I’m taking one of these
to Critical Mass tonight.
(hat tip to Marino on the Shift list)
Great new bike touring resource
Jeff Smith of the Office of Transportation Options has just put the finishing touches on a great new website with tons of info about how to get out of town and explore by bike.
Here’s a sampling:
Now get out and ride!
Polo, track and pedals
If you ever wanted to try out bike polo (like regular horse polo, but on bikes) then tonight’s the night. Cruise yourself over to Alberta Park by 6:00 for a beginner-friendly polo session. More details here.
Or, how about turning some laps over at Alpenrose Velodrome. Yep, track season is heating up and Wednesday nights are Track Development Class night. It’s $5 for the class and $5 for a rental bike…but the experience of pedaling into the steep banks of the velodrome are priceless! More details here.
And I leave you today with a nifty product from the land of jockey boxes and blokes. In commuter crazy Portland this new pedal from the UK would come in very handy. It’s called the Pedalite and it’s a pedal with a light inside that requires no batteries and provides 360 degree visibility. A bit dorky, but I bet they work pretty well.
The warm-fuzzy side of Critical Mass
I know there are a lot of folks who don’t like what they think Critical Mass stands for. But while you’ve been making judgements the movement has really changed. This is a great article from the San Fran. Chronicle that tells a similar story to what in my opinion is happening here in Portland.
An excerpt:
Over the past decade, bicyclists have transitioned from traffic-snarling outsiders to pillars of civic life. They have merged smoothly with the mainstream and…the movement is graduating to a new phase.
(Thanks Stephanie!)
Bikey BBQ Benefit
You can’t go wrong by eating burgers, riding bikes and helping raise money for the Community Cycling Center all in one fell swoop. Get your burger on this Saturday and Sunday at any New Seasons Market to help the CCC raise money for their many programs.
Interesting ride this Saturday
There’s a neat ride happening this Saturday called the Local Innovations Bicycle Ride.
“This free bicycle ride will be a tour of places that have seen environmental, architectural and culturally significant innovation in the city in the past year. At each stop, there will be a speaker that was central to the innovation.”
Biking Trifecta Friday!
OK people, this Friday is looking quite bike-arific. Ready? Set. Go.
Start with Breakfast on the Bridges. Ride to work over the Hawthorne or Broadway Bridge and get free coffee, pastries and friendly conversation.
Then, roll with your velo brethren at Critical Mass.
Then, pedal over to Monsters of Bike Rawk and get your groove on all night long…or incur the wrath of this big, ugly BikeZilla guy who likes to crush bikes.
Interactive Bike Mapping Tool
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time…a mapping tool just like Yahoo! or Google Maps, but specifically for bicycle routes. Turns out the S.F. Bay Area is way ahead of me. Wouldn’t this be cool here in Portland? We’ve already got a great bike map(which I hear will be fully revised and on sale this June!)…now all we need is a super-techie bike lover with some free time on their hands. Any takers? Email me
(Thanks to The Cycling Dude for reminding me about this.)
Interactive Bike Mapping Tool
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time…a mapping tool just like Yahoo! or Google Maps, but specifically for bicycle routes. Turns out the S.F. Bay Area is way ahead of me. Wouldn’t this be cool here in Portland? We’ve already got a great bike map(which I hear will be fully revised and on sale this June!)…now all we need is a super-techie bike lover with some free time on their hands. Any takers? Email me
(Thanks to The Cycling Dude for reminding me about this.)
Interactive Bike Mapping Tool
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time…a mapping tool just like Yahoo! or Google Maps, but specifically for bicycle routes. Turns out the S.F. Bay Area is way ahead of me. Wouldn’t this be cool here in Portland? We’ve already got a great bike map(which I hear will be fully revised and on sale this June!)…now all we need is a super-techie bike lover with some free time on their hands. Any takers? Email me
(Thanks to The Cycling Dude for reminding me about this.)
Real cyclists wear fishnets
I thought the Portland cycling fashionistas and hipsters would enjoy this article from the Guardian, a UK newspaper. It’s been making its way around cycling websites. Here’s an excerpt:
“I find that wearing fishnets on a bike significantly reduces your chances of being killed. Not because everyone wants to protect your fabulous legs, just because people notice you’re there, if only because they’re thinking, “What’s that idiot doing in fishnets? She’ll only catch them on her gear set.” Drivers who’ve noticed you rarely try deliberately to kill you.”
Why is this man smiling?
…because he’s riding to work! Our very own City Commissioner Sam Adams was recently spotted at the Lloyd District Bike to Work Day Event.
(Thanks to Jessica Roberts of the BTA for the photo).