Month: April 2010

Bike Show: A few rides that caught my eye

Pedal Nation Bike Show-65

Custom cruiser commuter from
Love Machine Cycles.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Here are some of the bikes from the Pedal Nation Bicycle Show that caught my eye…

Below is the Proletariat from Stop Cycles. Stop Cycles is a new brand of urban bikes from the mountain bike and downhill specialists at OneGhost Industries. The bikes are designed in Portland by David Meredith (who also works at Bike Gallery in Lake Oswego) and made in Taiwan. This model is an “aggressive commuter” with belt drive, internal hub, flat bars and dual discs:

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light blue Norco Yorkville 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Norco
Model: Yorkville
Color:light blue
Size:19″
Serial: sa70941806
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2010-03-30
Stolen From: Franklin High school
Neighborhood: Southeast
Owner: Jim McConnaughey
OwnerEmail: jkmcconn@comcast.net
Description: Woman’s hybrid
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: t10002001
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Local biking author launches Team Metal Cowboy

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The new Team Metal Cowboy jersey.

North Portland resident and nationally known author Joe Kurmaskie is set to announce “Team Metal Cowboy” at The Bicycle Show tomorrow. Kurmaskie, who is slated to give a presentation on the Main Stage at 4:00, will share the news that he’s now sponsored by Eugene-based bike manufacturing company Co-Motion Cycles, who will produce a signature line of Metal Cowboy bicycles to be rolled out nationally to dealers across the country.

According to Kurmaskie, the bikes will have custom features and Co-Motion has agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of each bike to Kurmaskie’s non-profits — Camp Creative and One Million Bicycles (an effort he launched in 2008, but has put on the backburner since then).

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Two big announcements from United Bicycle Institute

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

UBI’s new frame building classroom.
(Photo: UBI)

The United Bicycle Institute will start its first framebuilding class on Monday (4/12) and the classes will be taught by two of Portland’s most prominent frame builders — Tony Pereira and Joseph Ahearne.

Ashland-based UBI has been offering professional mechanic training courses since they opened their campus in North Portland back in October. Since then, they’ve been working to renovate one of their buildings (on the corner of North Williams and Shaver) to house their frame building classroom. Those renovations are now complete and brazing classes start Monday.

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Timberline Lodge wants to be the next Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Detail of Timberline Lodge brochure.

Timberline Lodge — about 55 miles east of downtown Portland — is working with the U.S. Forest Service and the consulting firm that created the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park to create a world-class mountain bike area on Mt. Hood.

According to Timberline’s website (pointed out to me by a friend yesterday — thanks Gabe!), the downhill trails would be fully lift-serviced and are currently scheduled to open in Summer of 2011. The initial project scoping has begun and Timberline is actively seeking comments, words of support, and ideas from mountain bikers.

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Innovative hub to make U.S. debut at bike show

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

NuVinci N360

At this weekend’s Bicycle Show coming to the Oregon Convention Center, San Diego-based Fallbrook Technologies will celebrate the U.S. premiere of their new NuVinci N360 hub.

I wouldn’t typically write about a product launch party, but this isn’t any ordinary product. The N360 hub could be the Next Big Thing in drivetrains for all types of bicycles (and vehicles beyond bikes for that matter).

It uses something called a Continuously Variable Planetary Transmission, which means it shifts without any indexed “steps” or external derailleurs. Imagine an internal hub with infinitely variable “gears” that shift smoothly and effortlessly (it has a 50% shorter “throw,” which means less wrist shifting).

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A few things Minneapolis has that we don’t – Updated

“The real strength of Minneapolis is its absolutely gorgeous, truly world-class off-street path system. Each has separate space for pedestrians. I biked on a half dozen wide, gorgeous separated bike-ped bridges.”
— Mia Birk, CEO of Portland-based Alta Planning

In the wake of Portland losing the #1 ranking in Bicycling Magazine that we’ve owned since 1995, I’ve been thinking about what Minneapolis has that we don’t have.

I’ve come up with a few things.

Lots of Off-Street Trails
This is probably the best thing going for Minneapolis’ bikeway system. They’ve got 84 miles of off-street trails (like our Esplanade and Springwater Corridor) that connect through their metro area. Take the Midtown Greenway for instance, a 5.5 mile former rail corridor that can get you all the way across town.

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All Chrome Schwinn Roadster 5 speed Roadster vintage

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: vintage
Brand: Schwinn Roadster
Model: 5 speed Roadster
Color:All Chrome
Size:gold/silver
Stolen in 87211, OR
Stolen:2010-04-8
Stolen From: 4444 ne 35th place portland oregon(35th and prescott. Garage area (built in fence)
Neighborhood: beaumont wilshire neighborhood
OwnerEmail: bonnie.brockl@gmail.com
Description: mint condition,huge roadster,gold/silver
chrome/huge metal basket in front.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

New magazine will cover “low-car life” in Portland

Michael Andersen-1

Michael Andersen gives us a sneak peek at Portland Afoot.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Former reporter with The Columbian newspaper, Michael Andersen, is set to launch Portland Afoot, a publication that will cover “low-car life” in Portland. Billed as “PDX’s 10-minute newsmagazine on buses, bikes and low-car life,” Andersen hopes his new endeavor will capture Portland’s growing appetite for news and information about how to live well without owning a car (or by using them less).

I sat down with Andersen earlier this week to learn more.

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From the Archives

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