Ahhh, summertime in Portland
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
The big Multnomah County Bike Fair is happening today at Colonel Summers Park (SE 17th Ave & Belmont). Will you be there?
There’s also a benefit silent auction of photographs from the Cycle Seen exhibition. It’s at the SE Division location of Stumptown Coffee (4525 SE Division) and the proceeds go to the Bikes to Rwanda organization.
And how about the Livestrong Ride? I’d love to hear a little report on how that went.
Share your bike adventures in the comments below, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Thanks for reading.
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Looks like my ride home from work will be interesting…~20 miles through Washington Park to North Portland via Leif Erickson (Forest Park)and it\’s only gonna be 95 degrees !!
I\’ve never wanted not to be at work so much in my life. MCBF, Sprockettes dance party, life is so unfair. Best of wishes to all the folks who helped bring the fun this year.
On my way to get in line super early for bike porn 2: Earnest saves Christmas, I was rollin\’ past Col. Sumners and saw about fifty bicyclists in a cirlce, so I made a pit stop. The only person I recognized through my dehydration was Mr. Maus, who asked if I was their for speed dating. The immediate answer was \”Fuck no\” and fortunately was able to restrain saying the rest of my answer, \”that\’s like lookin\’ for roommates on Craigslist.\” that would have been bad form.
I have to whine a little. I was so excited for the LIVESTRONG Challenge this weekend and hurt myself Thursday. Freak thing but I\’m not supposed to be in the saddle at all this weekend. 🙁
The Village was great today and I encourage anybody not taking part to ride on out to St. Peter\’s Church (4265 Golf Course Rd, Cornelius) or the North Plains Post Office (31700 Commercial Ave, North Plains) to cheer folks on.
North Plains police chief has a real bug in his ass for cyclists…he essentially hates them and his behavior is supported by the local judge…they\’ve been overturned by the appelate courts many times before illegal ticketing practices..
I\’d love to be out there just to watch him seeth while the LA ride moves through his stupid little town…
My mom is the mayor of North Plains. What do the police that is inappropriate? I\’d be happy to let my mom know, although her term is up this winter.
If the only issue is ticketing cyclists for running stops, I doubt there is much that will change. The police there also like to snag speeders on 26 all the time. It is likely mostly about revenue, not specifically cyclists.
I did myself a nice little conditioning ride over the hill from Beav to Portland. Checked out the fun at Summers Park for awile, and headed back. Hot? A little. Occasional drafts of particularly hot air burned my eyes. Still worth the ride.
Probably shouldn\’t get off topic about the North Plains issue, but according the O article from a couple weeks ago, it seems highly due to the revenue. Little town doesn\’t have enough operating revenue, so it gouges people through citations, for any and all infractions. I\’ve no intention of going through that town until they get that situation straightened out.
mmmooooOOOOOO!!
The cattle n\’ cowboys/cowgirls stampede through town and honky tonk rodeo jamboree that followed was awesome. Great job, organizers!
Here\’s my trimet/bike story:
I take the #12 to downtown to catch the Max to Orenco (Hillsboro), from Orenco – I bike to work (about 1.5 mi).
A couple months ago, I got off the #12 and waited for the Max. It started to rain a bit, and I thought 2myself – \”Oh.. the walk to work is going to suck…. wha? walk? where\’s my bike??!?!\’ I realized I left it on the bus!
So I took off in a flat out sprint down 4th street looking for the closest #12.
I had the bike since \’98 and I hated the thought of losing it.
I ran along side traffic with reckless abandon. My knees started to give out. My legs started cramping up. I was totally out of breath. I was running for several blocks, and the #12 was still in sight.
But everytime I got close, it pulled away.
Finally, it stopped for some passengers, I gained on it. Alas.. I caught it and got my bike back!
wow… I feel for yah David. I\’ve thought of that happening many times and am glad I haven\’t personally experienced it!
Does anybody have a report on the Multnomah County Bike Fair today?
