Our bike lanes welcome you Mr. Olshey.

[Publisher’s Note: Turns out that this “bike lanes” thing, as reported by ESPN’s John Hollinger, is part of an ongoing joke he plays with his readers about Portland. See end of post for full update/explanation. — Jonathan]

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that, after nearly one year without one, they’ve named Neil Olshey as their General Manager. The move seems to be something of a coup for the Blazers, as he comes to Portland from the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that has made a dramatic turnaround from laughingstock of the NBA to legit playoff contender.

At this point, you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing this news on BikePortland. Well, as many of you know from our Bike to Blazers events (which come to think of it, we should fire back up this coming season), I love basketball. Even if you don’t care about the Blazers, as an urban transportation activist and citizen of Portland, you should appreciate that the team has a significant impact on our city in many ways.

But even just naming a new GM obviously isn’t Front Page worthy on this blog… So, the reason I’m sharing it is because it seems Mr. Olshey is something of a bike fan.[Read more…]

NBA legend Bill Walton during a ride the Columbia River Gorge earlier this month.
(All photos courtesy Jeff Bernards)

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Bring the kids!
(Photo © J. Maus)

Bike to Blazers is this Sunday (4/3)! I hope you’re ready to show the NBA how we roll in Portland.

We still have a few tickets left, so if you haven’t grabbed some already, you can order them online here (don’t forget to use passcode “bikeblazers” to get special package).

After our post with all the event details last week, I’m happy to announce that five people have stepped up to lead group rides to the Rose Garden. Below are the meet-up spots and times (for reference, the game starts at 6:00 pm):
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Me, circa 2006.

When I put together the first Bike to Blazers event back in 2006 (see photo at right), it was just a group ride to the arena with a few small perks we worked out with Blazers front-office staff. The goal all along was to get the Blazers organization excited about it so they’d adopt it as their own. After a super-fun and successful event last year, it seems like that’s starting to become a reality.

This year, the Blazers have really stepped up for the event and we couldn’t be more excited. Check out the logo they made for the official event flyer…[Read more…]

Event Name: Bike to Blazers
Event Date: Sunday, April 3. 4:00pm-6:00pm
Event Description: All roads lead to the Rose Quarter for this year’s Bike to Blazers event. The team wants every fan to pedal to the 6pm tip-off vs. Dallas Mavericks to demonstrate how easy and fun it is to get around by bike. BikePortland invites you to join us at 4pm at the Salmon Street Fountain (Salmon and Naito Parkway) for a bike parade to the arena where the Blazers will host a variety of sustainability oriented events and information packed guests like: Friends of Trees, Portland Farmers Market, Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, Energy Trust and the Portland Water Bureau. We will all meet up on the South Commons where there will be plenty of bike parking, Blazers dancers, interactive games, microbrew tasting and 95.5 will be broadcasting live.

You are invited whether you attend the game or not. Group rides will be departing for the arena from various locations around the city. Why not lead one yourself? If you’d like to choose a starting time/ location and announce it here, just drop us a note.

What to bring: Bring the family, a bike lock, lights for the ride home and the extra money you saved by leaving the car at home.
If you need a bike for the evening, check in with Portland Bicycle Tours.

Game Tickets: Purchase tickets here

More info: Lisa Swan (503) 963-3966 ~ lisa.swan(at)trailblazers(dot)com

Rockin’ the Rose Garden at Bike to Blazers 2010

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A bike fit for a 7-ft NBA center.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

7-foot 1-inch backup center Joel Przybilla of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers is the proud new owner of a fully-custom, 29-inch wheeled steel mountain bike made by Signal Cycles (a small, two-man shop based in a residential neighborhood in North Portland). I got a peek at the bike last week before it left the Lake Oswego Bike Gallery store.
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Nate Meschke of Signal Cycles
with a 29-inch mountain
bike in the works for NBA player
Joel Przybilla.
(Photos: Matt Cardinal)

Local bike builders Matt Cardinal and Nathan Meschke of North Portland-based Signal Cycles (profile) have a tall order to fill; they’re working on a new bike for 6-foot 11-inch Trail Blazers star Joel Przybilla.

Przybilla already owns a Eugene-built Co-Motion hybrid bike that he purchased through the Lake Oswego Bike Gallery store, but his new bike will be a 29-inch mountain bike he plans to ride on the dirt trails near his home.
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Part of our excellent group.
— Gallery/slideshow below —
(Photos © J. Maus)

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A Trail Blazer bike bell — get one at the Rally!

Tomorrow (Wednesday April 14, 2010) is Bike to Blazers and we’ve got a load of updates and final details to share.

First, remember that this event is free and open to everyone (you only need a ticket to the game). Also, you don’t need a bike to join us! There will be loaner bikes to borrow and pedicabs to ride in. Also, if you didn’t get tickets to the game before they sold out, a downtown eatery/sports pub is hosting a Bike to Blazers viewing party. All the details are below…[Read more…]