Cycle Portland

Rentals, Tours & Bike Shop in Downtown PDX

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Now hiring part and full-time Tour Guide/Shop Staff!

Founded in 2007, Cycle Portland is a cornerstone bike shop, now located in the beautiful Historic Merchant Hotel, three blocks from the popular Waterfront Park. Managed by a young family of entrepreneurs with a shared vision, our mission is to support and inspire visiting and local cyclists alike through guided bike tours, affordable well-maintained bike rentals, and high-quality repairs.

We are hiring likeminded staff with a passion for all things bikes and an interest in showcasing Portland’s history and unique progressive bike culture with visitors. As part of our small team, you’ll have the opportunity to advise travelers about your favorite local attractions and hotspots, fit folks on rental bikes, help plan their route, lead guests around town as part of our easy-going cycling excursions, and lend a hand to our full-service bike shop.

While primarily focused on tour guiding, this position will encompass guiding up to two tours per day (2-5 hours of outdoor time, rain or shine) on our Foodie, Brewery, or City bike excursions. Back at the shop you’ll help guide clients through our bike rental process, answer questions about the products and services we offer, and help keep the shop running smoothly. You’ll also be provided with resources to help you dive deeper into the history of our city in both past, present, and future as we work to keep our tours engaging, fun, and informative.

Part-Time position and Full-Time position available.
Seasonal with the possibility of staying on year-round.
Semi-flexible scheduling; 20-35 hours/week preferred.
Preference will go to those with weekend availability.
Shop hours are Daily 10am-6pm

Compensation:

$15-17/hr starting DOE (plus gratuities and incentive-based compensation)
Free occasional use of rentals
45% Discounts on quality bike products and shop services.
1 week – paid vacation (accrued)
1 week – paid sick leave (accrued)

Requirements:

• Must be 21+ years of age.
• Must obtain a First Aid/CPR certification within 30 days of hire
• Must be a confident cyclist and know or be willing to learn how to repair a flat tire
• Ability to lift bicycles and other objects up to 50 pounds on a regular basis, however reasonable accommodations can be made for qualified applicants
• Must be LGBTQ friendly. We encourage POC, Trans, Non-Binary, Gender-Non-Conforming, Women, and Marginalized Groups to apply

Knowledge and skill in the following areas is preferred (but not required), and represents core strengths as part of this position:

• Genuine desire to work with and listen to the public both as a tour guide, and as part of our shop staff to meet client where they’re at with their needs
• Excellent public speaking skills, comfortable working with and projecting to audiences of up to 12 individuals at a time
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Curiosity! We love learning about Portland, and it’s up to us to be informed as our city and region evolve
• Self-motivated and comfortable asking for support when needed
• Experience in the performance arts, previous bike shops, bike mechanical knowledge, and tour guiding while not required, is a plus

Thanks for your interest in working for us!

How to Apply

As part of your resume, please include two current references and a brief paragraph about why you’d be a good fit for this position, as well as your weekday/weekend availabilities.

Email your resume, references, and paragraph of intent to pdxbikeshop@gmail.com with “Tour Guide Applicant” as the subject line.

For more information about Cycle Portland, visit our Facebook or Instagram page! We look forward to hearing from you~

Events and Bike Rides in Portland This Weekend 2/7 – 2/9

Light Festivals, Night Markets, & Party Rides.   Everyone, but especially people named Thomas should check out our list of events and bike rides  in Portland this weekend:

Portland Winter Light Festival

When: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 6pm – 11pm

Where: Tom McCall Waterfront Park & OMSI

What Bike to ride: Single or Multi-Speed

Back for the 5th year running, The PDX Winter Light Festival brings dozens of light themed art installations to both sides of the Willamette at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Around the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.  Given the wide expanse of the works on display, the best way to see it all will by bicycle.  Speaking of which….

Photo Credit: pdxwlf

 

Illuminated Bike Ride

When: Friday  Meet 7pm, Rice out at 7:30

Where: Starts: In Front of OMSI 1945 SE Water Ave.  Ends: ?

What Bike to ride: Single or Multi-Speed

Light up the night!  Cruise around on illuminated bikes and check out the installations for the PDX Winter Light Festival.  The ride is open to everyone.  Use your creativity to illuminate your bike.

 

Portland Night Market

When: Friday and Saturday, 4pm – 11pm

Where: 100 SE Alder St.

What Bike to ride: Single or Multi-Speed

The first Night Market of the year!  Only a short ride down the waterfront path and across the Hawthorne Bridge, this event brings together local retailers, food carts, and artists for an awesome party!

 

Let us know what Events and Bike Rides in Portland you are most excited for, Thomas!

