Headed to Sacramento for North American Handmade Bicycle Show

Vanilla's kids bike-12

A scene from NAHBS in
Austin last year.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Tomorrow morning I’ll hop in a car with a friend and drive 600 or so miles to Sacramento for the 2012 North American Handmade Bicycle Show. NAHBS is the annual showcase of America’s budding handmade bike industry. I’m going down to document and support the 18 or so Oregon companies that will exhibit and to get a sense of where handmade bike making is headed.

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White/Blue Trek Madone project one 2007

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Year: 2007
Brand: Trek
Model: Madone project one
Color:White/Blue
Size:56
Serial:WL3497184
Stolen in Newport, OR 97365
Stolen:2012-02-27
Stolen From: residence at 1341 Nye St
Owner: Alisha Kern
OwnerEmail: lisakern@charter.net
Description: project one flame paint White/Blue with red flames. Bontrager race xx lite white spokes. name Jerry Kern painted on right top tube.
Police record with: Newport PD
Police reference#: 12N00328
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Activists revolted by use of Lorax to sell cars

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New Mazda is “Truffula Tree Friendly”!

The auto industry will go to any length to sell their products: they’ll promote speeding on city streets when going too fast is the #1 reason so many people die and get injured in traffic collisions every day across America; they’ll sell huge SUVs and trucks even though they cause damage to humans around them and to the planet; they’ll make non-car mobility options look bad and encourage cash-strapped college students to sign up for loans — and the list goes on.

But this time, for a growing list of activists, they’ve gone to too far.

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Black/Silver Trek 1000 2003

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Year: 2003
Brand: Trek
Model: 1000
Color:Black/Silver
Size:60cm
Serial:"223G0512V" or "TBT-0405GV21347"
Photo: http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2007&Brand=Trek&Model=1000&Type=bike
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2012-02-25
Stolen From: Reed College breezeway, near library.
Neighborhood: SE/East Moreland
Owner: Chris Cahill
OwnerEmail: ccahill@reed.edu
Description: Bike is stock with the exception of a sticker on the top tube that says "believe", bmx-style platform pedals with no foot rentention, silver fenders, and a rear rack. Also had two knog-style lights, one on front and one on back, when stolen.
Police record with: PPD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

New bike race series coming to Portland’s famous Rose Garden

A new road racing series set to debut in April will take place in Portland’s famous International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park. The Rose Garden Circuit Race is the latest event organized by Giro Events, the same crew behind last summer’s inaugural Giro di Portland.

Steven Beardsley of Giro Events says it’s been a lot of work to get all the permits for a bike race through the Rose Garden, “But good things usually are not easy.” This is an exciting new addition to Portland’s already packed annual racing calendar. Just imagine evenings spent in a beautiful park, amid bikes, friends and roses, with the Portland skyline just below.

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Light Blue/Teal Peugeot ’79-’83

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Year: ’79-’83
Brand: Peugeot
Color:Light Blue/Teal
Size:Approx ~23in frame – 700c wheels/28 tires
Photo: <a target=_new href=" “>
Stolen in , OR
Stolen:2012-02-27
Stolen From: My Garage – NE 21st & Schuyler
Near the Zeller Funeral home.
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: Insa Evans
OwnerEmail: insaevans@gmail.com
Reward: $150.00
Description: – Yellow/ocre letters on frame –
– Purple to green faded wraps –
– Original Italia sticker on Frame –
– Brand new Vittoria Tires (700c 28) –
– Old Mavrick wheel set (needs truing) –

Please email or Call: (561) 767-0318
(friend from out of towns phone # – please mention stolen bike)
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1217464
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Fanno Creek Trail will pass under, or fly over, Hall Blvd

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THPRD showed four options for the crossing
at an open house last September.
(Photos: Will Vanlue/BikePortland)

On Thursday, the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD) will host another open house to discuss improvements to the intersection of the Fanno Creek Trail and Hall Boulevard. As this project has evolved, the two current options being considered are a tunnel or a bridge.

Anyone who uses the Fanno Creek Trail knows how much of a hassle it is to cross at Hall. The intersection is one of the last gaps in a trail system running for about 10 miles between Tigard, Beaverton, and Portland.

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Effort to ban studded tires picks up momentum, major endorsements

Bernards in his usual stance:
“Wanna sign?”
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

With all the talk about why our roads are full of ruts and potholes, I thought it’d be a good time to check in on an effort to ban studded tires in Oregon.

Since he embarked on his signature-gathering effort back in October, chief petitioner with Preserving Oregon Roads, Jeff Bernards, is well on his way to getting his initiative on the ballot. Bernards says they’ve got over 7,000 of the 87,213 signatures they need. That might not sound like a lot, but it’s a good start, especially since Bernards is still using only volunteers.

He estimates about 150 people have requested signature-gathering kits so far. That’s an encouraging sign, but Bernards knows that in order to meet the July 6th deadline, he needs to hire a professional firm that manages a team of paid signature gatherers. “We need to raise about $200,000, and we’re working on that right now,” Bernards told me via phone this morning.

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Black Bianchi San JOse 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Bianchi
Model: San JOse
Color:Black
Size:44
Serial: H9ER02222
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2012-02-27
Stolen From: On Killingsworth between Interstate and Concord in front of my home. Taken from a locked truck canopy.
Neighborhood: North Portland
Owner: Elsa Ortega
OwnerEmail: smelsaortega@gmaill.com
Description: Brown handlebar tape on drop bars. Black rack with a white metal collapsible basket on the left side. Brown leather Brooks saddle.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12001912
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Mayor Adams, BTA, Portland Mercury pile on rebuttals to The Oregonian

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Adams in a guest op-ed today.

Lest you think my repeated criticisms of the way The Oregonian frames transportation issues was just my personal axe to grind, it’s worth noting that the front page story in their Sunday edition is being called out from many corners.

In addition to the numerous intelligent citizens we’ve heard from in the comments, now Mayor Sam Adams, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), and even The Portland Mercury have issued detailed rebuttals to the now infamous, “Portland’s Roads to Ruin” story by The Oregonian’s Beth Slovic.

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