North Plains…
Either stop at the stop sign, or suck it up and pay the ticket. Don\’t waste the communities tine and money fighting what you actually did wrong in court.
And, some towns do not consider a track stand a stop sign. DWI.
Have a great weekend!
I will be riding the livestrong ride tomorrow…was supposed to do 70 but I am seriously considering wussing out and only doing 40 as I am nursing a bum leg (not to mention the damn near triple digit temps). We will see how I feel once I get to the turn off.
Either way, should be fun.
Well, I can finally say that I\’ve ridden a century. My own century at that. Technically it was last weekend, but I just got back from the camp that I had ridden to in the first place. Fun times. Everyone knew me as the guy who rode my bike 100 miles to get there.
Schrauf-
I write what I did because I know a cyclist who was inappropriate stopped at the 4-way in N. Plains. He stopped..put his foot down for 5 seconds and proceeded. The \”sheriff\” pulled him over and ticketed him for running the stop sign.
He took it to court. the court uphead the ruling.
here\’s the kicker…his cyclist had a GPS unit on his bike that tracks a riders every move. He GPS unit proved that he stopped at the exact stop sign for 5 seconds ( it has a time function).
This little FACT the court decided to ignore…when he provided it as evidence.
When at the OR. appelate court a few weeks later, the decision was immediately overturned. The NP court put a stay on the proceeding with a letter that was a 2 page indictment of cyclists in the area…the last line of the letter stated this person was innocent of the crime they tried to convinct him of…
now you tell me? is there a lot of honesty going on between the sheriff and court system? seriously?
Bahueh,
Actually, I have no clue of the situation in North Plains because I don\’t live there or ride there, but like any small town (or anyplace, really) I\’m sure there is some bias and unreasonable actions by the police.
There must be another side to your story, but as presented it seems ridiculous anything like that would be allowed to occur. I will chat with the mayor to at least ensure she is aware of potential problems.
Back to the weekend fun!
The Mt. Adams Bicycle Tour on Saturday was strenous, but very fun. I arrived at the little hamlet of Trout Lake as registration opened at 7:00, since it would be getting mucho caliente by midday. Waking up at 4:30 on a Saturday was rough. I immediately discovered the upper loop of the two-loop course was not to be – still closed by snow from our crazy winter. Instead, the course included an out-and-back on the upper loop, then the lower valley loop, and then I decided to do an extra 20 miles, so I could still achieve my 100-mile goal. Not the 105 miles as planned and advertised, but good enough.
The top of the upper loop on FR 23 approached the western flank of Mt. Adams, and climbed consistently from Trout Lake for about 15 miles. However, it was never very steep, and the smooth pavement and thick, silent forest made it feel like a magic carpet ride. It was fantastic. The temperature was only in the 60\’s at this point, with some odd pockets of much colder or hotter air due to the soft swirling wind and uneven heating. Needless to say, the ride back down this eternal hill was a blast, and seemed to go on forever. Only once did a situation necessitate leaving behind some rubber on the pavement – to avoid an ambling deer!
Back in town, the bottom of this out-and-back connected with the valley loop, which dropped along the White Salmon down to BZ Corner, and then up over a nasty climb, over to Glenwood. At first there were endless farms to sidetrack me, including delightful goats and fluffy llamas. After the steep ridge climb from BZ Corner – actually tougher than the longer upper loop climb – we dropped back down into a large marshy valley and wildlife refuge, with sprawling Mt. Adams always in the background. Very beautiful. By this time it was getting hot, and the high angle of the sun made shade a rarity.
I finally made it back up over another ridge and down a steep grade back into Trout Lake, where I moseyed around for the last 20 miles. By the time I finished it was 92 degrees, and I had been out there well over six hours, including 45 minutes of stoppage time. I was trashed, but recovered quickly. The last five miles were excruciating, especially given I had been back in town for what seemed like forever, and was plowing on in the heat, trying to obtain an arbitrary distance goal.
