Reporter – the dude
Ride Date – Sunday, June 13, 2010

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This year’s dude ride was a little less involved than previous incarnations that featured intermediate activities, but i’d like to think the ending was much sweeter. we met up in costume (bathrobes and bathing suits abounded) in woodlawn park where white russians were drunk and there was a funny smell in the air as hoops were hula’d and frisbees tossed. we rode, about 45 strong through a scant mile over to peninsula park, where a reading of The Two Gentlemen Of Lebowski was put on for a very appreciative audience.

for an added bikey kick, the backdrop for the reading was the multi-use path thru peninsula park so we watched a family trike around and many folks bike past behind the knave (aka the dude) and friends.

another performance of the reading (sans bike ride, but you should still ride there if you’re attending!) will take place at 3:30 pm on saturday the 19th in laurelhurst park!

Reporter – Saul T. Scrapper
Ride Date – Monday, June 14, 2010
Photos – From PortlandPedalWorks on Flickr

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The first ever Canadian Pride Street Hockey ride was a smashing success!

We met at the Portland Pedalworks shop. While waiting for everyone to show up on Pedalpalooza time, we had a tour of the Portland Tricycles shop and some great fruit Paisanito Pops from Icicle Tricycles.

12 folks showed up to throw down the gloves and play some street hockey. Another guy showed up who couldn’t play today, but wanted everyone’s email so we could make hockey a regular thing. Only had half a Canadian present, but plenty of Poser Hosers, or Fakecadians (Oh, Acadia, the Brits will never let you rest.)

Some folks had played hockey as kids, some were kids! We had a dad and his youngins show up geared up to play. Most folks played on their feet, but some folks played with roller blades. We had two folks play with quads including a local rollergirl.

Once everyone finished their popsicles, we pedaled through Chinatown to 13th and Pettygrove, the “Canada Cage.” I was not sure how this spot was going to work and figured we would go check out other spots as part of the ride. After sweeping the loose gravel, 13th avenue was a great place for us to skate and play in the street. Only three cars drove through and we just looked at them real funny-like, wondering ‘ why are you driving in the middle of our hockey rink?!’

The kids jumped into the action, taking the first face off and making good passes. Dad scolded us older kids to not play easy on the tikes, but to “make them earn it!”

This was the first Pedalpalooza ride that i have hosted. I was amazed at how well it went and how much fun we had. Many naysayers have told me in times past that hockey is not bike fun, but we sure had a hoot! So much so, everyone agreed to make this a regular event. Many of us had missed playing hockey since moving to Portland and were excited to play. We will have another Canadian Pride Street Hockey ride on next Monday, the 21st at 6pm, meeting at 13th and NW Pettygrove. Hopefully, we will make this a weekly event for the rest of summer. If all goes well, we will have neighborhood hockey bike gangs roaming the streets of Portland, taking over tennis courts and smooth asphalt to battle out Brooklyn vs. St. Johns or Irvington vs. Westmoreland . . . imagine the possibillities. Rival hockey crews crossing the Burnside Bridge heading opposite directions with their sticks and bikes . . . throwing down, reclaiming the street with little wheel fun!

I have always wanted to include small wheels (skates and roller blades) into the bike fun community. We have another ride on Thursday at 7pm the 17th, (Roller) Skate Critical Mass, meeting at the Ankeny Fountain at the Saturday Market on the Waterfont. We will skateboard, roller skate, rollerblade, scooter, etc around the waterfront and town with the Rose City Rollergirls. Bring your skates and join us!

More photos of street hockey and our ride to the rink online here:

See you on your skates on Thursday,
Saul T. Scrapper

Reporter/Ride Leader – Paul Hanrahan
Ride Date – Saturday, June 12, 2010

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I was the leader, we had 5 people show up, 4 adults and 1 child. The ride was great, and even though the trail was muddy in spots, we all maneuvered around the bogs! It lasted about two hours, we made it down to the Clackamas River, then came up River road for a circuitous route. Everyone said they had a great time, but I am sorry, I didn’t even think of taking pictures!

Reporter/Ride Leader – Tom McTighe
Ride Date – Sunday, June 13, 2010

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Great fun was had by all on yesterday’s Shape Note Singing Ride! It was my first time leading a ride, but I attended the How to Lead a Ride meeting at the Hawthorne Hostel a few weeks ago and got several ride-saving tips from Carl and Shawn. Thanks to them, I actually pre-rode the route, and was generally prepared (sweeper swept and photographer clicked). I greeted riders with lemonade and watermelon, and things went downhill from there (in a good way). We hit the road with about 22 riders, which seemed like a ton of people. Several competent singers made the singing part easy, but next time I will allow for more than 90 minutes. Although I had stated “12:30 sharp,” we waited and left 10 minutes late but still missed about 12 people (although some were able to call me and join us mid-ride). It was pretty relaxed, but it would’ve been nice to be even just a bit more leisurely. We made a big rectangle through SE – stopped in Ladd’s Addition at one of those rose parks, up the hill at Saint David’s on Harrison, and ended at Pix on Division, where we had ice cream cones out front (parked our bikes next door). Lots of smiles and high fives all around. Might become a monthly thing.

(Photo: Karl Dawson)

Reporter – Karl Dawson
Ride Date – Friday, June 11, 2010

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Great Weather Needs more Beer