Moving to Portland soon

[bramasole_iowa]

Hello all!
I'll be moving to Portland in May. Currently it sounds like I'll be living in the Inner NE.
A few questions I have:

Do I need to register my bicycle with the city or county?
Are there critical mass events?

[K'Tesh]

Originally Posted by bramasole_iowa

Do I need to register my bicycle with the city or county?
Are there critical mass events?

Hello,

No, and yes, in that order...

Welcome!

[nuovorecord]

Hi, and welcome to Portland.

No, you don't have to register your bike like you would register a car. But you might want to consider registering it with the National Bicycle Register through the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Bike theft is pretty rampant here 'cause there are so many of them around.

http://www.bta4bikes.org/resources/biketheft.php

[mike_khad1]

Welcome to a great city - where are you moving from?

[bramasole_iowa]

I'll be moving in from Des Moines, IA.
Right now I'm in a scale-down phase to try and get 90% of my earthly posessions to fit inside my car before I drive out in May, with my bicycle on the back and the cat in a carrier up front.

[Thorlak]

Brings back memories. I moved out here in June '95 with everthing I owned
and a cat from St. Louis. I thought he would be happy in a cat box but he
howled to no end. 60 miles out and I let him out, he spent the rest of the trip
under my seat. If I could advise you I would say do Nebraska at night and put
sun tan lotion on your left arm in Wyoming.

No Matter, at least have a safe trip and don't worry about "point B", just
enjoy the ride.

[K'Tesh]

I'd recommend a leash and cat harness, not just a collar...

When I was 7 and moving to New Orleans, we lost a cat in NM when it bailed out during a pitstop, was heartbreaking for us kids.

Hope both of you have a safe trip.
K'Tesh

[djasonpenney]

Every day is Critical Mass on the Hawthorn Bridge!

Seriously, I think you'll find that the war is over here and the bicycles have won. You'll need to think about safe and effective bicycling here in the Pacific Northwet. Consider lighting (It's DARK here in the winter), clothing (it rains 300 days a year, and did I mention DARK?), and, of course, you'll want a good lock. Does your bike have full mudguards with a mud flap?

Anyway, welcome!

[bramasole_iowa]

No mud flaps, just a mountain bike. Thinking about getting a roadbike for commuting and keep the mountain bike for fun.

I put in my 2wk notice on Monday. Two weeks from today I start my journey to Portland.
Will stop to see some attractions along the way and since I have the cat I'll be getting hotel rooms. If it was just me I'd probably camp out.

Day 1: Des Moines, IA to South Bayard, NE (Chimney Rock, on NE quarter). 600 miles.
Day 2: South Bayard, NE with diversion to Alliance, NE (Carhenge) to Salt Lake City, UT. 650 miles.
Day 3: Cat Relax Day in Salt Lake City. 0 miles.
Day 4: Salt Lake City to Boise, ID by way of Blackfoot, ID and Arvo, ID (Craters of the Moon National Park). 450 miles.
Day 5: Boise, ID to Portland. 430 miles.

Straight shot would be 1,800 miles, but with diversions to attractions it will be closer to 2,150 miles.

[bramasole_iowa]

OK. I'm here.
Been in Portland a week, exploring.
Still looking for a job.
I'm at Multnomah Village. Will start seriously jobhunting in a few days. Figured a week to 10 days of exploring and relaxing was in order.
I've got a mountain bike, but considering getting a road bike for any commuting along roads. Any suggestions for what I should get?