July 2009 Archives

Top talent headed to Bend for 30th annual Cascade Cycling Classic

Pat Malach

[This preview of the 2009 Cascade Cycling Classic was written by photographer/race reporter Pat Malach. Recently on BikePortland, Pat shared a primer on the 2009 racing season. See more excellent racing coverage and photography on his blog, OregonCyclingAction.com.]

A look at the preliminary rider list for the upcoming 2009 BMC Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend backs up the promoter’s boast that this could be the largest, strongest field in the history of the 30-year-old race.

The pack, with top pro Levi Leipheimer in
yellow, racing through downtown Bend
during last year’s criterium stage.
(Photo © Heidi Swift)

The six-stage, USA Cycling National Race Calendar event, which starts Tuesday, July 21, and continues through Sunday, July 26, has attracted a talented field of riders ranging from the hottest up-and-coming American riders to some of the world’s most elite former Euro pros. They’ll be battling each other and the elements as temperatures should stay in the 90s throughout the week.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Evening rush-hour on N. Weidler at Williams.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The other day on my way home I found myself right in the middle of major bike traffic on N. Williams Ave. I usually go up the Mississippi/Albina Hill, but the heat made Williams much more appealing.

My first sign of bike traffic was at the bike-only signal atop the Eastbank Esplanade at the east end of the Steel Bridge (at intersection with N. Interstate/NE Lloyd). There were about 12 people stopped at that light — enough to make me take my camera out.

Year: 1999
Brand: Le Monde
Model: Alpe D’Huez
Color:blue/orange
Size:58cm
Stolen in 48823, OR
Stolen:2009-07-12
Stolen From: Hiddentree Apartments
1226 Red Oak Lane
Neighborhood: East Lansing. MI
Owner: Kevin Johnston
OwnerEmail: kmj@msu.edu
Description: Dura Ace and Shimano 105 companenets
Scott Drop -in handlebars 44cm
Speedplay pedals
Rolf Vector Wheels
TTT stem
Rock Shock seat post

Bike racing rules at PIR on Mondays: A Short Track slideshow

Whooping it up at Short Track.
-Slideshow below/Gallery–
(Photos © J. Maus)

Made it out to the Short Track MTB Racing series at Portland International Raceway last night.

It was a very healthy scene. Organizer/promoter Kris Schamp is getting nearly 400 participants each Monday and it’s easy to see why. The vibe is fun and welcoming and the course is a real treat (although last night’s was pretty tough on folks).

What’s even more amazing about Monday nights at PIR is there’s also road racing going on. Jim Anderson’s River City Race Monday Night series brings in a solid crowd of masters and women racers. To see them flying around the track just yards from mountain bike racers kicking up dust, is a real testament to the health of Portland’s race scene.

Cover of report that was squelched
by NHTSA for political reasons.
See report at NYTimes.com.

The New York Times reported yesterday that the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA) kept the public in the dark about research that warned about the risks of distracted driving.

The information is now coming to light thanks to Freedom of Information Act requests by two advocacy groups (the NY Times has published the entire body of research).

Interviewed by the NY Times, the former head of the NHTSA said:

“… he was urged to withhold the research to avoid antagonizing members of Congress who had warned the agency to stick to its mission of gathering safety data but not to lobby states.”

Year: 2007
Brand: Scott
Model: SpeedsterS-60
Color:Black
Size:26
Serial: H7z2027548
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2009-07-21
Stolen From: 2400 Se Taylor
PDX 97214
Neighborhood: Sunnyside
Owner: Katherine Karnezis
OwnerEmail: katherine.Karnezis@gmail.com
Reward: $25
Description: call 503 233 3335 or 320 2899
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

A bike shop that makes house calls

NoPo Mobile Bike Shop at Miss. St. Fair-3

Dennis Kelly, proprietor of the
North Portland Mobile Bike Shop.
(Photos © J. Maus)

There seems to be no shortage of bike shops in Portland. But, if you stare at a map of the metro area long enough, you’ll notice that there are still pockets of the city without a shop nearby. There are also some folks who need repairs and maintenance, but who don’t have the time to roll into a shop.

That’s where 58-year old Dennis Kelly and his North Portland Mobile Bike Shop comes in.

Kelly is yet another bike-centric entrepreneur who moved to Portland specifically to work in the bike business. Kelly tells us he got his start riding and working on bikes back in the “great bike boom” of the early 1970s, but it wasn’t until about three years that he decided he wanted work on bikes for a living.

