[This is our latest Bike Science column by Shawn Small. Read previous entries here.]
In the world of singlespeeds and fixed gears you often hear people talking about each other’s “gear-inches”. This is an easy way to prove your machismo and is also a way to get useful data about your riding style. Today on Bike Science, I’ll take a closer look at gear-inches and explain why I prefer to use the concept of “gain ratio” to out-macho my friends.
This cornucopia of bike events starts on Thanksgiving day with a chance to work off that turkey (or turkey flavored product) before you even sit down at the table, followed by plenty of opportunity for calorie burning and a chance to rest on Sunday.
8:00am-10:00am: Thanksgiving Mellow Morning Ride
The first of two stomach preparedness-themed events, this leisurely off-road ride hosted by local bike builders, Stop Cycles winds down the Leif Erikson trail through Forest Park for a few hours early in the morning. Group meets at the trail entrance at the end of NW Thurman St. More information and RSVP contact available on the Shift website.
More and more, the suburbs are making big-city bike values their own.
The latest sign: Clark County, Portland’s more auto-oriented neighbor to the north, passed a 20-year, $91 million* bike plan today with votes from two conservative rural Republicans and full-throated support from the chamber of commerce. (*Note: Like Portland’s bike plan, Clark County’s plan is almost completely unfunded at this time.)
“Together, let’s say, ‘I solemnly pledge to behave as considerately as possible no matter how I get around.’”
— Part of a crowd exercise led by Mia Birk in response to a fired up citizen
One of the many things that keeps my fire burning here at BikePortland is a sense that knowledge is power. I know it’s almost trite, but from where I sit, it’s something that proves itself almost every day. Bottom line is that when you know the context of an issue and you know how to respectfully convey your opinion, you can have a huge influence.
On that note, I wanted to bring to your attention two very smart people who have recently shared how they responded to two issues that have a long and storied history of thorniness in the bike world — helmet use and the ‘all-cyclists-are-scofflaws-and-we-need-to-start-enforcing-laws-against-them’ thing.
This just in… our friend Mia Birk is set for a special author event at Powell’s Books:
“Joyride, Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet” tells the dramatic and enlightening behind-the-scenes story of how a group of determined visionaries transformed Portland into a cycling mecca and inspired the nation, over the course of 20 years. Featuring local projects and people in Portland, author Mia Birk shares the fascinating history of the Steel Bridge, painting stripes on Southeast 7th Avenue, and other pivotal moments in bicycle history, accomplished while convincing a skeptical public.
Who:
Mia Birk, President of Alta Planning + Design
Founder of the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation
Adviser to the Post-Carbon Institute
Author of Joyride, Pedaling Toward a Healthier PlanetWhat:
Mia Birk will be giving a free talk about her book and the experiences that led to writing it. Q & A and raffle to follow.When:
Tuesday, January 4th, at 7:30 pm.Where:
Powell’s Books, Downtown, 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209Mia Birk was the City of Portland Bicycle Program Manager from 1993-99, where she led a period of rapid growth of Portland’s bikeway network. As a consultant, she has been involved across North America in hundreds of bicycle, pedestrian, trail and corridor plans, and has managed the public process, design and implementation of many new bikeways and walkways, as well as programs such as Safe Routes to School, bike-transit integration, bicycle and pedestrian-friendly development and bikeway/walkway maintenance. She has led numerous groundbreaking studies in the field of non-motorized transportation and is a co-founder of the Cities for Cycling project of the National Association for City Transportation Officials, and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.
Mia has 20 years experience in sustainable transportation focused on pedestrian, bicycle, trail and greenway planning, design and implementation. She is also Adjunct Professor at Portland State University, where she co-founded the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation in the College of Urban Studies.
Mia’s been featured on the cover of Momentum Magazine; been written up in media sources ranging from blogs such as BikePortland, Bike Intelligencer, and CarFreeAmerican, to top sources such as The Huffington Post,The New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, and the Oregonion. She’s appeared on the Sundance Channel, Streetfilms, CBS News, and KBOO. A longer media list is available here.
The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation released results of their 2010 bike counts today (PDF here). The counts — taken at 153 locations throughout the city — show that bike use climbed in Portland this year after a small dip in 2009. According to the report, the number of bike trips taken in 2010 is up about 8 percent over 2009. Since PBOT began these annual counts in 2000, bicycling has tripled, growing by 190 percent.
Year: 2010
Brand: Fuji
Model: Classic
Color:White
Size:53
Serial: 1cfj10004507g7a83-0
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2010-11-22
Stolen From: Portland State University-Outside of Cramer Hall
Neighborhood: PSU
Owner: Dana Kunz
OwnerEmail: Danamaek@live.com
Reward: A BIG HUG!
Description: White bike, some black and red lettering. Single speed, there is a dent near the word Classic that you can feel but cannot see.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 10-97056
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Last week we shared the first of 30 vendors who will be at the sixth annual BikeCraft holiday gift bazaar (December 4-5th). Since then we’ve had more artisans sign up to be a part of what’s shaping up to be the best BikeCraft ever. Learn a bit about each of them below and see the fully updated list of 39 vendors here.
The big snow storm never really materialized, but the weather situation still deserves our attention. With lots of rain and a bit of snow last night (Monday) and with sub-freezing temps and possibly more snow in the forecast today, the roads could be icy and very tricky this morning.
If you are riding out there, please chime in and share with others what you are seeing and experiencing. Is it too dangerous to ride? Is it no big whoop?
Year: 1999?
Brand: Bike Friday
Model: Tandem Two’sday w/ drop handlebars
Color:Black
Size:20″ wheels
Stolen in Portland, OR 97207-0751
Stolen:2010-11-22
Stolen From: 2211 SE Brooklyn St
Neighborhood: Clinton
Owner: John Luke Gallup
OwnerEmail: jlgallup@pdx.edu
Description: Stolen with suitcases used to transport bicycle which convert to a trailer
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-096959
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 1999?
Brand: Bike Friday
Model: Tandem Two’sday w/ drop handlebars
Color:Black
Size:20″ wheels
Stolen in Portland, OR 97207-0751
Stolen:2010-11-22
Stolen From: 2211 SE Brooklyn St
Neighborhood: Clinton
Owner: John Luke Gallup
OwnerEmail: jlgallup@pdx.edu
Description: Stolen with suitcases used to transport bicycle which convert to a trailer
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-096959
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike