🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Week end ramblings (A new column for my thoughts of the week)

Portland fall 2012

Fall colors on Madison between 3rd and 4th.

Hey everyone, I’ve been wanting to get a bit more informal here on the Front Page. There are many things that cross my mind (and my desk) each week that I don’t post about; but that I want to share. And since Twitter is only 140 characters and it’s, well, Twitter, I want to try and start doing this every Friday. Think of it like the publisher’s letter. Expect a smattering of brief mentions, opinions, and whatnot. Thanks for reading, and thanks again for another amazing week of stories and comments. Oh, and I’m not sure what to call this new column. Any ideas? — Jonathan

If you’re in need of outfitting yourself with new gear for winter, you’re in luck. Showers Pass is blowing out their famed rain gear at “stupid low prices” at a warehouse sale that starts tomorrow morning at 9:00 am. This event was huge last year, so I’d suggest getting there early (it goes until 12 noon). 2101 SE 6th Ave (cross street is SE Lincoln). But wait! There’s more… I’ve lived in Icebreaker merino wool stuff for the past few years. Seriously. It’s awesome. And the big Friends and Family sale started today. It goes until 7:00 pm. It’s also on tomorrow from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at 525 NW 10th Ave.

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Red/White Centurion unknown

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Brand: Centurion
Model: unknown
Color:Red/White
Serial: N6M7935
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2012-11-16
Stolen From: NE 60th and NE Everett
Neighborhood: North Tabor
Owner: Zack Mazer
OwnerEmail: zmazer(AT)gmail.com
Description: Red and white framed early 80s Centurion. fenders on front and back. locking skewers.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

‘Hop in the Saddle’ party launches book with a bang

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Hop in the Saddle book launch party-4

Goldsprints were a hit.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Velo Cult bike shop hosted a hoppin’ party last night as a huge crowd turned out to help launch the bike book: Hop in the Saddle: A Guide to Portland’s Craft Beer Scene, by Bike.

There was a huge spread of food, the beer was flowing, the goldsprints were a hoot, and all sorts of fun people showed up. It’s exciting how Velo Cult has lived up to their promises of becoming so much more than a bike shop. Sky Boyer and his crew are really committed to the community and the space is much more than just a place to fix and buy bikes (watch for a full Velo Cult profile soon).

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White w/black accents Fezzari Catania 2012

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Year: 2012
Brand: Fezzari
Model: Catania
Color:White w/black accents
Size:55
Photo: http://www.fezzari.com/img/products/default/1316556344_CA-2012-0.jpg
Stolen in Tigard, OR 97223
Stolen:2012-11-11
Stolen From: My bike was stolen from the rack out in front of the Cheesecake and Macy’s building at the Washington Square Mall, right next to the smokers area. It is a highly trafficked entrance, which is why I am surprised it was taken.
Neighborhood: Washington Square Mall in Tigard.
Owner: Robert Scofield
OwnerEmail: robls4587(replace with at sign)yahoo.com
Description: The bike is completely stock. Its mainly white with black accents. Black grips and bars. Black seat with white on the rim. It has Fezzari all over it. Theres not many out here so it should stand out.
Loved this bike and used it for transportation as well as exercise.
Police record with: Tigard Police I believe
Police reference#: 12206095
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Hillsboro Mayor pushing massive Westside freeway project

In a move that can be described as nothing less than audacious, Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey is leading an effort to receive a legislative mandate to move forward on studying a mega-project now being calling the “Westside Transportation Corridor.”

The project is a re-hash of the long-debated Westside Bypass that would create a new freeway system that would be an alternative to I-5 and I-205 and would stretch from Wilsonville in the south to Highway 30 at the Columbia River in the north. The freeways would run through significant swaths of key rural areas and farms in Washington and Yamhill counties.