The scenery was definitely the best part of the ride, but the friendly volunteers were a close second. I wouldn\’t have made it without multiple food and water stations, even though I was packing a lot myself. And just stopping in general on a long ride like this is a huge relief. Racing 100 or 200 miles without taking breaks would be so difficult. I had plenty of aches and pains on this ride, and although I was pushing the pace on a personal level, I also stopped five times, which made a world of difference.
I was riding with a group of friends today and happened to follow the Livestrong route as it passed through North Plains. I\’ve been on many organized rides where a police officer will be stationed at an intersection to help cyclists by directing traffic. North Plains police have a well deserved reputation in regards to bike enforcement. As I approached one of the \”major\” intersections I saw a cruiser sitting very prominently off to the side. I thought \”cool, we\’ll get a little help here\”. Alas, the cop was sitting in the car just watching. I came to a stop, which I normally would do at an intersection like this. I did NOT unclip and put a foot down, it is not required by Oregon law despite what some police say. That would be as silly as requiring auto drivers to open a door and put a foot on the ground. I did however FULLY stop and looked right at the cop before proceeding. Helmet cam was running and got the stationary wheels just in case I got stopped and needed some visual proof.
Other than that, I got decent rides in Saturday and Sunday.
My wife and I just did the 43 mile Livestrong Challenge ride. Got to see parts of Washington County I\’ve never seen. It was nice riding through the country, past the wheat fields and farms.
The Challenge was fun. I rode 40 against my doctor\’s recommendation so I hurt. A lot. Good crowds and venue for the post-ride party.
Livestrong ride was awesome. Great weather, and lots of riders. Everyone was friendly and had a ton of fun. My only complaint came from some ass clown Portland Velo rider who wouldnt shut up about crossing the yellow line to pass on rural farm road in Aloha. Especially when I looked, thats all I heard. NO CROSSING THE YELLOW LINE. He was saying that to everyone. I likened it to the college RA, he was just trying to flex his power as a course marshall. Normally I\’d just ignore something like this, but this guy just really hit a nerve. Other than that, great event for a great cause.
Perhaps the best event of the weekend was the Cowboy Ride — and the unadvertised cows that made the roundup gallant — meeting at Milf Park, oops, Jameson Square, approximately 60 cows and 30 cowboys, bedecked fully in costumes and vocal pronouncements (mooing and yee-hawing with glee) proceeded to do a lazy roundup through the Pearl, up Broadway, down to the waterfront (where many a heifer and bull decided to make a break for it) – and then around the Esplanade to the end for the Hoe-down, throw-down, square dance hoopla (replete with a band, barrel racing, and tractor pull) — oh, and there were some cops the found us and joined the ride, but they were actually amazingly cool and helpful, even a bit bored I would say with the slow mooooving herd…a grand time, and thanks to Team Beer and others for the shindig —
I did the LiveStrong 40 also and it was great. I usually do the 70, but due to the heat I thought I\’d chicken out and actually get back to the Nike campus while the party was still going on. Lots of support, a good cause, and sunny skies. Beats mowing the lawn!
I took advantage of the heat to break out my 90\’s outfit, meaning what I wear when it\’s this effing hot. I don\’t wear much. A pair of really short running shorts and my bike shoes only as a matter of fact. I went to critical mass on Friday and had a blast cruising with a bunch of varied riders, playing some 80\’s tunes on my miniature battery-powered guitar amp/iPod setup. Rode out Terwilliger to Hillsdale today for work, it was lovely in the morning and in the afternoon. It\’s pretty rad spending time in the saddle recently.
