🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Create your own custom bag at Chrome’s downtown store

Chrome custom counter at Portland store-13

Lara Kessler, a full-time seamstress at the
Chrome retail store, walks a customer through
the ordering process.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

In a town where so many people get around by bike or transit, having a good (and waterproof) bag is essential. That’s probably one reason why Chrome opened up a retail store here two years ago (to go along with existing stores in Chicago, New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco (their hometown).

Now the company, known for its iconic messenger bags and roots in courier culture, is touting their ability to offer custom bags sewn and stitched as customers watch.

Chrome spokesman Billy Sinkford said Chrome has offered custom bags in the past via their online store, but they’ve only beefed up the custom program at the retail level in the past two years. Sinkford said the in-store custom option is a way for Chrome to strengthen their connection to local customers. “It’s about integrating deeper into the community… We want people using bags they’re stoked to use.”

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New Relic’s palatial in-office bike parking is Portland’s answer to the Google bus

in-house mechanic

Tech firm New Relic hires a mechanic to visit its Portland engineering headquarters and give free bike tuneups to its commuters.
(Photos by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Real Estate Beat is sponsored by Portlandia Home

In 2012, one of Portland’s fastest-growing employers told the managers of Oregon’s biggest office building that it would walk away from any lease offer that didn’t allow employees to bring their bikes up to the 28th floor office.

The company, software performance management startup New Relic, got its way. Two years later, its 180 employees in downtown Portland’s U.S. Bancorp Tower are enjoying the benefits: the most attractive commercial bike parking in the city and a workplace where bike-commuting is about four times more common than driving.

New Relic also seems to have kicked off a new local trend, the Portland tech scene’s version of Silicon Valley’s on-site laundry services and all-you-can-eat buffets: hiring a bike mechanic to come by the office for free on-site tuneups while the bikes’ owners are at work.

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Magnesium White Cannondale 29er 2012

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Year: 2012
Brand: Cannondale
Model: 29er
Color:Magnesium White
Size:Large
Serial: A1374064
Stolen in 97209, OR
Stolen:2014-05-28
Stolen From: Stolen from Nw Naito Parkway, secure parking garage. Lock was cut.
Neighborhood: Pearl District
OwnerEmail: roguepdx(AT)gmail.com
Description: Nothing too extraordinary about the bike, it was pretty stock. It does have Shimano spd pedals, I think they were m540’s.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 14-4393
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

flat black free agent Novus 2014

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Year: 2014
Brand: free agent
Model: Novus
Color:flat black
Size:20
Serial: DRJ01034
Photo: http://imgur.com/qdjGBxZ
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2014-05-27
Stolen From: Smart part out of my car in portland. They or who busted my window out to get it.
Neighborhood: portland
Owner: phillip rorick
OwnerEmail: phillipsrorick(AT)yahoo.com
Reward: 500.00 if found in same condition as when took
Description: White peddles turn purple in sun light. The bike it all flat black but grips and peddles purple. It says fa in front tube. Puddles are white turn purple in sun light.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

light blue with white dots on top tube GT small 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: GT
Model: small
Color:light blue with white dots on top tube
Photo: no
Stolen in Lake oswego, OR
Stolen:2014-05-27
Stolen From: virginia garcia memorial medical center.
beaverton, or.
Neighborhood: cedar hills mall
Owner: joel bohling
OwnerEmail: jibohling(at sign)comcast.net
Reward: yes
Description: light blue, white dots on top tube, only one chainring 38tooth, and stainless steel bottle cage. SORA derailleurs.
wheels are NOT original, they are
bontanger, spokes in groups of 2, front and rear.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Guest article: An introduction to mountain bike orienteering racing

Tom Puzak of Team USA punches in at the “Go Control,” the last control before an all out sprint to the finish. The orange and white flag is called a “control bag” and is used in every discipline of orienteering.
(Photo: Abra McNair)

Here at BikePortland we love bicycling in all its forms. A few years ago we shared a reader’s story about the fledgling (in the states at least) sport of mountain bike orienteering. With a local event this weekend out at Stub Stewart State Park, we felt now was a good time to share more about the sport.

— by Abra McNair and Sue Grandjean

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Weekend Event Guide: Heron, parks, water, track racing and more

Sharrows to Sparrows ride

The Sharrows to Sparrows ride will introduce you to north Portland’s wonderful natural sites — all accessible by bike-only paths and low-stress neighborhood greenways.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.

The ride calendar is heating up with the temps so we hope your legs are ready!

If I had to pick a theme for this weekend’s rides I would say it’s education. With several rides being led by city agencies, and another installment of a monthly architecture survey ride, your bike is your ticket to learning more about our beautiful city.

Friday, May 30th

Breakfast on the Bridges — 7:15 am on the Broadway and Steel Bridges
As usual for the past 10 years (!), on the last Friday of every month, you can enjoy free pastries/donuts and coffee thanks to the fine folks at Shift. Leave home a bit early to give yourself time to snack, imbibe, and chat with friends old and new.

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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.

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