BikePortland

Interbike: Dispatch from the show floor: Day One

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Colorful front racks from Basil.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

I’ve got to get back out onto the show floor, but I wanted to share some of the bits and bikes I checked out yesterday.

Basil bags from The Netherlands are very solid and attractive. They’ve got a full range for daily riding. Their business “Select” line is water resistant (comes with rain cover) and has a new hook system that has an extra lock for security. They also make colorful baskets and sturdy front racks.

Slideshow below
(Photos © J. Maus)

Last night, after a full day roaming the aisles of the Interbike trade show, I hopped on a shuttle bus and headed a few miles off the strip for Cross Vegas. Cross Vegas is a major cyclocross race that draws international pros and America’s top talent. But, since it’s in Vegas and since it happens when (nearly) the entire U.S. bike industry is in town, it’s just as much a spectacle and a party as it is a bike race.

From the Elvis impersonator who posed for photos, sang the national anthem, and then did a bike-inspired rendition of “Leaving Cross Vegas,” to the VIP Players Club area with a metal praying mantis dance club that spit fire, it was an amazing night. And, did I mention there was a full moon?

Puma Bikes at Interbike.
(Photos © J. Maus)

I’ve been following Puma’s entry into the bike world with some interest since the release of several models back in June. My interest is because of Puma’s position as a popular global shoe brand with a strong foothold in the urban market. As such, they’re taste-makers to some degree. So, what if they used that leadership to get more people excited about bikes? Mainstream brands embracing bikes is a good thing — isn’t it?

But what if Puma is just hopping on the latest trend, hoping it leads to more shoe sales? Is the whole thing a publicity stunt? Bike-washing perhaps? I stopped by the Puma Bikes booth at Interbike yesterday to find out.

David Guettler showing off his
BRAINy Award at Cross Vegas
last night.
(Photo © J. Maus)

David Guettler, owner of River City Bicycles in Portland’s central eastside, was named Retailer of the Year by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News at an award ceremony last night following the first day of the Interbike trade show.

I bumped into an ecstatic Guettler at the Cross Vegas race shortly after the awards ceremony. Guettler has been in the bike industry for 31 years and says this is by far the biggest honor of his career. “I’m still floating from the awards ceremony… this is a big deal!” Guettler said being a part of the bike industry is such an honor because the bicycle is such a powerful force for good that can help solve so many of our world’s problems. “I think this is the most important industry in the world. To be selected by my peers… it’s just staggering.”

This woman is sporting a
MOVMODA Unisuit.
– Slideshow below/gallery
(Photos © J. Maus)

To say urban biking has arrived on the radar of the bike industry is a major understatement. The products, the bikes, the magazines — urban biking has all the trappings of a bona fide segment segment of the industry. Another major part of urban biking is fashion. In the past few years, the selection of stylish and functional clothes made for people that bike has skyrocketed. Also in the past few years, Momentum Magazine has made a name for themselves by organizing fashion shows (they brought one to Portland back in October of 2009).

The Ready to Ride fashion at Interbike this afternoon did not disappoint. Check out some of the fashions and the faces in the slideshow below:

Year: 2007
Brand: Trek
Model: 1200
Color:silver/red/black
Size:52cm
Serial: C94GT241
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2010-09-21
Stolen From: Curtis Hale Apartments
Neighborhood: SW
Owner: Emily Johnson
OwnerEmail: emily.k.johnson19@gmail.com
Description: aftermarket aerobars, look pedals
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-78830
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Metro land purchase, agreement will close part of ‘Sellwood Gap’

Map credit: Metro

Metro finalized an agreement yesterday that will allow them to secure the required easement rights to extend the Springwater Corridor Trail. The agreement will close more than half of the existing “Sellwood Gap” south of SE Tacoma Street.

According to a Metro press release, they reached an agreement with Oregon Pacific Railroad Company for $618,000. The agreement also included the sale of a 5,000 square foot property to Oregon Pacific in the Sellwood area.

The Sellwood Gap is a thorn in the side of many people in the Portland area. When the trail reaches Sellwood, the popular multi-use path snakes through residential streets for about a mile until the trail picks up again.

The last Sunday Parkways of the year
is this weekend!
(Photo © J. Maus)

A bit of rain and the official start of fall don’t seem to be slowing anybody down. Head out and enjoy the last Sunday Parkways of the year, join the folks hoping to rekindle the critical mass flame, or get your fill of trees and parks at one of this weekend’s many great events.

Friday, September 24th

7:00am-9:00am: Breakfast on the Bridges
It’s time once again for your favorite morning commute tradition. BonB serves up delicious free breakfast treats and coffee to commuters bicycling and walking to downtown. This month’s volunteers will be on the westbound Hawthorne bridge, the Morrison bridge, and Steel bridge lower deck. Add a couple minutes to your morning ride to enjoy this great event and hang out with your fellow commuters.

U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer has never been to Interbike, so he used his first appearance to implore leading members of the U.S. bike industry to make more noise about the the economic boost the bike industry gives to America. In addition to dollars, Blumenauer told the crowd that selling bikes makes sense for many of our country’s greatest challenges. Here’s an excerpt from his remarks:

Year: 2009
Brand: Scattante
Model: XRL Team
Color:Red
Size:54cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2010-09-20
Stolen From: Outside of the Whole Foods Market Pearl Store
Neighborhood: Pearl District
Owner: David Walters
OwnerEmail: waltersd84@gmail.com
Description: Ultegra Rear Derailleur, 105 Shifters, 105 Front Derailleur, Carbon Fork up front with carbon seatstays. Black Handlebar tape. clipless pedals
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-078422
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Ask BikePortland: How should riders treat “T” intersections?

This week’s question comes from reader Ruben Galbraith. Ruben wonders about something I’ve also thought about a lot. Here’s his question:

“How should bikers behave at “T” intersections with traffic signals?

For me, this always occurs while heading North on Naito. What could be really smooth ride is often broken up by a series of (ill-timed) lights. The lights are totally necessary for cars, which need to cross over each others lanes at these “T” intersections. It doesn’t feel right to roll on through… But is it kosher to stop, and then proceed through the light? You know, like a right-on-red, or more aptly, from a one-way onto another one-way?”

Beach Elem. School encourages biking and walking-4

The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has announced their first “Neighborhood Greenway” ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event will take place Wednesday afternoon at Beach School in the Overlook neighborhood of North Portland.

PBOT wants to showcase their growing network of residential streets that have been engineered to prioritize the safe movement of bicycles. These streets are also known as bicycle boulevards, but PBOT will brand them as ‘Neighborhood Greenways’ to show that they’re not just great for bikes, but that neighborhoods also benefit. The “greenways” aspect is a nod to how some of the streets include bioswales, new street trees, and other “green streets” features (more on the name change here and here).

Interbike: Dispatch from the show floor: Day One

Cyclocross racing, Las Vegas style

Interbike: Puma looks for respect as a bike company

River City Bicycles’ David Guettler named Retailer of the Year

Slideshow: Ready to Ride Fashion Show

silver/red/black Trek 1200 2007

Metro land purchase, agreement will close part of ‘Sellwood Gap’

Weekend Event Guide

Friday, September 24th

At Interbike, Blumenauer urges stronger voice from industry

Red Scattante XRL Team 2009

Ask BikePortland: How should riders treat “T” intersections?

City will cut ribbon on ‘Neighborhood Greenways’ at Beach School

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