April 2009 Archives

Ronde/Hustle Challenge will weed out the weak, reveal Portland’s toughest riders

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Scene from a Cross Crusade race
at Horning’s Hideout in 2007
(Photos © J. Maus)

Two of the year’s most challenging rides are slated for this weekend: the infamously, absurdly hilly De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia (a.k.a. the Tour of Flanders) on Saturday and the Horning’s Hustle mountain bike circuit race on Sunday.

Many participants will find satisfaction in tackling, and maybe even completing, one of these courses. Others will ride to win.

For those who long for even greater glory, organizers have decided to reward the truly bold individuals who somehow manage to finish both events.

Organizers of the CRC Opposition and Alternatives Rally have just released their third spoof “Bridge Shopping Network” video. But something has gone awry — hosts Joe and Kristen’s sales pitch is interrupted by anti-CRC hackers!

From the release notes:

Here are BikePortland’s traffic stats for the month of March:

Visits – 163,462
Average visit length – 00:03:27
Pages viewed – 376,486
Stories posted – 134

Top Five Stories (*In terms of pageviews analyzed by Google Analytics):

1. Mandatory bike registration bill introduced in Salem
2. Major injury right-hook crash at 9th and Lovejoy
3. A conversation with Rep. Krieger about his bike registration bill
4. Details on the 2009 De Ronde van Oeste Portland
5. Local media releases hounds on Idaho Stop law

Check out our stats and top stories from January and February.

Online map helps you find a (bike) ride to Sunday’s Build Less Bridge Rally

Current routes to the rally

Planning to attend Sunday’s Build Less Bridge CRC Opposition and Alternatives Rally?

A new online map can help you meet up with other folks riding from your part of town, or organize a feeder ride of your own.

The event is on Sunday, April 5th at noon in Waterfront Park under the west side of the Morrison Bridge.

Routes on the map so far leave from places like Vancouver, St. John’s, Cully, Northwest, Mount Tabor, and the Woodstock neighborhood. Each route stops at one or more parks along the way to pick up more riders and join forces with other rides.

Mayor Adams credits bike boxes
as one reason for record numbers
(Photo © J. Maus)

Back in January, we reported that Portland had potentially had a record low number of traffic fatalities in 2008.

PBOT has now made it official — we have never had fewer traffic fatalities in any year since they began keeping track in 1925.

In 2008, 20 people died in traffic crashes. Fifteen were in cars and five were on foot. For the fifth time in the past ten years, there were no bicycle-related fatalities.

Back in 2007, we covered the story of Johnny Eschweiler, the man who intentionally used his car to strike two men on bikes in a road rage incident on SE Clinton Street.

Shortly after the incident, victim Ben Ramsdell told BikePortland that he had tapped on Eschweiler’s car window after Eschweiler had nearly run him over, and verbally taken him to task. Ramsdell woke up in an ambulance.

Minutes later, Eschweiler hit another man, Timothy Mastne, who was not involved in the original altercation.

Eschweiler is expected to plead guilty this Friday to several charges, and to receive a penalty, according to Ramsdell’s lawyer Mark Ginsberg.

The hearing is on Friday, April 3, at 11:00am in Multnomah County Courthouse Room 608, with Judge McShane presiding.

Sorry. This job has been filled.

Job Title
Framebuilder

Company/Organization
Joe Bike

Job Description
Framebuilder(s) needed immediately on a contract basis to modify steel frames and to build rack systems and other attachments that mount to the frames. Both TIG welding and brazing are needed. This would be for several bikes (4-8, e.g.) at a time. You would be working off of existing CAD drawings and a working prototype. Blasting and powdercoating also needed. Photos can be seen at www.joe-bike.com.

How to Apply
Email info@joe-bike.com or call 503 309-6631 to set up an appointment.

Ronde/Hustle Challenge will weed out the weak, reveal Portland’s toughest riders

CRC opposition group releases latest video

Site stats and top stories from March 2009

Online map helps you find a (bike) ride to Sunday’s Build Less Bridge Rally

PBOT confirms last year’s record low traffic crash, fatality numbers

Clinton Street road rager expected to plead guilty on Friday (updated)

Job: Framebuilder (Joe Bike)

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