 

Events and Bike Rides in Portland This Weekend 1/31 – 2/2

With warmer than usual weather for this time of year, it’ll be a great weekend for a ride to some awesome Portland events.  Check out our list of events and bike rides in Portland this weekend:

 

PSU Farmers Market

Where:  South Park Blocks Between SW College and SW Montgomery

When: 9am – 2pm, Every Saturday

The largest farmers market in Portland where you’ll find fresh produce, prepared food, lie music, & more!

Ride through the Cultural district along the South Park Blocks.  The Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Historical Society are nearby, and definitely worth checking out.  Ride down SW Harrison to the waterfront for a scenic route back.

Recommended Bike: Multi-speed.

 

Oasis of Pegasus

Where:  2037 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227

When: 4pm Friday 2/1 – 3am 2/2 Saturday,

Awesome party celebrating health and wellness!  Come to enjoy a community of yoga, meditation, music, dancing, & art.

Cruise across the Steal Bridge towards the Moda Center, then turn left up the bicycle freeway known as Williams Ave.  The event is also just a quick bike ride away from the lively Mississippi District, which is definitely worth checking out as well.

Recommended Bike: Multi-speed.

 

Super Bowl LIV at Double Barrel Tavern

Where: Double Barrel Tavern,  2002 SE Division

When: Kick off 3:30pm, Sunday 2/2

To get a seat at Century or International, you’ll have to show up at noon and endure the hours of pre-game yammering.  Or, you could take the leisurely ride along Waterfront Park, across the Hawthorne Bridge, through Ladd’s Addition to the Seven Corners mainstay: Double Barrel Tavern.

The game will play on the huge projector screen, but you’ll still have elbow room to nibble the all-day happy-hour wings.  (Try the Portland Sauce)  If the bike staples are occupied, try the bike racks at the New Seasons across the street.

Recommended Bike: Easy ride for all bike types.

 

These are the Portland events we’ll be riding bikes to this weekend.  Keep the rubber side down, and see you on the bike path!

Where to Ride Bikes in Portland This Weekend 1/24 – 1/26

With warmer than usual weather for this time of year, it’ll be a great weekend for a ride to some awesome Portland events.  Check out our guide of where to ride bikes in Portland this weekend:

 

2020 NW Coffee Beer Invitational

Where:  Goose Hollow Inn  1927 SW Jefferson St

When: 12pm – 7pm, Saturday 1/25

A beautiful marriage of Portland’s two favorite beverages: Beer and Coffee!  Twenty brewers compete to see who can make the best combo.   A short 15 minute ride from our shop through downtown to The Goose Hollow Inn.  A Portland institution run by Bud Clark before he became Mayor.  (His wife, Sigrid, took over during his two terms)  They claim to have the best Reuben on the planet, and you’ll find no argument from me.

Tickets are $25 and includes a souvenir glass and 10(!) taster tickets.

Recommended Bike: Multi-speed.  A single speed should also be fine, but there is a few short/steep hills in the Goose Hollow neighborhood, so it’s nice to have gears.

 

Winter Soup Fest

Where: Portland Mercado 7238 SE Foster

When: 12pm – 7:30pm, Saturday 1/25

The forecast tomorrow is the definition of Soup Weather, so why not try some Latinoamerican sopas!   The Portland Mercado is a community focused launching pad for local entrepreneurs, a hub for Latino Culture, and home to one of, if not the best, food cart pods in Portland.

The quickest bike friendly route takes you across the Hawthorne Bridge, through Ladd’s Addition, on to the Clinton, then Woodward Neighborhood Greenways.  Hang a right on 72nd down to Foster, and look for the brightly colored Mercado on the south side of the street.  For a longer scenic route, take the Spring water trail down to Johnson Creek and head North on 72nd.  If you’re feeling adventurous on the way back, bike to the top Mt Tabor for beautiful views of the city.

Recommended Bike: Road Bike or E-Bike

Palm Tree Ride

Where: Starts at Coffee Shop on Ladd’s Circle.  Ends at ???

When: Meets at 11am, Rides out at 11:30 on Sunday 1/26

Leave the route planning to the experts and join this 15 years running group ride.  A great way to make bike friends while checking out Portland palm trees and evergreens.

Recommended Bike: Multi-Speed

 

Where to Ride Bikes in Portland will be back next week!  Stop by our shop for more route recommendations!

Keep the rubber side down!

Thanksgiving Week Closures

Happy Thanksgiving from Cycle Portland! We’d like to thank our customers for all the support we receive year after year. Unfortunately Cycle Portland will be closed during Thanksgiving Week 2019. Here are our Thanksgiving week closures.

