Local artist, cyclist, historian, and general renaissance man Shawn Granton has just unveiled the much anticipated Pedalpalooza poster. The official poster will be done up right by Stumptown Printers but isn’t ready just yet.
In the meantime, Shawn sent me a hi-res version that I strongly recommend you print it out, stick in your cubicle and dream of the bike fun that awaits you from June 8-24th.
Behold (click to make bigger):
[Posted by “Alan”]
My 2004 Trek 9400 with wide back fenders and narrow slick tires was stolen from the parking lot above 24 hr fitness at SW 5th and Clay on May 10th 2006. I bought it from Coventry Bicycles at SE 20th and Hawthorne last summer. It has a water cage, pump and a rear MT-1 rack. Rock shock front fork. Contact me by email if you have info. And thanks for all the fish! serial # ww1787494
On May 17th at 7:00PM, thousands of cyclists around the world will gather and ride in silent solidarity to remember cyclists that have been killed. The Ride of Silence started in Dallas, Texas in 2003 and will happen in 225 cities in the U.S (including five in Oregon).
Amazingly though, until today there was no ride planned for Portland. Good thing local cyclist John McCaffery came along. In the last few days he has organized a route, obtained a permit, and has just announced the details.
A group of bike advocates have been working with Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) for over a year to improve conditions for bike commuters at the hilltop campus. However, despite clear evidence of the problem they have been “systematically rebuffed” by management and the former head of their Bike Commuters Group calls OHSU’s actions and policies regarding bike commuters “irresponsible.”
[Via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News]
Shimano is investing millions of dollars into a new component group called “Coasting” that will target new cyclists. They plan to roll out the new group to only 15 cities the first year starting in March of 2007. According to a story in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Shimano will focus the initial marketing of the new group in “bike-friendly cities with safe places to ride.”
The “eclectic folk-pop” duo The Ditty Bops just announced their cross country tour. But instead of a tour bus, these ladies will go by bike and according to the official press release they plan to make a stop in Portland.
No confirmed date or venue, but I think someone should contact their manager and get the Sprockettes and Show Me The Pink to open up for them.
Hear an interview and listen to some Ditty Bop clips from this NPR story back in July.
[Posted by “starkstreet”]
I had a bicycle stolen yesterday from the bike lock between 4th and 5th on Morrison downtown. It has no markings or decals on it. It’s an aluminum frame, ergonic handle bars, FSA crank, Alex rims(stickers removed), Shimano Sora rear derailler(sticker removed). The velo seat has red on the sides but other than that the bike is all black and it’s shiny because I just bought it new this weekend. It is a Windsor Dover. 62 cm. My first commute with this bike resulted in a flat tire and I was forced to lock it up at the max station downtown. I was stupid. The front tire and frame were locked with a 3/8″ cable lock. I do not have the serial #. I’d be happy to pay $50 to anyone that can return it to me. I was not able to post picture, but if anyone would like to see it I can email. Thanks – John
email: reliablewombat@yahoo.com
ph#: 503-334-6764
What started as a brainstorm in their Political Action Seminar class, has led four Lake Oswego teens to form the Lake Oswego High School Bike Project. Yes, the powers of bike fun can even penetrate the hallowed halls of Portland’s smartest high school (according to Wikipedia, LOHS has the highest SATs in the Portland metro).
The Bikes Belong Coalition just announced that the Portland-based Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) will receive a $5,000 grant to assist in their bike boulevard campaign. According to the official announcement, the money will go to:
“…help promote and develop their campaign for Bicycle Boulevards in Portland. These low-traffic roadways will serve as a way to prioritize bicycle traffic by retrofitting existing streets with bike-friendly treatments rather than building separate, off-street facilities.”
On Saturday morning, over 50 people showed up to Alpenrose Velodrome, but they weren’t there to race or to spectate. And instead of energy gels and sports drinks, they fueled up with precision made pancakes from the skilled hands of Chris King, owner of Chris King Components.
It was the annual track clean-up and repair day and the volunteers needed the carbs to tackle all the scraping, painting, cement patching, and sweeping it takes to get the velodrome ready for the busy track season ahead.
Over 20 years ago, 40 year-old Northeast Portland resident Gary Sansom was a top BMX racer. Like many guys his age (including me), he grew up wanting to be a BMX superstar. Eventually (also like many of us) he grew up, got a “real job”, and got on with his life…but his love for BMX never really went away.
A few years ago, while working at a dot-com in downtown Portland he realized it would cost $100 to park his car. Gary thought, “screw that, I’m going to ride my bike.” He hopped onto eBay to find a bike and instead found an obsession of collecting BMX bikes.
Portland’s bike-loving Congressman, Earl Blumenauer, appeared on the hit Comedy Central show, “The Colbert Report” last week.
Blumenauer was part of the popular “Better Know a District” segment where Stephen Colbert profiles districts and the member of Congress who represents them.
Colbert introduced Blumenauer to a nationwide audience as “Democrat and bicycling enthusiast,” and then went on to tell Blumenauer that his “obsession with bicycling borders on the interesting.”