First a slight nod to the off-topic post — bahueh said:
\”When at the OR. appelate court a few weeks later, the decision was immediately overturned.\”
I don\’t know the case, but I do know how the Oregon appellate courts work, because I make my living arguing in front of them, and I can guarantee that they would not, and could not, have overturned the ruling in \”a few weeks.\” Heaven knows, I wish they could – it would sure clear my caseload more quickly 🙂
Now, back to topic: I had a long hot weekend of riding. Saturday I met up with some friends at the Team Estrogen parking lot sale, browsed the bargains and then took a short ramble out to Dairy Creek. We then went back to the sale for free lunch and more bargains, and then I rode back up and over Skyline to home. At 1:30, the temp gauge on my cyclometer showed 106 – it is usually about 4 degrees high, so 102 – that made for a fun climb. All told, I rode 72 miles, give or take.
Today I was a riding course marshal for the 70-mile Livestrong course – again riding to and from the start to get in about 99 miles total – fortunately it was MUCH cooler. It started to rain just as I reached my neighborhood, otherwise I would have found a way to get that extra mile – as it was, I just went home 🙂
To #19 Sean:
My name is Matt D\’Elia, and I am the Portland Livestrong Challenge Ride Marshal coordinator, and also one of the Portland Velo \”ass clowns\” that was yelling at people to not cross the yellow line on the \”rural Aloha roads.\”
By signing up for the LSC you agreed to obey the Oregon traffic laws and last time I checked, crossing over the double yellow line to pass people who are moving slower than you is against the law.
The LSC is a charity ride, not a race. Other than the first few miles after leaving Nike, the roads were open to car traffic and thus rules of the road need to be obeyed.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at matt at portlandvelo.net
To #19 Sean,
My name is Jim Mazzocco. I like Matt was one of the PV \”ass clowns\” telling people not to ride three abreast and not over the Double yellow on \”rural Aloha road\” BTW the name of the road is Rosedale. You\’re lucky that you didn\’t get hit by the SUV or pickup going the opposite direction or did you see them on the other side of the rise or on the two blind 90 deg corners. Don\’t be stupid when you ride. Ride safe.
Rural Aloha? Yeah, Portland is so metropolitan.
I guess if you want to play chicken with 4×4 diesel crewcab pickups, that\’s your own business.
Shame you have to inform people to use common sense.
just got back from the zoobomb…pedalpalooza is finally over! see y\’all next year!! Portland rocks!!!
\”Ass clown\”? Now that\’s a lame epithet, if I have ever heard one. But if \”ass clown\” means (1) changing flat tires for people who didn\’t pack any tubes, tools or patch kits and had never changed a tire before; (2) diagnosing a delaminating casing for a woman whose tire developed a goose egg going down the back side of Hagg Lake, and then waiting with her by the side of the road for 15 minutes for the SAG wagon to come with a new tire; (3) carrying 10 pounds of extra filled water bottles for 70 miles in case people ran out of water between rest stops, or lost their bottles; (4) picking up and carrying lost water bottles to the next rest stop; (5) sprinting all out for 1/2 a mile to run down a rider who had gone off course and couldn\’t hear our calls to turn back because he had his headphones on blasting all sensation out of his head and, yes, (6) working to ensure that all riders ride sensibly and safely so as to make the ride enjoyable for everyone . . . . well, then, go ahead and call me an ass clown.
I wasnt calling all the Marshals Ass Clowns, just this one guy that was way over the top. As far as obeying traffic laws… Hmmm, I dont think anyone was doing this, as everyone ran stop signs and didnt signal turns. I know I\’m not the only one who thinks this way as I was hearing about this guy from a few different people.
Playing chicken with 4×4 diesels wasnt an option as I always looked when I passed. Believe me I know it wasnt a race, but when it is safe to pass someone going much slower and only crossing the line maybe 6 inches, I dont think I need to be read the riot act by this guy. I mean he was shouting at everyone too. Howabout riding up to me and being a lot nicer about it. We were on a straight farm road where you could see if anything was coming for days.
I\’m glad there were people who carried water bottles and tools and supplies for others. I actually stopped and changed a flat for someone just after Hagg Lake. She had never changed a tube before…
I\’m sure the course marshalls did a great job and were very valuable, however I am curious about this specific yellow line issue. It seems a very rigid interpretation of the law. If you are in an automobile and approach a tractor moving 5 mph on a country road, would you sit behind the tractor for miles, or pass over the yellow line when safe? Many country roads are yellow lined even when passing is safe. I\’m not sure what the law even says about this situation, and it probably varies state by state.
