🚨 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 🙏

Job: Copywriter (Velotech, Inc.) – FILLED

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Job Title
Copywriter

Company/Organization
Velotech, Inc
This position has been filled.

Job Description
Do you like to cycle? Do you like to write? Would you like to get paid for writing about cycling products? Then we need you to help us out.

A small but rapidly growing Portland based bicycle shop needs someone to write product descriptions for our web sites.

Candidates must be enthusiastic about cycling: commuter, MTB, cyclocross, competitive rider – at least one (or all of the above) is required. Attention to detail, solid writing skills, a touch of creativity, and a good work ethic are also required.

This is a contract position for now but could evolve into a full-time position. Part-time telecommuting from home is an option but some time each week in the office will be required (we can be flexible on the office hours).

The pay is decent, the hours are flexible, plus you’ll get a discount on the products we sell – sounds pretty sweet, eh? To get the job you will need to supply a sample of your writing abilities, and if we invite you in for an interview, you will need write a sample product description while you’re here.

How to Apply
Please submit resume, writing sample and a brief description of your cycling related activities to velotechsales (at) gmail (dot) com.

Portlander offers ride-alongs for Craigslist purchases

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Ted Daly-1

Tom Daly wants to help with
your used bike purchase.
(Photo © J. Maus)

25-year old Portland resident Tom Daly has worked at several local bike shops and has seen many used bikes in his day. Now that he’s opened his own repair shop, he’s decided to put that experience to use with a unique new service. For a $15 fee, Daly will ride-along with you on used bike purchases to make sure you’re getting the right bike at the right price.

Here’s how it works:

If you’re considering a used bike on Craigslist, but want an expert opinion to make sure it’s legit (as in, not stolen) and worth the money, Mr. Daly will accompany you to check it out. With a frame gauge in hand he’ll make sure the frame is straight and solid, check the forks and all the components, and make sure the bike fits you.

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Local food activist makes the farm-bike-sailboat connection

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Part of the farm-bike-boat delivery team at
last year’s Village Building Convergence on
the dock at OMSI.
(Photos courtesy of CultureChange.org)

Jan Lundberg moved to Portland a year ago because it seemed like the best place to pursue his intersecting passions for food security, peak oil, bicycles, and sailing.

These passions will be coming to fruition later this month when the oil analyst’s brainchild, the Sail Transport Network, will launch into its first major, ongoing local venture. Lundberg is finalizing plans to deliver malted grain from Vancouver, Washington to a brewery further down the Columbia River by a combination of cargo bike and sailboat.

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Local rides, now beamed to your iPod

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The open road, now available your iPod.

We’re big fans of the Rubber to the Road books, which exquisitely detail some of the best road rides in the Portland region. Back in March, we shared how they leapt from the bookshelf onto the web. Now, publisher River City Bicycles has teamed up with Portland-based TimeStream Software to take that idea one step further.

44 routes from Rubber to the Road are now available as interactive route guides that can be beamed to your iPod. And the best part — according to the founder of TimeStream Software, the Portland-based company that developed the technology — is that anyone can share photos and route information of their favorite ride, and then upload it for others to use.

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November 2009 stats and top stories

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Here are BikePortland’s traffic stats from the month of November, 2009.

The most popular posts of the month included two articles which followed the three day search for and happy return home of Aaron Tarfman. Top five posts are listed below.

Here are the overall stats for the month:
Visits – 175,784 (+24% over Nov. 2008)
Average visit length – 03:01
Pages viewed – 391,334
Front page stories posted – 90
Stolen Bike Listings – 57

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Product Review: The Light On! DynoLight headlight

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The DynoLight from Beaverton-based Light On!.
(Photo © J. Maus)

[You can meet Brian Engelen from Light On! (and Fun Reflector) this Saturday at BikeCraft V. He’ll be one of nearly 50 local vendors selling their bike-oriented arts, crafts, and other products. Don’t miss it!

I have owned the Light On! DynoLight dynamo powered headlight since the summer and now that the days are shorter, I can finally spend some time testing it out and making comparisons and judgments.

