Is the bike shop open? Are the bike lanes icy? An open thread for post-storm intel

Would be interested to know what the Springwater and 205 path are like right now if anyone has been out there. 🙂

the Missing Link bike shop is open on Woodstock/46th & in downtown Milwaukie

Springwater & 205 paths were chunky but passable this morning – could get interesting as things melt

Crank on se Ankeny and 28th is open today, possibly limited hours. I got some Novara thinsulate bike gloves and they have been the real deal for my normal icy hands this winter! On sale now at REI.

Is there an informal Clearing the Damn Bike Lanes group out there? I would like to shovel/salt on a team.

West End Bikes SW 11th and Stark downtown. We were open yesterday, and are open again today. We may close a couple hours early, so call first.

The separate Bike-path on Moody has been abandoned by the city. However across the street the path is shoveled down to clean concrete and clay, with salt on top. From there, the connection to the south waterfront east-side pass is a little sloppy, and the path itself is compacted and bumpy but ride-able. Downtown streets are okay for riding with slick tyres, but be cautious when changing lanes or turning, as built up ruts are acting a lot like invisible streetcar tracks in many places.

All Bike Gallery locations are open for business. Our new Westmoreland store is scheduled to open by January 22nd (Moving our Woodstock location due to a huge escalation in rent)

Bike Gallery Clackamas is open and ready for customers. Most other Bike Gallery locations are open as well but some locations may close at 5:00 or 6:00 pm to get staff home without trouble.

I was having the exact opposite problem as Alex. On streets with any traffic, cars were refusing to pass me or get anywhere close to me. Riding flats was fine, but due to treads filling up with snow, I had absolutely nothing on the hills. Anyplace I had to plow through snow was a lot of work.

Having said that, back streets on my trike were beautiful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAHC48ZFAsI though in some places, the tire tracks weren’t wide enough for me to ride in.

There’s no way I’m riding tomorrow. It’s a long ski in, but I’m pretty sure it’s my best option. Looking forward to doing tele turns on the Interstate and Marquam descents.

Watch out for refrozen lumpy bits hidden among long smooth stretches. I was having too much fun and riding too fast on the Burnside bridge admiring the setting moon, when those lumps tossed me to the ground.

Random Idea Alert: Maybe we should make a point to patronize the business who make the sidewalk passable for us? Looking great outside Jake’s Grill, I’ll reward that effort with the vote of my dollars.

Velocult is open and the taps are lonely . . .

Splendid Cycles is open its regular hours!

We’ve been watching cyclists, runners, and skiers on the Springwater Trail all day. As noted already, the trail is mixed snow and ice and cyclists are navigating it with mixed results. Some riders cruising at normal speeds, others walking their bikes. It appears that skill and equipment choices make the difference.

SW 2nd Ave bike lane-ish clogged with snow. Some downtown streets plowed. Harsh icy ‘moguls’ building up anywhere buses travel, do not attempt. Sidewalk clearing where present takes little note of curb cuts, and less note of bike racks! –most of the bikes present appear to be abandoned.

The streets are generally rideable but watch for transitions from sun to shade. (It’s gonna be sporty when things start to freeze up).

The city plowed the Broadway Bridge this morning. Somewhat helpful. All but the most skilled probably had to dismount to get on it though.

Jonthan – its worse – cycling in the snow is always better during the storm and the day after…until the compacted snow turns to ice AND all the traffic returns with frantic (cabin crazy) drivers….

I have been getting around with studded bike tire. Not such a novelty this year. But here in Beaverton, the skewed world of the city is out in force.

Most people are snowed in and the side streets are impassible to cars, so lots of people out walking. Great, but when you get to the main street there is 2 feet of snow pushed up on the sidewalk.

Then they close pedestrian paths because a leaning tree may fall. In their world it is much safer to walk six blocks in the icy street than walk by a tree.

Then they put up barricades to keep people from using a pedestrian bridge where the railing was damaged by a falling tree. Wouldn’t a person of reasonable intelligence use the boards from the barricade to repair the railing?

I did a loop ride on Jan 12th. It was sunny and slightly breezy. Headed out from Woodstock to Springwater Corridor to Sellwood and on to Sellwood Bridge which was completely clear of snow and ice! And then up on Willamette Greenway ( the small section of apartment construction is still closed to biking) to Hawthorne Bridge which was only clear of snow and ice on the bike lane and back to Woodstock on Gladstone St. The bike lane on Gladstone St was not possible to ride on and had to take full lane. All the cars gave me a lot of space and no honking. I took only residential streets and bike path except Gladstone St.
I am a year round bike commuter and had winter bike touring and single track mtn biking experience. So that gave me confidence to do the loop. I rode my GF 29er hardtail with 45 psi on my Schwalbe Supreme 2″ tire.
It was hard going mainly due to focusing on picking a line on hard snow and icy path and standing and trying to enjoying the view and the same time. Had to ride a bit fast and coast standing when snow is softer which was often. 2 miles in I was already sweating. Stopped every now and then to take pics and enjoy the view. I started late afternoon so I can catch the sunset of Mt Hood from the Waterfront on the way home.
All in all I would say if you stay on strictly side streets and not get too anxious to go fast or disregard traffic and head out with the right gear you will enjoy the ride safely. I’ve been out riding since then and its much easier now because the roads had turn to ice.
Wish I know how to post pics.

Hi Jonathan and others- I’d love to get a report from folks who commute extra early tomorrow (tuesday) to see if the ice is really as bad as the saber rattling tells us it will be. I remember checking bikeportland a week ago from bed after the last weekend ice storm to see if there was a thread with commute trip reports. Maybe this time (fingers crossed).