Fortunately cyclists can normally pass each other without leaving the lane, but ironically sometimes it is safer to provide more space and cross over the yellow line. Obviously not when visibility is an issue.
I lost my I.D. and was not able to get into the beer garden where the events were taking place @ MCBF.
I understand that things are much larger now, but I miss the old days when people just brought their own beer.
Speaking of the MCBF beer garden, what was up with everyone being told to dump out water they brought? Some stupid OLCC rule the poor volunteers claimed. Well, I wrote a letter to the county and state health departments telling them another agency (the OLCC) was making their lives harder for no good reason at all.
I volunteered at Livestrong and was lucky enough to be stationed at the finish line. Thanks to the organizers for their thoughtful choice of noisemakers – it was fun shaking a cowbell at Lance Armstrong.
Thanks to all who rode – it was truly inspiring to see you at the conquering point of your goal. I heard you raised over a million dollars for research. Sweet.
Rode on Saturday and on Sunday… much shorter rides than the Livestrong riders are reporting, but fun nonetheless!
Saturday we got a bit of a late start, about 10:30. Temps were already high, so my plan was to watch my water intake (I don\’t like heat). We went out Scholls to Roy Rogers; great to see the all-ages peleton booking down RR! I was the lady in the Fat Cyclist jersey– it\’s my ironic jersey– in case any of you post or read here.
Hit 99W, turned left to head back into Tigard, then down Durham, up and around Hall, down the Fanno Creek Trail, and up the Fonner hill. Didn\’t drink enough water, and for most of my ride the temp gauge on my cyclo-computer read 102. I\’m sure that\’s a tad too high, except that the temp at home base read 99– but with the humidty, feels like 102! I believe it.
Sunday, we got up much earlier (out the door by 8) and went downtown for a little ramble-round. Had a great run up Terwilliger– yes, I\’m slow, but I had a good rhythm going and that\’s how I go up hills. Saw lots of other people out there. Turned around at Taylor\’s Ferry, went back to Barbur, and down Barbur. I\’ve never ridden that part of Barbur, so it was pretty neat. No problems with traffic, either. Then once we got back to downtown, went down Waterfront Park to the Steel bridge, then down the Esplanade past Omsi to the Springwater. Had a good run down that, too; except for the \”train event\” at Oaks Park and clueless people wandering across the trail! Liberal application of dinging bells and \”hey there, bikes coming through!\” in a friendly voice apparently worked best.
Went over the Sellwood (shudder– I hate that bridge) and back along the trail through The Other Willamette Park (to those of us who grew up with The One By The Falls) and back into downtown.
Felt pretty darn good, too! That makes 4 days in a row riding; I only drove today because I had a bunch of stuff to deliver to the office.
Great weekend, saw lots of you out there. Made me smile! Must be the endolphins in my hemogoblins (to steal a turn of phrase from Terry Pratchett).
did the 40 mi Livestrong ride for the first time. super fun, really hot, got over-hydrated and threw up but the after party was good. free meal/beer and got to see Lance speak. fun crowd, very supportive people.
Sean,
Please contact me via email. I\’d like a futher description of what happened.
matt at portlandvelo dot net
We were down in Oakridge for the Cascade Creampuff 100 mile MTB race this weekend. My fiance finished, and I volunteered at Aid Station #2 all day. It was a really, really long day, but totally beautiful and fun.
Sadly, I missed the Bike Parkways, was out of town, but have enjoyed the bikiness of a slew of other activities going on through the city. I am pleased that Portland\’s bike culture is getting a boost this summer. I have used it to entice and assure my family that life on a bike is a doable thing to do in a city like Portland; the ultimate goal, not have two cars and bike to school and work. http://bikemyfamily.blogspot.com/