Report: Cross Crusade rages at Alpenrose

(This content is sponsored by Cyclepath Bike Shop, authorized Mountain Cycle dealer).

Cross Crusade #2 - Alpenrose Dairy, Portland OR
Cross Crusade #2 - Alpenrose Dairy Portland, OR

Whew! It was a tremendous day of racing out at Alpenrose Dairy. 760 racers braved the day making this the largest cyclocross race ever on U.S. soil. Unlike last year, the rain didn’t start ’till right at the end so the course wasn’t too muddy…but it was still very tough judging from the numerous crashes. All the big guns showed up for this one. Lynne Bessette, Geoff Kabush, Trebon, Wicks, McCormack, Mazza…you name it. All of America’s best and brightest crossers were on hand.

I rode out to the event with a few guys from the PSU Cycling Team and I’m more tired from running around the race course than pedaling my bike over the SW hills. The great thing about cyclocross is there’s a ton of places to watch the action. Some of my favorites were the run-up, the dismount area in the infield, the fast turns up on the pavement, and of course, the start line.

Some random observations:

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Bikey bits on my brain

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Here’s a few bits and pieces floating around my head. I’ll be expanding on some of this stuff in the days to come, but I have to do a mental dump or my head will explode. Here goes:

  • The BTA has launched PlatinumPortland.org.
  • At a transportation class I’m taking I heard from a Tri-Met bigwig that Google will be visiting with Tri-Met officials in a few weeks to discuss their ongoing collaboration on a mapping system. According to the Tri-Met rep., a detailed, fully-integrated bike trip-planning system will be available online “in about a year.” I covered this in more detail back in August.
  • Tom Miller, Sam Adams’ chieff of staff, wants to raise $3,000 for an eco-roof atop the bike parking structure on the corner of SW 5th and Jefferson. (hat tip to the Tribune)
  • Janis McDonald, the city employee behind the Women on Bikes program recently featured in the Oregonian is getting married Saturday. After the ceremony they’ll be biking down from Council Crest in a mini-parade. She said she’ll try and snap photos so I’ll post them for you if/when I get them.
  • The new New Seasons market on N. Interstate is causing a huge increase in pedestrian and bike activity on N. Portland Blvd. This is great except for the fact that N. Portland Blvd from N. Albina to N. Interstate has abysmal bike/ped facilities and no traffic calming to speak of. If this doesn’t change there is bound to be a bad crash sooner or later.
  • Tomorrow’s cyclocross race out at Alpenrose Velodrome might be the largest ever on U.S. soil. It’s going to be huge. I’ll be there to soak it all in, talk with folks and snap photos. Look for photos on the BikePortland.org photostream Saturday and a report soon after.
  • Our local mountain bike club and advocacy group, PUMP had a meeting Wednesday night to figure out a plan to get serious about opening up more room for them to ride. They want either a designated mountain bike park and/or more of the singletrack trails to be legal for bikes in Forest Park. More reporting on this to come.

    • Whew! I feel better already.

    Speed kills

    I hate to be so blunt, but ever since I attended one of those Bike Safety Workshops, I can’t stop thinking about two things.

    • The difference of a mere 10mph in a car (which is barely perceptible), can mean a vast difference in the fatality rate if that car strikes a biker or walker.
    • Cops seem to “allow” at least a 10 mph cushion on the posted speed limit before giving a ticket.

    There was something upsetting to me about those two thoughts hitting my head at the same time.

    To illustrate how important it is to drive slowly (especially on neighborhood streets), I’ve posted a slide from the City of Portland’s traffic division. It lists the effects of speed on stopping distance shows fatality and injury rate for each speed. How can the police can justify allowing motorists to go 10-15 miles over the posted speed limit when the numbers in the chart below make it painfully obvious that people die as a result?

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    BTA announces “Top 40” list

    bta_newlogoAt a press conference this morning the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) will announce their much-anticipated “top 40 essential projects programs, and policies.” This “Blueprint for Better Biking” was determined from a survey of over 900 Portland cyclists back in spring of 2004.

    From that survey, the BTA says 4 main areas of concern emerged:

    • Cycling in traffic
    • Connectivity (of the bikeway network)
    • Motorist behavior
    • Quality of the facilities

    Taking these concerns into account, the BTA whittled down an initial list of 400 project suggestions down to 40. Among the top 40, they have also designated a “Top 10” of the absolute highest priorities on the list.

    The Top 10 Projects are:

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    Biggest bike move ever

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    Todd has a great post about last Saturday’s massive bike move. What is a bike move? It’s when bikey folks come together to help someone move all their stuff across town by bike.

    Saturday’s mammoth move included 20 bikers hauling stuff about 130 blocks from NE to SW Portland!

