🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏
Eben Weiss, the inimitable “Bike Snob” behind the popular and eponymously named blog and book, rolls into Portland on Sunday. He’s in town for a signing and presentation at Powell’s and there’s a ride to the event being organized by Chris King Precision Components.
The plan is to meet at Chris King headquarters in Northwest Industrial and then shove off on a ride around 5:00 pm. According to sources, the ride will head up to the Rose Test Garden in Washington Park and then drop into downtown. Once downtown, Bike Snob and his fans will roll through the Broadway cycle track near PSU, then head east over the Willamette River before criss-crossing several bridges and heading back to Powell’s.
There’s more than meets the eye. -Watch video below-
Northeast Portland resident Michael Felix has just launched a project called Velosynth, an “open-source bicycle interaction synthesizer.” Or, in other words, it’s “a small computer that you attach to your bicycle that interprets your motion into sound.”
With mobile sound systems flourishing on bikes throughout the city (you’ve likely heard and seen one of them on Pedalpalooza rides like Bowie vs. Prince or Splash Dance), Felix’s Velosynth looks to fill a different niche than simply playing loud music.
In a note he sent us about the project, Felix said he wants to use audio as a bicycle computer interface instead of relying on a visual display. “After all, shouldn’t you be paying attention to the ride and not staring at a screen?”
In addition, he says that the Velosynth could be used as a communication tool between people on bikes and others on the road. “It’s like a bike-bell, except fully programmable.”
So, how does it work? Here’s a visual:
Got it?
And if you’re more a word-based learner, here’s an explanation:
a hall-effect sensor attached to the fork detects the presence of a magnet fixed to a spoke of the front wheel. a three-axis accelerometer within the enclosure can be used to detect turning, leaning, and tilting. sensor data is collected and transmogrified by the cpu, which provides both audio and visual feedback.
audio feedback is created using a digital oscillator circuit that is controlled by a digital potentiometer connected to the cpu. its output is amplified and sent to the speaker.
visual feedback is negotiated through a 4-digit, 7-segment display that shines through the skin of the enclosure. additional LEDs can also be added and controlled by the CPU.
And here’s what you can do with it:
The project is just getting off the ground. So far, Felix has built 10 kits and he’s looking for “hacker-savvy cyclists” who can help take the idea to the next level. On that note, he’s also set up a Kickstarter page to raise awareness of the project. Felix is principal in the company Effalo.
The Velosynth was developed by EFFALO, a research and design collaborative with its headquarters in Portland.
In related news, a few local riders have tweaked their sound systems to create a mobile Pirate Radio Station at 88.1 FM. It will be in action tonight at the dual Dropout Bike Club/Prom Ride event.
Reporter Name – Michael Friedman
Ride Date – Thursday, June 17, 2010
Ride Report
About 50 people showed up for the inaugural Tutu Food Cart Ride. As we moved throughout downtown, the usual rush of group bike riding was accentuated by giggles and smiles as we seemed giddy to ride around sporting our most fashionable tutus. Collectively, there were many hoots, hollers, and waves of delight as we weaved from cart to cart, waving at pedestrians and MAX passengers. Thanks to handful of cart owners who stayed open past their normal hours to greet out excited mass, such as Built to Grill, DC Vegetarian, Just Thai, Bombay Chaat House, and Fernando’s Mucho Fiesta. We even got a group photo behind the PSU Carts before finishing at Cartopia with a mini-dance party of tutu booty shaking.
Reporter Name – rev phil
Ride Date – Friday, June 11, 2010
Ride Report
We traversed the ends of the bikesexual universe without leaving the theater!
The show featured original films from a dozen different filmmakers. New places representing include Detroit and Australia. The crowd spilled out into the street where a massive dance party blocked the entire 26th and Clinton intersection for almost an entire hour without a car able to pass through. Afterward we went to the MMR where a dance party under the 205 rocked until dawn.
Reporter Name – Elisabeth Flaum
Ride Date – Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ride Report
This ride was a lovely scenic tour of various SE Portland water features. We began at Reed College, pedalling over Reed Lake, and visited places like Westmoreland Park, Oaks Bottom, Johnson Creek Park, and Crystal Springs. The closure of the Springwater Trail foiled our guide’s original plans, but nevertheless we enjoyed a delightful ride through quiet neighborhoods and over tiny bridges, accompanied by a few sprinkles and even a rainbow! 15 intrepid cyclists turned out in spite of threatening clouds, and everyone learned something new about our fair wet city.Re
Reporter Name- Oregon Humanities
Ride Date – Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ride Report
About sixty Portlanders of all ages gathered under the Hawthorne Bridge, and we set off on our “Pedal through Time” tour led by Lewis & Clark professor Reiko Hillyer. With stops on the Eastbank Esplanade and a tour through Old Town/Chinatown, the ride gave participants a fresh look at reading the local landscape of Portland’s architecture.
This ride was a bike-themed variation of an Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project program, “Marking Our Territory: How to Read Local Landscapes,” presented by Hillyer.
Reporter Name – Carye Bye Ride description
Ride Date – Friday, June 11, 2010
Ride Report
Yes we had Marilyn, yes Marilyn Monroe on the tour, a mid-afternoon Museums By Bike/Hidden Portland bike ride on the theme of Museums and Hollywood. Portland now has two Movie Museums plus the tour stopped by the Bathtub Art Museum (Hollywood Comes Clean Exhibit) and the Northwest Curiosities Cabinet — Hollywood Version — Jackie the Alligator Woman is now MORE famous than Jake! We had 12 People throughout the day coming and going on the tour. Special thanks to Mike Clark, Joseph & Mandy, and Marla/Maria Mystique for giving tours at their museums.
Reporter – Bece Kidder Ride Description
Ride Date – Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ride Report
The ride was a lot of fun. There was a three year old who decorated her helmet similar to mine and a 7 or 8 year old that attended his first PedalPalooza ride.
I didn’t think it was possible to add anything to my bicycle, but alas SCRAP pulled through with the most perfect piece of scrap ever.
We ended up joining the Splash Dance Ride for a bit because it was hot! and then we topped it off with a Voodoo Doughnut.
I can’t think of a better day and I will do it again next year!
Reporter – melissa magic Ride description
Ride Date – Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ride Report
The ride was GREAT! Beautiful weather, Happy faces and everyone was dressed up in sparkles and of course, FUR!! We met up at Col. Summer Park, and attracted a crowd with our fire spinning, hoop trix and LOUD Soundsystem, (thanks to DIABLO and his DEVIL red FURRY bike)! Each place we went there was a dance party,bubbles and tons of laughter! Definitely will do THIS again!!