A cul-de-sac near Fernhill Park saw a lot of
action Sunday.
-Slideshow below/Gallery–
(Photos © J. Maus)

On Sunday, thousands of Portlanders got a chance to explore Northeast Portland in a way they’ve never done so before. From the gorgeous homes on the Alameda bluffs to the outskirts of the Alberta Arts district, they walked, jogged and biked like they owned the street (and for six hours, they did).

The second of three Sunday Parkways events planned by the Bureau of Transportation this year, the Northeast edition boasted nearly seven miles of carfree streets. Three parks (Alberta, Fernhill, and Wilshire) were connected via a steady stream of Portlanders of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Year: 2009
Brand: KHS
Model: Urban Xpress
Color:Black
Size:Medium
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97005
Stolen:2009-07-17
Stolen From: In front of Best Buy in Beaverton.
Owner: Christopher Green
OwnerEmail: dmmagic@gmail.com
Description: When it was stolen, it had a large bike lock still attached.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Cycle Oregon hosts weekend of riding on the best roads in the state

Norm Saager and Ellen Brown liked the event
so much they got married at the start
line and then rode the course on their tandem.
-Slideshow below/Gallery-
(Photos © J. Maus)

Over the weekend, Western Oregon University in Monmouth served as base camp for over 1,800 people from all over the region (and country). They came to experience the legendary hospitality and bike riding Cycle Oregon is known for.

Cycle Oregon (the week-long version) has been going on for over 20 years, but for everyone who can’t take a week off during September and/or ride 60-80 miles a day for a week, there’s the Weekend Ride. In addition to being less physically (and financially) demanding than the full-length version, it is also fast-becoming the hot ticket for biking families.

Year: 2008
Brand: Novara
Model: Transfer
Color:chartreuse green
Size:Men’s 21″
Serial: U87Y10650
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35015557@N05/3739532621/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2009-07-18
Stolen From: 51st and Hawthorne, across the street from The Sapphire Hotel and Albina Press on July 19th, in the late evening.
Neighborhood: SE Portland, Hawthorne and 51st, Mt. Tabor neighborhood
Owner: Amanda Young
OwnerEmail: milli_bug@mac.com
Reward: $100
Description: My bright chartreuse green 2008 Novara Transfer commuter bike was stolen Saturday July 18th on 51st and Hawthorne). 🙁 If any of you have seen it, please contact me at 971-998-9446. Keep an eye out around the SE, please!! No one has a bike like it, it’s custom so it’s easy to spot. It even has a logo on it that reads “green bike.org” and/or “green bike project”. It has Shimano Gear shift and breaks. It has a rack on the back that is part of the bike frame. It is a men’s 21″ bike. This bike was used in a promotional rid to work program sponsered by King County of Washington. The mils for the bike were reached and the bike was rewarded for all the riding I did— so this bike has serious sentimental value!!! Any help and/or leads would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Amanda Young
Police record with: Officer Bean
Police reference#: 09638859
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Local author writes ‘Cycling in Italy’ guidebook

[Publisher’s note: This article is by first-time BikePortland contributor Lucy Burningham, a local freelance writer and familiar face at bike events. Burningham writes here about the new book release of her fellow Lonely Planet travel guide author Ellee Thalheimer — who you may recognize from her past contributions to BikePortland.]

Ellee Thalheimer doing important research for
her travel guide to cycling in Italy

When Lonely Planet’s new Cycling in Italy guidebook comes out this month, Portland author Ellee Thalheimer will join the growing ranks of local writers publishing cycling titles (think Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie, Jeff Mapes, or Shawn Granton).

Thalheimer, a freelance writer, yoga instructor, and bike touring guide, spent three months last summer pedaling her way across Italy, churning out centuries and perfecting the art of moving her fully loaded bicycle on and off trains by herself.

Top talent headed to Bend for 30th annual Cascade Cycling Classic

Thoughts, observations on N. Williams bike traffic

blue/orange Le Monde Alpe D’Huez 1999

Bike racing rules at PIR on Mondays: A Short Track slideshow

NY Times: Federal agency withheld warnings about distracted driving risks

Black Scott SpeedsterS-60 2007

A bike shop that makes house calls

Northeast neighborhoods shine in Sunday Parkways spotlight

Black KHS Urban Xpress 2009

Cycle Oregon hosts weekend of riding on the best roads in the state

chartreuse green Novara Transfer 2008

Local author writes ‘Cycling in Italy’ guidebook

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike