Ready, set, ride: Preparation tips from a Pedalpalooza veteran

Cross Crusade Wash Co Fairgrounds-13

Chris “Fool” McCraw is pumped up for Pedalpalooza!
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

In case you haven’t heard, Shift’s amazing month of bike fun is about to begin. Yes, the annual Pedalpalooza — with its 259 events (so far) over 24 days — is set to get rolling just one week from today. On that note, we came across this spirited email from Chris McCraw on the Shift email list the other day and figured it’d be fun to share. Take his advice, start preparing now for an optimal Pedalpalooza experience.

— by Chris “Fool” McCraw

It’s time to think about riding your bike…all the time, for 3.5 weeks straight! Get that tune-up, stock up on spare tubes, and make sure your butt loves your saddle. It’s the last minute NOW because you want to have your bike ready before the fun really gets started!

Now get yourself tuned up – do you know where your summer bike clothes are? Been putting off that doctor’s appt? Been to see the barber? Nobody wants to stop riding with a few thousand of their closest friends to take care of stuff that could happen anytime, and you know you wanna be in top shape to enjoy the rides and be looking sharp for the cutie you’re sure to meet on the happy streets. Might not be a bad idea to get caught up on laundry, too..

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DA can’t prove criminal conduct in downtown road altercation that led to driver’s arrest

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SW Jackson just before Broadway.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office has decided they won’t move forward with criminal charges against a woman arrested for what was initially thought to be an intentional act of road rage.

Celine Geday was arrested by Portland police officers on April 3rd and charged with Assault in the Second Degree for her role in a collision in southwest Portland. According to the Portland Police Bureau, Geday was driving her car on SW Jackson when she and Brian Groce got into a verbal altercation. Groce claimed she almost cut him off. Then, after he caught up to her and told her about it, he claimed she intentionally rammed him as they both entered SW Broadway. Groce suffered lacerations and minor bruises.

Based on an initial investigation, PPB officers had the probable cause they needed to arrest Geday and make the charges. However, as we reported a few days later, Geday was released shortly thereafter because the DA felt there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence to hold her.

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Job: Warranty Technician – Chris King Precision Components

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Job Title
Warranty Technician

Company/Organization
Chris King Precision Components

Job Description
Chris King Precision Components™, manufacturer of precision bicycle components and Cielo Cycles, is seeking qualified applicants for a Technical Services position to serve as a repair and warranty resource to the company regarding general bike knowledge along with completing customer product warranty requests. Responsibilities include: diagnosing and repair/refurbishing returned products for warranty work as well as completing related paperwork. Interacting with our sales team and customers to provide technical guidance related to our products (using email, phone and occasionally in-person). Warranty Technicians are relied on to provide suggestions regarding product issues based on feedback from the market and cycling trends. This position also provides general bike maintenance support to King employees and maintains inventory of parts and tools used for service.

Qualifications:
• Ideal candidates have 3-5 years experience as a bicycle mechanic
• Strong customer service skills
• Computer literacy a must. Experience with ERP and basic office software a must. Experience working in a Macintosh environment is helpful.
• Detailed component knowledge is required.

The position requires the ability to sit and stand for several hours, use hands and fingers to work on small parts and identify subtle color variations between parts. Employee may be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, petroleum-based solvents and lubricants. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet; the position may be exposed to loud noise, cold or heat while fulfilling some of the job functions.

How to Apply
The successful applicant will be team oriented, eager to learn, enthusiastic and have a strong commitment to the community, the environment and excellence in general. Please furnish a letter of interest and resume in the body of an e-mail to human.resources@chrisking.com (no attachments will be accepted). A drug free environment and equal opportunity employer. Visit our website at www.chrisking.com.

Update on Portland street fee as city gears up for first major public hearing

(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s a big day for the City of Portland’s push for a street fee (a.k.a. the Transportation User Fee (TUF)) as the proposed plan get its first public hearing at City Council today at 2:00 pm. In advance of that, we want to help you get caught up and primed for the discussion.

From the web to watercoolers, civic dialogue about the funding initiative is at an all-time high. That’s not just because the public hearing is imminent, but because the underlying policy continues to be tweaked and changed less than one week before Mayor Charlie Hales and Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick plan to ask their Council colleagues to vote on it. And so far, neither Hales or Novick has announced an intention to push back the fee’s effective date of July 1, 2015.

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red Airborne Gaurdian 2012

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Year: 2012
Brand: Airborne
Model: Gaurdian
Color:red
Size:18
Photo: http://imgur.com/fKKjRRB
Stolen in Portland, OR 97239
Stolen:2014-05-7
Stolen From: Riva on the Park; 0650 SW Gaines St; Parking garage
Neighborhood: SouthWest Waterfront
Owner: Jessica Swenson
OwnerEmail: jessicajswenson(AT)gmail.com
Reward: 250
Description: Red, White, Black Airborne Guardian. Ergon Comfort Grips, Serfas saddle
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T14004729
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue/grey Raleigh 80s

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Year: 80s
Brand: Raleigh
Color:blue/grey
Size:small frame
Serial: R802260057
Photo: [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sarahfc/media/10392328_10201918598555827_5223981804484953312_n.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/sarahfc/10392328_10201918598555827_5223981804484953312_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2014-05-28
Stolen From: 16th and Salmon

1137 SE 16th Ave
Portland OR 97214

right out front of the apartment building, locked to a sign post
Neighborhood: southeast portland / buckman
Owner: Sarah Rose
OwnerEmail: isisisaband(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: soooo bummed that this disappeared last night, it belonged to my mom originally and has been in my life for a long time.

light blue greyish late 80s Raleigh road bike, it’s got a little rack on back, tears in the seat and handlebar covers, white bike light up front, red on back. the tires are different, one is a bit bigger with more tread.

PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ME THANKS SO MUCH

612-819-9173
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Black fuji track 2007

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Year: 2007
Brand: fuji
Model: track
Color:Black
Size:54cm
Serial: ICF6E00169
Photo: http://postimg.org/image/98lrpjsxl/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2014-05-25
Stolen From: stolen in SE portland around powell and foster streets.
Neighborhood: Southeast
Owner: austin marsh
OwnerEmail: austinbutlermarsh(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: bike looks just like picture except has has major taylor track handlebars with no bar tape, not the bull horn style ones shown in picture. it had the black and orange kryptonite new york lock on it. bike only has rear brake shimano tiagra, gold velocity wheelset, specialized saddle, gatorskin front tire, thickslick rear tire.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Guest perspective on the PBOT street fee: Kiel Johnson

Bike Train Meet-up-9-19

Kiel Johnson, photographed in September 2011.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

Publisher’s note: This guest opinion is part of our ongoing coverage of City of Portland’s efforts to pass a transportation utility fee, and we think it’s a good counterpoint to the guest post earlier today.

Sometimes you have to make do with the world you have, not the one you wish you had.

In October of 2008, I was crying alone in a Chicago hostel. One of my good friends had just had her face smashed in by a car and was in critical condition at a Portland hospital. She required major surgery and still has a giant scar across her face to prove it.

In the months before her crash, I remember making the case to her that no one in the Netherlands wears helmets and if we want more people riding bikes we shouldn’t either. Thankfully she hadn’t listened to me.

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For Portland startup Project 529, fighting bike theft is just the beginning

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529 space

The Project 529 team in the office on Wednesday. Their new free mobile app makes it far easier to track and report a stolen bike, but the company has bigger plans.
(Photos by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Working from an office high above Interstate Avenue, a team of Portlanders has spent the last year quietly building what might be the country’s most ambitious bike-specific software company.

Funded out of pocket by three co-founders and led by the lead creator of the XBox, the ten-person company calling itself Project 529 hit the Internet last month with a web and mobile app that aspires to be a next-generation Stolen Bicycle Registry and with an attention-grabbing petition asking eBay and Craigslist to begin requiring serial numbers for the bikes they sell.

But the most interesting part of Project 529, which is pronounced “five two nine” in reference to the hours of rest and recreation, is what it wants to do.

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The Ride: Columbia County’s Burn Road Loop traces pioneer history

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Burn Road Loop in Vernonia-5

Steeped in Oregon pioneer history and beloved by locals,
I cherished the chance to ride Burn Road.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

This is part of my coverage from a recent stay at the Coastal Mountain Sport Haus, an inn and lodge located in Vernonia that caters to bicycle riding guests.

After riding the Beaver Falls Loop for the first time on Saturday, I was already smitten with the riding possibilities in Columbia County. Then the next day, my hosts at the Coastal Mountain Sport Haus — Glen and Sandy Crinklaw — led me on another one of their favorite rides: The Burn Road Loop.

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A guest perspective on the PBOT street fee: Brian Willson

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Brian Willson, photographed in June 2011.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

Publisher’s note: This guest opinion is part of our ongoing coverage of City of Portland’s efforts to pass a “Transportation User Fee.”

Submitted by S. Brian Willson, a Woodstock neighborhood resident

——

I am a nearly 73 year-old double BK amputee who handcycles to most of my engagements, meetings, events, etc, in Portland. I’ve handcycled about 70,000 miles over the past 16 years. Though I drove for many years with hand controls, I chose to get rid of my automobile and driver’s license as part of my commitment to reduce my direct reliance on fossil fuels, cars, and excessive carbon dependence, in conformity with Portland’s Climate Action Plan.

How does the Street fee contribute to Portland’s transportation goals in the Climate Action Plan? And even city officials acknowledge that it’s not nearly sufficient to meet our estimated transportation funding needs.

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