsboro and biked to a vineyard for a picnic. Amazing day.
Went Mt Biking on Bells Mt Trail Wed. and Friday.
Spent the weekend working on and riding the pump track in the backyard.
3/4’s done and fun as hell!!!
Check out the progress…
http://bowelsofjohn.blogspot.com/
I was actually indoors all day, but with doors & windows open, and at my desk, which has 2 very large windows. If I have to be inside working, that’s the way to work.
Really, though, after 2-1/2 weeks in Detroit with 9″ of snow and temps in the 20s – I just don’t mind Portland’s overcast skies anymore this year.
Had to work most of the day, but with just a little light left, I rode up to Tabor to catch the last bit of sunset. It was beautiful up there. And packed with people, no surprise!
I biked from NE 26th to Mt. Tabor. Beautiful riding…though I think someone made the hills steeper over the winter. Nothing to do with my lack of training. Oh no.
Saturday was SE to Sauvie Island and Sunday was over to NE then MAXed out to Gresham where we departed for a pleasant trip up to Vista House.
Planted trees by bike with Friends of Trees! Bee-yoo-tee-ful day.
Did about 30 miles in the west hills, including my own “Commuter Dream” up Riverview Cemetery. It was so cool to see bike traffic jams at intersections throughout SE on my way home…and all the bikes passing by while we were lunching. Bring on springtime!
Rode all over town this weekend, including jaunts to breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday (which was followed by biking to church…active transportation is all over the Bible), as well as to the grocery store and a potluck.
Fantastic weekend to tease us for spring.
Whole family went for a ride. It was a big day for us as our 7yo son is just starting to ride in bike lanes on his bike. We rode the whole way from SW PDX to downtown and back. Even spent some time on downtown streets. Kid between Mom and I and lots of coaching. Lots of stops for frisbee, soccer, and treats.
All was well until .5 mile from home I endo’d when a stick got wedged between fender and front tire. Got away lucky with only scrapes and bruises. Been a long time since I went over the top, clipped in. Glad I was wearing a helmet!
What a superb day for a ride!!!
Rode down to the SE Art Walk, mainly to see a performance by:
http://www.myspace.com/birdannouncedland
It was the singer and her guitar, on someone’s front yard. Bikes whirring by on Lincoln, blossoms overhead, and warm sun I thought I had forgotten. Really nice.
Then it was off to the Wy’east pizza cart!
i rode around no po all afternoon- i even pedaled a pack n play crib home strapped across my handlebars -felt like i was twelve years old again balancing some crazy kid project on the bike….good memories then and now.
We had a great time on our ride to and from the community budget hearing on Saturday. East Portland is a terrific place that needs some serious active transport love.
Me and some pallies from work rode up to Sauvie. We saw cackling geese, bald eagles, great blue herons, and a coyote in broad daylight. Best ride of the year.
This makes me SOOO homesick for bikey, neighborhoody Portland.
Rode the yakima river 200k with the oregon randonneurs.
Perfect weather, awesome views of the desert and all the neat stuff in rural washington state.
Turns out “swedish fish” are the perfect energy food.
WOW, what a weekend. Saturday I mt biked with my wife out at Browns Camp. BEAUTIFUL DAY! GREAT TRAIL CONDITIONS!!
Sunday participated in a Trail build at LL Stub Stewart. Another great day…
It has been nice to get so much beautiful biking weather this winter. no complaints here 🙂
Rode Bell’s Mt. trail above the Lewis River again today. (Tuesday)
Not a single other cyclist the last three trips out there. Not a single other soul at all while there today.
You people are missing out on the best trail in the area…….
Rode Browns Camp with 9 others. Great group, great weather. Afterwards, I think we hung out in the sun for at least as long as we were riding.
@John Campbell #8 – Thanks for posting the link and videos about your pump track! I have seen but never understood the term. I ride for transportation rather than sport and I’m at least twenty years past the age where I would have ridden one. It’s fascinating to see the pumping action translated into forward motion. If I share your videos too widely, I have a grandson who will be asking for some backyard construction.
Right: Staying to the right of the centerline when the solid orange line is on your side.
Wrong: What was going on in the photograph. BIKE FAIL!