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Year: 2008

Leipheimer, Horner will race in Cascade Cycling Classic

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Levi Leipheimer at the Tour
of California in February.
(Photo: Aerotheque)

France’s loss is Oregon’s gain.

With their Astana Cycling Team not invited to the Tour de France (after being linked to a doping scandal in 2007), top professional road racers Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner have decided to race in the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

The race will be held in and around Bend, Oregon on July 9-13. The announcement was made today by race organizers.

Cascade’s technical director Brad Ross, says getting Horner and Leipheimer to race in Bend is a “coup”. “We think it’s a very big deal. It’s the first time ever that a reigning Tour de France podium finisher has come back and done a race like this.”

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Portland cancels search for bike-sharing vendor

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Portland will have to wait for a bike-sharing program
like this one in Vienna.
Photo: Ethan Jewett

The process to select a vendor that would implement a public bike-sharing system in Portland has been canceled.

In a letter just released by the City of Portland’s Office of Management and Finance, Purchasing Agent Jeffrey Baer writes:

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Pedalpalooza update: Kissin', fashion', and splashin'

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Splash Dance Ride

Worth a thousand words.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Once again, Pedalpalooza is entering its final few days, and once again, I’m thinking not only about all the great rides I did, but about all the great rides I missed.

One of these years I just might pack up my bike with a sleeping bag and a few necessities and do a 17-day, Pedalpalooza marathon, going on as many of the 200+ rides and events as possible.

That’s not to say I haven’t been to my share of rides this year. In case you haven’t noticed the headlines over in the sidebar, I’ve been posting daily ride/event menus as well as reports and photos from as many rides as I can.

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Boogie while you bike: Meet the Disco Trike

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Dan Kaufman and his Disco Trike.
Video below
(Photos © J. Maus)

One of the fringe benefits of pedaling around Portland this time of year are all interesting bikes and people you come across.

One such person is Dan Kaufman.

Dan lives just off the Springwater Corridor Trail in Sellwood with this wife Kirsten (a real estate agent who gives home tours by bike) and his three kids.

Dan is the man behind CrankMyChain! Cycle TV, and in addition to being a fab filmmaker, he’s also a songwriter and audio/video/internet guru.

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Two lives changed forever by Marine Drive collision

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Jan Verrinder at the bike safety press conference
in City Hall a week after her husband Bob
was nearly killed in a collision with a
car on Marine Drive.
(Photo © J. Maus)

During last year’s Sad October, our community endured several tragedies.

The two young lives we lost grabbed most of the headlines, but sandwiched between both of them was another tragedy that almost had a similar storyline.

Luckily, the collision between Bob Verrinder and a car on Marine Drive on October 18th did not claim his life. But even today, he struggles on the road to recovery.

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Sunset Mystery Ride

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Sunset Mystery Ride
Col. Summers Park, SE 20th Ave and Belmont St
8:00pm
Meet and ride to a mystery destination to watch the sunset. Always fall asleep on the couch before you make it to MMR? Try this ride on for size! In case of rain this ride becomes the Pinball Cruise. Check the online calendar for exact event time, as local apparent sunset often differs from navigational sunset.

Hen Peck 5000

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Hen Peck 5000
Col. Summers Park, SE 20th and Belmont
6:30pm
Discover the world of chicken events, in which brave participants ride on shoulders and complete feats involving bravery, danger, silliness, and stupidity. Jousting, derbies, and more. These events are not for children whose parents are feint of heart. Helmets required (we’ll have some extra if you forget yours). Chicken-themed accoutrements and paraphernalia highly encouraged.

CRC Bridge Tour

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Unofficial CRC Bike Bridge Tour/Discussion
Meet outside of Wallis Engineering Offices, 215 West 4th St., Ste 200 (corner of 4th and Columbia)
5:30pm – 7:30pm, If you arrive late look for us on the bridge.
Have you heard about the big bridge coming to Portland Vancouver? Come out for a bike tour and discussion so that you can learn about how the new Interstate Bridge will affect bicycling across the Columbia for the next 100 years. Discussion at bar after tour. The DEIS comment period for this project closes 1 July.

Bike to Skate

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Bike to Skate
Lucky Lab, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd
5:00pm – 10:00pm
Meet at Luck Lab on Hawthorne at 5pm leave 5:30. Ride the Esplanade to Oaks Park. Pot Luck at Oaks Park picnic area before skating. Skate Lesson available.

Family Farmers Market Ride

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Family Farmers Market Ride
Buckman Elementary, 320 SE 16th Ave (in front of the school)
4:30pm
Enjoy a short ride with other families to the East Bank Farmers Market. Take some time to talk to farmers and pick out some treats for a picnic in Colonel Summers Park. Bring a backpack, plates, spoons and forks, and a little bit of cash for the market. Ride leader will bring knives and a cutting board to cut up treats to share. Brought to you by the BTA and Safe Routes to School.

Pedalpalooza menu for Thursday (6/26)

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[This is part of BikePortland’s ongoing coverage of Pedalpalooza 2008. See more ride reports, videos and photos here.]

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Like playing chicken? Get to
the Hen Peck 5000!
(Photo © J. Maus)

Pedalpalooza may be almost over, but the fun is going on strong.

On the menu today/tonight are several awesome choices.

If you want something family friendly, join ride leader extraordinaire Jeff Bernards on his Bike to Skate ride. Bring your dinner for a potluck at Oaks Park before a fun skating session. There’s also a family ride to the East Bank Farmers market.

If you want to get wonky, join bike planning guru Todd Boulanger for an “unofficial” tour and discussion of the CRC project.

For blatant bike fun, you can’t beat the Hen Peck 5000, which will feature several events where participants will ride “chicken”-style.

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