Rockin' the Rose Garden at Bike to Blazers 2010

(more...)

Nate Meschke of Signal Cycles
with a 29-inch mountain
bike in the works for NBA player
Joel Przybilla.
(Photos: Matt Cardinal)

Local bike builders Matt Cardinal and Nathan Meschke of North Portland-based Signal Cycles (profile) have a tall order to fill; they're working on a new bike for 6-foot 11-inch Trail Blazers star Joel Przybilla.

Przybilla already owns a Eugene-built Co-Motion hybrid bike that he purchased through the Lake Oswego Bike Gallery store, but his new bike will be a 29-inch mountain bike he plans to ride on the dirt trails near his home.
(more...)

Covered bike parking? Free
bike bells? Thumbs waaay up!
(Photo © BikePortland/2006)

The Portland Trail Blazers will pass out 6,500 custom-branded Blazer bike bells at tonight's home game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Bike-riding fans will also enjoy a new roof over their head at the arena's main bike parking area.

Charlie Burr, from the Blazers PR firm, told me yesterday (with tongue firmly in cheek) that, "We believe the sound of alternative transportation will serve to disorient our Los Angeles brethren, giving us a critical advantage."

Noisemakers in the crowd are common at Rose Garden Arena, but the team usually hands out cowbells.
(more...)

The main bike racks at the Rose Garden.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Portland Business Journal reports that the Rose Garden Arena (home of the Portland Trail Blazers) has been awarded a "Gold" level LEED certification. Among the reasons is the large percentage of attendees get there by something else besides a car.

Here's the blurb about their transportation green-ness:

More than 30 percent of Rose Garden attendees use public or alternative transportation, such as bicycle commuting. The team subsidizes transit passes for staff and uses bikes and electric vehicles for on-site operations.

(more...)

Roy's talent, style, and popularity could
do wonders for the reputation of
bicycling in Portland.

In the few years he's been in the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers' Brandon Roy has become a bona-fide star. That's one reason why back in July 2008, we featured his love of biking on the Front Page.

Now comes further proof of how lucky Portland is to have "B-Roy" on our team: According to an interview given by teammate Nic Batum to a French media outlet that was translated by fan site Blazers Edge, Roy not only loves to ride for training purposes, but he's actually riding to practice as well.

Here's the key quote from the interview (this is Batum speaking about Roy): (more...)

I still don't know who's responsible for
this stencil. I spotted it on the bike
signal loop detector at the corner
of NE Lloyd and the Steel Bridge.
(Photos © J. Maus)

It seems like an eternity has passed since I put together the Bike to Blazers ride. And in Blazer terms, it is.

Back in April 2006, our local team was at the bottom of the NBA barrel. They had huge problems on the court (couldn't win games) and off (couldn't stay out of trouble). I remember when I announced the ride, several openly commenters scoffed at the idea.

Fast forward to today. Now there's a much different vibe coming from the Rose Garden. The Blazers are one of the hottest teams in the league and they've got players who inspire both on the hardwood and in the neighborhood. (more...)