The bypass project has been debated since the late 1980s, when it was vehemently opposed by land-use watchdogs 1000 Friends of Oregon and other groups. They ultimately won that battle, but it appears the fight is set to start again very soon. (Interestingly, a story just last May in The Oregonian wondered whether or not it was actually dead and Willey seemed dismissive of its chances at resurrection.)

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Lime green Diamond Back Womans 1990

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Year: 1990
Brand: Diamond Back
Model: Womans
Color:Lime green
Size:26/28
Stolen in 97202, OR
Stolen:2012-11-16
Stolen From: Se 14th And Center
Neighborhood: Brooklyn
Owner: Molly Doyle
OwnerEmail: mollywollywo(AT)hotmail.com
Description: It has had a new front fork and a handle bar extestion. The front fork is chrome looking and the rest is bright lime green. There is a little green bike light on it and has an odomiter attachment on it.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12009825
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Jeff Mandel’s latest: Stylish, custom, and classy bike touring boots

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Tweed Ride Portland 2010-9

Jeff Mandel, shoemaker.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Remember Jeff Mandel? He’s a local leather artisan and master shoemaker based in southeast Portland who also loves to ride bikes. Back when he came onto the scene in 2008 we shared his handmade leather saddles and a pair of his bike shoes. Jeff is still going at it, refining his skills and making beautiful shoes that are purpose-built for pedaling.

I thought you’d appreciate his latest creation: A pair of SPD-compatible boots made for bicycle touring.

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yellow Gravity Liberty CX 2013

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Year: 2013
Brand: Gravity
Model: Liberty CX
Color:yellow
Size:50cm
Photo: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/images/liberty_cx_yel_2100.jpg
Stolen in PORTLAND, OR 97212
Stolen:2012-11-16
Stolen From: It was stolen from outside Sunnyside Environmental Elementary School at 34th and Salmon (3421 SE Salmon) on Nov. 15 sometime between 7:45am and 5:00pm.
Neighborhood: Sunnyside/Belmont
Owner: Liz Miller
OwnerEmail: ebmiller88(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: My bike is a bright yellow Gravity Liberty CX. It has a yellow frame, black handlebars, a black seat and a black rack on the back. It was a Planet Bike front light mount (with no light) on the front right handlebar and a red Planet Bike rear spok micro light on the seat post. I’d really like it back, it’s less than two months old and looks almost brand new. My phone number is 802-999-4222.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: T12009819
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Neighbors weigh options on SE Foster Road’s future

Cycle track on Foster? It could happen.

After years of residents clamoring for safety improvements, options for how the City of Portland will ultimately redesign SE Foster Road from SE 52nd to 90th are now on the table. Among them are exciting changes that could finally add room for bicycles to travel on this key southeast Portland corridor.

This project is part of an effort to update the 2003 Foster Streetscape Plan. Sometime next year, following a public planning process that began back in September, City Council will adopt a new street plan and will begin to implement $3.25 million already set aside for improvements (thanks to federal and PDC grants). Whether or not those investments lead to high-quality bicycle access the entire length of the project depends largely upon who speaks up and the stakeholder advisory committee will be left to hash it all out.

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E-assist cargo bike helps farmer ditch the truck

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Josh Volk on a delivery, riding across the St. Johns Bridge.
(Image from a video by Ryan Creason)

Josh Volk runs Slow Hand Farm, a small community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm on Sauvie Island. The soil is great out there and it’s a nice place to grow veggies, but there’s just one problem: It’s about 15 miles from the nearest neighborhoods where his drop sites are. Josh could use a truck to make the deliveries; but instead, he uses a cargo bike.

Josh pedals the 15-18 mile from his farm plot on Sauvie Island into Portland’s neighborhoods. His pedal-powered deliveries recently landed him on the cover of Oregon Small Farm News.

Volk says he’s been doing all his CSA deliveries by bike since June thanks to a collaboration with Splendid Cycles in southeast Portland. Splendid is a cargo bike specialty shop and owners Joel and Barb Grover have established something of a niche in outfitting business owners.

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