[BikeAds.org screenshot] 28 year-old Southeast Portland resident Mika Lepisto was frustrated after his recent search for a used bike. He scoured Craigslist and local newspaper classifieds to no avail, “Everyone uses a different word to describe something, and it’s hard to find what you want. As an example, for a mountain bike, it’s either written … Read more
[Michael Wolfe enjoys the view.] Michael Wolfe is an unabashed bike nut. About the only thing that gets him more excited than riding, is discovering and sharing new bike routes with others. Last winter, he showed me a whole new perspective on the Sandy River when I joined him for my first-ever recumbent ride. Then, … Read more
[Mike Wilberding, 1948-2006]Photo: Dayn Wilberding The crash in Beaverton last week that claimed the life of Mike Wilberding has sparked outrage and spurred action from citizen activists. The incident has caused some cyclists to question the priorities of bike advocates and city planners. One commenter asked, “what is the more important fight at this time: … Read more
[Action from last year’s event.] The South Park Blocks will be taken over by super-fast cyclists tomorrow night at the fifth annual Health Net Portland Twilight Criterium. I went last year and had a great time. The spectating is awesome. These guys come whizzing by, inches away from you…and as darkness falls, things get crazy. … Read more
Last week—in the middle of the fixed-gear fiasco—I got an email from an employee of The Bicycle Business, a bike shop in Sacramento, California. They had stumbled across the story and thought the judge and the police were being, “completely ridiculous” so they decided to flex their capitalist muscles and do something about it:
[Alan Koch in December] Back in December I shared the story of my ride with Alan Koch. Alan is a retired photographer who’s on a quest to ride every single mile of paved road in the City of Portland. Despite some setbacks—including a fall from his bike which took him out for 5 weeks—he has … Read more
[Mike Wilberding in May 2006] I received a sad email yesterday. It was from a reporter, looking for someone to interview about the death of Mike Wilberding last Saturday in Beaverton. I had to double-take at the name, but quickly realized it was the same Mike behind Cycle-Pak, one of my first advertisers here on … Read more
[NE Alberta St. duringLast Thursday ArtWalk.] “Cars are in the way!” goes the refrain from one song by local bike-punk band The Pheramones. The first time I heard the song this seemed pretty far out in left field, but the more I think about it the less crazy it sounds. Cars take up a lot … Read more
The long awaited Bike Buddy program has just been officially launched by Southeast Uplift (SEUL), a non-profit coalition of southeast Portland neighborhoods. According to SEUL’s Steve Hoyt, “This program will provide a tremendous service to tentative, less confident bicyclists by allowing them to benefit from the vast resources of Portland’s experienced bicycling population.” “Modeled after … Read more
[Photo credit: VBP] At the end of September, the Community Cycling Center (CCC) will expand its reach far beyond their Northeast Portland headquarters when they send 450 bikes, wheels, tubes and other parts to a village in Ghana, Africa. The CCC is partnering with the Village Bicycle Project (VBP), a non-profit that works to improve … Read more
[A ‘zine by Alon Raab.] Well known PSU professor Alon Raab was in a crash with a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle to class yesterday. According to a spokesperson at the Department of Sociology, Raab suffered a broken collarbone and is expected to return to class tomorrow. Ironically, Raab is a dedicated enthusiast of … Read more
Yesterday I joined 800 fellow Portland cyclists and 100 gallons of ice-cream for the first-ever Hottest Day of the Year Ride. It started with riders of all ages staging at the Lucky Lab brewpub in Northwest Portland.