The people, clubs, and culture that make up Portland’s bike scene.
[Commander Marty Rowley] After just nine months on the job, Marty Rowley, Commander of the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau will retire on January 17th. In the interim, Lieutenant Mark Kruger will take his place until a new Commander is named. According to sources, Chief Sizer will keep Kruger in that position, “for … Read more
New to Zoobomb’s Mini-Bike Winter this year are the much-anticipated Chariot Wars (yes chariots, as in Ben Hur). To help ready the masses for this series of competitions a chariot building workshop was held over the weekend. Attendees were given a handout that covered all the various design and welding issues one might face when … Read more
[Joseph Ahearne, Ahearne Cycles] When I walked through the door of Joseph Ahearne’s new shop in North Portland, he didn’t even look up. Hunched over and deep in concentration, he gazed into a white-hot flame and danced around a frame clasped into the stand; constantly tweaking it to get just the right angle for his … Read more
[A photo from inside DeFazio’s officeon Capitol Hill.] If you’re a bike geek, the November elections were like that Christmas when you got your very first new bike and you were brimming with excitement at the potential of good times that were sure to come. With so much bike-friendly mojo in Congress, it’s hard to … Read more
For local cyclocross racers Molly Cameron and Erik Tonkin, the “holidays” consisted of a grueling schedule of races against the best talent in the world, thousands of miles from home. They both just returned from an action-packed trip to Belgium where they experienced all the drama and difficulty of world class bicycle racing. Luckily for … Read more
[Emily Gardner is theBTA’s new Policy Advocate.] The BTA has hired several new staffers in the last few months, but the one you’ll probably be hearing most about is their new Policy Advocate, Emily Gardner. Emily comes to this position after former Metro Area Advocate (notice the different title, more on that later) Jessica Roberts … Read more
[The Chariot Wars are coming.] Portland’s mini-bike enthusiasts (a.k.a. the Zoobombers) are busy planning their biggest and baddest ever Mini Bike Winter. The event, a “bike-centric series of events celebrating human powered culture,” will take place February 17-19th. I attended a recent planning meeting to get the lowdown and now I understand what one Zoobomber … Read more
[Ali Al-Salman at the 2006Pedalpalooza Kickoff Parade]Photo: Dat The Portland bike community has lost a special character. Ali Al-Salman — who shared his love of bicycles and music with many — passed away at 7:30 AM on New Year’s Day while visiting family in Los Angeles. Although I didn’t get to know him well, I … Read more
I hope all of you are enjoying the Holidays. Here’s to family, friends, and that other stuff that makes this time of year so memorable. I’ve got some family in town and I’m doing my best to stop thinking about bike stuff (it’s harder than you might think). After Christmas, I’m headed down to California … Read more
In case you’re still searching for the perfect gift for the bike lover in your life, here are some awesome, locally-made, bikey gift ideas. BikePortland.org Postcard Set [One of five postcardsin my set.] Spread the beauty of bikes in Portland with one of my postcard sets. Each set comes with five postcards that have been … Read more
[B:C:Clettes on MomentumMagazine cover] By now, you’ve surely heard of the Sprockettes — Portland’s very own mini-bike dance troupe who have won many fans for their energetic, sexy, and synchronized street routines. But what you may not know, is that the same infectious charm that has made them a must-see in Portland, has also inspired … Read more
[Last year’s event poster wasdrawn by Shawn Granton] Filmed by Bike is Portland’s very own bike film festival. Now in its fifth year, the fest has grown from 80 people in a cafe its first year, to 550 people packing into the Clinton Street Theater last year. This year, organizer Ayleen Crotty will offer three … Read more