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Enjoy the lights on a carfree Peacock Lane on December 14th

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Enjoying a carfree Peacock Lane.
(Photo by Greg Raisman)

A longstanding holiday institution in Portland is taking a stroll — or, more prevalently, a slow, idling drive — down the one-block Peacock Lane to gaze at the elaborate holiday light displays that residents drape over their houses, trees, and yards.

Last year for the first time, neighbors on the Southeast Portland street decided to open a night early and make the event carfree. This year they’ll be doing the same — on December 14th, from 6pm to 11pm, the street one block east of SE 39th Ave between Stark and Belmont will be closed to all but foot traffic.

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Newswire: North Portland Storefront Provides An Outlet For Locally Made Bike Products

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Contact Info: Todd Roll
503.916.9704
todd@pedalbiketours.com
pedalbiketours.com

Pedal Bike Tours Debuts Handmade Local Bike Crafts
North Portland Storefront Provides An Outlet For Locally Made Bike Products

Portland, OR (December 1, 2009) – Just in time for the holidays, Pedal Bike Tours announces the addition of bike products, made in Oregon by local artists and craftspeople, to their shop in North Portland. As a hub for bike curious visitors, Pedal aims to provide a showcase for the ever-growing number of bike oriented products that Oregonians are creating, such as jewelry, clothing and art.

“Because of our bike sightseeing tours and rentals we get lots of visitors to Portland in our shop. Instead of a t-shirt from the airport we want people to be able to take home a bike themed souvenir made by one of our talented locals,” explains Todd Roll, owner of Pedal Bike Tours.

The rapidly expanding list of artisans and products priced as low as $3 includes:

Agent Ladybug’s Decycled Designs – Bike tube bracelets and more
Ciclismo Design – Sterling silver pendants- reproductions of bike racing medals
Gigi’s Handywork – Helmuffs- wooly ear covers that fit over your helmet straps made from recycled sweaters
Labelle Maverique – Armbands and chokers made from recycled bike inner tubes featuring hand cut designs
MMM Werk – Knickers reworked by hand made from recycled trousers
Povera Jewelry – Made from recycled bike parts
Queen Bee – Handmade panniers and hip holsters
Recycled Designs – Photo frames, clocks, key chains and more made from recycled bike parts
Red Bat Press – Fun and clever greeting cards made locally on an antique press

Roll came up with the idea watching visitors from around the world roam the shop looking for souvenirs to take home. “We wanted to make these exceptionally creative and well made products available to locals and visitors alike year round.”

Pedal Bike Tours offers guided bike tours and van tours of Portland, the Columbia Gorge and Wine Country as well as bike rentals.

Located at 2249 N Williams Ave., Portland, O.R. 97227, Pedal shares a space with Metropolis Cycles, a full service bike shop and repair business owned by Roll’s brother. The shop is open daily at 11AM until 7PM Mon-Thurs, 6PM Friday and 5PM Sat and Sun. For more information on Pedal Bike Tours, including rates and tour information, visit www.pedalbiketours.com, or call (503) 916-9704.

CRC project headed for a showdown this Friday

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Anti 12-lane CRC Ride-37

A meeting Friday could have major
implications for how we
cross I-5 in the future.
(Photos © J. Maus)

This Friday, the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project will be put to a crucial test. At a meeting of the Project Sponsor’s Council, CRC staff will present the council members — which include Department of Transportation directors and mayors from both Vancouver and Portland — with a new proposed bridge design that reflects “refinements” that have taken $650 million off the project’s estimated cost.

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BikeCrafter Profile: Unique wood and steel bike parts by Paul Conte

The double-spiral
bamboo bottle holder.
(Photos © Adams Carroll)

After Paul Conte graduated from Syracuse University’s industrial design program, he took an office job — but realized before long that he wasn’t living the life he wanted to lead. So he quit, trained to be a carpenter, and moved to Portland in search of a workshop and a good place to live.

Now he’s living his dream, making stunning products and creations that you can see for yourself at BikeCraft V this Saturday.

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