Thanksgiving Week Closures

Sunday 11/24: OPEN

Monday 11/25: Closed

Tuesday 11/26: Closed

Wednesday 11/27: Closed

Thursday 11/28: Closed

Friday 11/29: Closed

Saturday 11/30: OPEN

Thank you for your understanding. Please feel free to call us for any inquiries at 844-739-2453.

A First Timer’s Guide to Bikepacking for Beginners.

I am both an avid biker and backpacker but I never thought to combine the two into one experience until recently. This summer I came into possession of a fuji touring bike and decided to give bike packing a shot, and I thought I would write this post with some suggestions about bikepacking for beginners.

For my first trip I wanted to do a simple one night out and back trip, and after consulting an incredibly helpful Willamette Week article about bikeable campsites in the Portland area, I settled on taking a trip to the gorge and staying at Ainsworth state park. This was ideal as the park provided specific bike camping spaces with bike racks right next to the sites. while hilly, this route is both route scenic and do-able for the semi-experienced rider. I rarely felt unsafe even when on unprotected roads.

My Campsite at Ainsworth State Park’s bike packing area.

 

Preparing:

Food:

As someone who has been avidly backpacking for the last 10 years, the most crucial information I can pass along is that the bulk foods section at WinCo is your friend. For this trip I grabbed some of the bulk falafel mix. The falafel can be a bit dry, so I would recommend grabbing some hummus ( which you can get away with not refrigerating for a couple days if you keep it sealed), and pita bread.

For breakfast I went with the old standby of instant oatmeal with peanut butter; easy and quick but also great for a full day of biking. for lunch I would personally recommend something simple like apples and cliffbars.

Gear:

If you bike regularly in the city you probably have much of the needed gear already, such as panniers and bungie cords. However, I did have to go grab some gear from REI, Like a 2 L water bag (I used it to refill my small bike water bottle that I out in my down tube cage), and para-cord for hanging up my food bag.

For just a one or two night trip you can get away with a small gas canister for your stove, but if your traveling with more than one person it never  hurts to go with something a bit larger. I also found that the REI half dome is great for camping as it comfortably fits 2 and is light weight enough for solo trips as well. For further gear info I would recommend checking out an article one of our staff wrote about packing for touring on our website.

Getting There:

There are several ways to make your way to the town of Troutdale, the start of the historic gorge highway. Personally I recommend making your way down Marine drive as it is the flattest, most scenic, and most protected pathway there. However, East Burnside is also a very viable option.

My Route from Cycle Portland to Troutdale

The Ride:

To be perfectly honest the ride is not easy. There is about a 900 foot elevation gain to vista house, the halfway point, and no bike lane. With that said if you are in decent shape and bike regularly it is certainly doable, the drivers are pretty good about giving you space, and the shoulder of the road for the most part is close to bike lane sized. Also, the view from vista house and the subsequent downhill  makes the climb well worth it.

Suggestions:

Personally I would recommend turning this into a multi day trip instead of a one night out and back. Starting in Warrendale the historic gorge highway turns into a walk and bike only path, that runs through most of the gorge. Next time I am planning on spending a night at Ainsworth, popping into hood river for a beer and an afternoon on the beach, then continuing on and camping in the Dalles.

 

Conclusion:

While just a short trip, I’d my trial bike packing run a success. I am looking forward to getting back out and I hope to see you on the road!

 

Work at Cycle Portland!

Job Title

Tour Guide & Bike Shop Staff

 

Company/Organization

Cycle Portland

 

Job Description

Status: Full Time, seasonal position with the possibility of staying on year round. (Minimum of 35 hours/wk required during training, 30-40 hours available weekly after completed training depending w/semi flexible scheduling) Must be available weekends.

 

Compensation: $13/hr starting ( plust tips! ) with possibility of performance raise based on 30-day evaluation

 

Location: Portland, Oregon

 

Who We Are

Cycle Portland works to support and inspire visiting cyclists and local commuters alike though quality repairs, guided bike tours, and affordable well maintained bike rentals. We continue this mission today as we look for tour guides interested in showcasing the city we love. As part of our small team, you’ll have the opportunity to advise travelers about your favorite local attractions and hotspots, lead guests around town as part of our easy-going cycling excursions, and lend a hand a the shop as we continue our goal of providing excellent service to our community through our full-service bike shop in downtown Portland, OR.

 

While primarily focused on tour guiding, this position is multidisciplinary by nature. This position encompasses guiding up to two tours per day (4-5 hours of outdoor time) on our Foodie, Brewery, or City excursions. During time at the shop you’ll help guide clients through our bike rental process, answer general questions about the products and services we offer, and assist in keeping the shop running smoothly. You’ll also get the opportunity to dive deep into the history our our city in both past, present, and future as we work to keep our tours engaging, fun, and informative.