    If you live in the Portland metro area and want to try a bike move, check out the new “Move by Bike” page on the Shift website. For more photos and video of recent bike moves, check out this page. Here’s a shot of Todd’s fully-loaded, “Stokemonkey”-powered Xtracycle bike.

    movebybike

    White House to install bike racks

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    Yes folks, it’s true. Here’s the excerpt from the Times Online (UK) story.

    Mr Bush has ordered federal employees to curb their travel and encouraged them to use public transport. Bicycle racks are being installed in the parking bay of the White House.

    Is a Presidential bike commute in the future?

    [Hat tip to Fritz at Cyclelicious]

    PSU to host Women’s Cycling Symposium

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    Is it just me, or has the Portland State University Cycling Club shown some exciting signs of life recently?

    They’ve just launched a really cool new website , they hosted a major track racing event last month, they sent a few guys to the big Interbike trade show to schmooze potential sponsors, and now they’re hosting a symposium called, “A Woman’s Perspective.”

    Here’s a bit more about what sounds like a very interesting event:

    “A Women’s Perspective” brings local speakers from all walks of life to give new faces to the image of cycling in Portland. All speakers are deeply involved with the cycling community in a variety of ways from activism to professional racing. Keynoting the event will be Jacquie Phelan, the first woman in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and mountain bike pioneer, she brings experience and inspiration to the halls of Portland State.

    Go here for all the details.

    Rain and cold no match for bike fun

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    So you think just because it’s a wee bit nippy and wet that the Portland bike fun should end? Come on, haven’t I taught you better than that? Take a look at some of the fun on tap through the weekend:

    Weds:
    Walk+Bike to School Day
    KBOO Bike Show

    Thurs:
    Woodlawn Vortex Booze Cruise

    Sat:
    Cross Crusade #2 at Alpenrose Dairy
    Go By Bike! Art Studio Tours
    R U ‘Couv Curious?

    And if that doesn’t fulfill your every desire, move to Davis…err..umm..I mean check out the Shift Calendar for more events then slap on some fenders, grab those wool socks and raincoats and head out into the fun!

    Rain got you down?

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    If the wet weather has put a damper on your biking mood you should read this inspiring post to the PortlandTransport.com blog by BTA head honcho, Evan Manvel. He wrote it after riding into work on Friday and stopping by Shift’s Breakfast on the Bridges (photos). I especially liked the last few lines:

    “Taking off my wet socks and trading out my shirt, I was soon dry. And felt alive. Alive from biking, from feeling the weather, from being with these people, and living in this place. I love this job.”

    Local framebuilder profiled in national magazine

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    Joseph Ahearne

    Joseph Ahearne is the subject of the “Builder’s Profile” in the October 1 issue of Dirt Rag Magazine.

    Joseph is a top-notch guy with a bright future in the bike business. He makes beautifully functional custom bike frames and cargo racks. He’s also well-known for his popular “Spaceman Flask Holster” which is like a water bottle cage, only custom designed to hold a flask.

    To see Joseph’s work, check out the Ahearne Cycles website. There’s also more photos of him and his shop in the BikePortland.org archives. And don’t miss this photo I snapped of him walking the floor of Interbike.

    You can pick up a copy of Dirt Rag from Fat Tire Farm, Citybikes or wherever cool magazines are sold.

    Walk ‘n Bike to School Day is Weds. 10/5

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    walknbikelogoNext week is Oregon’s statewide “Walk + Bike to School Day.” On Wednesday thousands of kids across the state will walk and ride bikes to school instead of driving. The event is meant to raise awareness for the Safe Routes to School Program which is headed up locally by the BTA.

    Robert Ping, program director of Safe Routes to School has been working with parents and teachers to identify barriers to walking and biking, teach kids safe biking skills, and show kids how much fun walking and biking to school can be. He hopes to reach 10,000 kids at 60 schools across the state…now that’s a critical mass!

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    Local wrenches turn for Katrina

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    On Sunday, Oct 16th and 22nd bike mechanics from several Portland bike shops will come together to restore old bicycles for Gulf Coast evacuees who have recently been relocated to Portland. The completed bikes will be donated and distributed to new Portlanders by the Red Cross of Portland. The goal is to build approximately twenty bikes (10 adult and 10 kids) for those who want affordable, self-reliant, and environmentally sustainable transportation.

    Mississippi Street Fair, Portland OR

    The bike building sessions are organized and hosted by North Portland BikeWorks, a small, non-profit neighborhood bike shop, located in the Mississippi Business District.

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    Latest Headlines

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    From the Archives

    Opinion: If we’re serious about cycling, let’s get serious about cycling infrastructure