 

Knowledge and skill in the following areas is preferred (but not required), and represents core strengths as part of this position.

 

This position is suited to individuals who are objective oriented and enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience with others. Our tour guides interface directly with the public, and comfort with giving directions, route assistance, and helping clients plan their visit to Portland is highly valued. While we’re sometimes known as a tour & rental shop, we deeply appreciate our connections to our local riders, friends, and commuters formed over the last 10 years. In this position you’ll get to continue those relationships with our cycling community, while forming many new ones as we meet a host of amazing travelers looking to learn more about the city we call home.

 

How To Apply

Cycle Portland is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

 

As part of your resume please include a brief paragraph about why you’d be a good fit for this position, and your weekday/weekend availabilities. This is a full time position, however part time can be considered based on merit.

 

Email to: portlandbicycle@gmail.com (or)

Drop off: Cycle Portland 117 NW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR

Favorite Bike Path in Portland – Hawthorne to Tabor

A good bike path is predictable and unexpected. A good bike path is popular and inconspicuous. A good bike path is simple and adventuresome. Despite the minimalist nature of this quadrant cutting bikeway, there seem to be endless opportunities. Consequently, in Southeast, in all its natural and man made beauty, I have found a favorite bike path in Portland.

The Bike Path

Beginning from its most western point, the path starts at the food carts at Hawthorne and 12th, known as Cartopia. Most folks would confess that it’s not good to start your bike ride with a big meal. But I am a character of contradictions.

Ladd’s Addition

After stuffing face with Potato Champion fries or a Bottle Rocket  burger, look to the south to embark into Ladd’s Addition. Inspired by the French L’Enfant design, this section of Portland sticks out on a map like a positive drug test result at the Tour de France in the early 2000s. There is plenty of room for cyclists to pedal while enjoying the local scenery in this cozy neighborhood. Find comfort in the shade of the American Elms. Gander at the diverse homes. Inhale the fresh Portland air.

Then exhale and round Ladd’s Circle. Next, veer off right to exit onto Harrison. Circumvent the small neighborhood Rose Garden. Past this, heading east, there will be a stoplight. Perpendicular to your path is 20th Avenue, a popular road for cars to use. Consequently, this stoplight is a nifty piece of Portland bicycle infrastructure. Often, busy intersections are where car-bike and car-pedestrian related accidents occur. The light here ensures that all travelers are aware of the frequent use of this cross-section. Following the white crosswalk or green cross-bike, citizens can cross comfortably as cars come to a halt indicated by the blinking light and stop sign. It’s nice knowing a city wants to protect its citizens.

Additionally, there is no through traffic by car at this cross. In fact, there is even a barrier that allows only cyclists to cross 20th. This is part of a measure to prevent cars from traveling for extended periods of time on the Neighborhood Greenways of Portland. This development is a staple of Portland’s commuter transit. It is part of what separates Portland as one of the best biking cities in America.

Enjoy Southeast Neighborhoods

Alas, begin a gradual ascent up Harrison. A single speed nightmare, a commuters struggle, a cyclists bunny slope, this ten block hill offers scenic homes and foliage to enjoy until reaching another bike friendly intersection with yet another 4-way with flashing red lights. When free to cross safely, the ascent is rewarded with a rightward verge onto Lincoln that carries cyclists downhill. Following Lincoln through the heart of Southeast Portland, bikers may peel North or South to enjoy the sights and sounds of our popular districts.

Diverting North, Hawthorne Street exemplifies the weird and fun quirks that make Portland so… well… Portland. Shop at boutiques and thrift stores, enjoy fine dining and food carts, and explore Portland culture. Alternatively, turn South and check out Division Street, a newly flourishing part of Portland offering some of the best food and neighborly feels. Occasionally, if I opt to skip Cartopia beforehand, I’ll stop at my favorite brunch spot Trinket for the ambiance and neighborhood vibes. Ultimately, orient back to Lincoln, continue along the Greenway passing puppies, pedestrians and parks while following signs to Mount Tabor.

Ascend Mount Tabor

https://www.ritani.com/blog/engagements/places-to-propose-in-portland/attachment/mount-tabor/

After crossing another well maintained and safe intersection at Lincoln and 60th, the Mountain will be to the left. Tabor’s main road to the summit offers stunning views to the East. Making way up the volcanic cinder cone, Portlanders can get their fix of mountains, trees and greenery within city limits.

Finally, the summit. Take in the city of Portland, enjoy a snack and watch the sun set behind the city with others. Share in the beauty of Portland. Share in the beauty of bicycle infrastructure. Share with me my favorite bike path in Portland.

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