Join thousands of people this Sunday walking or riding bikes across the temporarily car free bridges of Portland. Reserve your bike before they are all gone; it’s our busiest day of the year! This is a once a year opportunity to bike across Marquam and Fremont bridges and take in the spectacular views from the top! Check out the link below for more details!
This week we got a shipment of the new Topeak Mini Dxg bike pump, which has a universal head to accept shraeder or presta valves. New helmets are here in multiple sizes and we replenished stock on lights, locks, and gloves after your feedback. Thanks to visitors this week from Brazil, Germany, Canada, and Southern Alabama!
We just got in some beautiful new internal geared rental bikes. These sturmey- archer 5 speed hybrids are a great bike for exploring the city with relaxed geometry and powerful drum brakes. All the bikes come with a full fender set and some really nice all weather tires. Like the bike so much you want to keep it? We can order your size and get it overnight! Come take a spin on these beauties.
Check out this Bike fun workshop tomorrow hosted by Shawn Granton of The Portland Hawthorne Hostel. 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Pedalpalooza will soon be upon us – ready to lead your own ride? Fun begins at 7 pm and goes till 9 or beyond. Donations accepted.
Thanks to our visitors from South Africa this week who requested the Portland Bikeability Tour. Active transportation is our passion around here and we enjoy sharing some of Portland’s solutions with friends from around the world. Exploring our neighborhood green-ways is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. We had an urban planner visiting who wanted to see the latest infrastructure and we just so happen to have a new cycle specific signal treatment at a dangerous intersections for right turns adjacent to a freeway on ramp. phew! We also took a look at the traffic calming storm-water management swales on SE Ankeney St. and enjoyed the blooming craftsman neighborhoods. Lots of rentals this weekend with the sunny weather and exiting tours coming up this week including another Food Cart Bike Tour the “Tastes of Portland Tour“ – one of my favorites.
Thanks to Jeff and Susan visiting from Portland, Maine who requested a green “Portlandia” tour and mentioned their fondness of the new 6 part mini series “Portlandia” by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein on the IFC Channel. A big fan of the show myself, we went to check out the East Bank Esplanade where the opening “Portland, Dream of the ’90’s ” scene was shot. I also took them to an un-named SE Bookstore, and a local farm that provides produce for farms downtown. Fun! We also made some new mates visiting from Australia on Friday’s tour and visited Portland State University, the 12 West building (the new one with 4 windmills on top) and got to check out the Pearl Bakery for a treat. Join us on a ride to the Mission Theater to see next weeks episode of “Portlandia” on the big screen.
It’s been raining here non stop for days and this time of year I see one or two other cyclists on my commute instead of a dozen or more. I manage to stay dry by winterizing my ride in the fall – adding fenders, making sure my tires are up to snuff and lights are bright, and replacing worn brake pads or cables. I also use a carefully picked assortment of rain gear and clothing layers to make up the ultimate protection system from the elements. (For me.) I really do believe that you have to find the system that works for you, and sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error.
In our climate, I wear long johns or some type of moisture wicking thermal base layer for a few months out of the year, both top and bottom. I avoid cotton socks and usually try and find a synthetic or wool blend. These materials will continue to keep you warm, even if they become wet. Cotton will not, and although I like the feel- I wear it at home. I layer my mid section with fleece in wet weather and down on dry only days. Layers that can be taken off with out much effort are a plus because it can be easy to overheat if you are to lazy to stop and peel one off.
I wear non insulated shell pants and jacket to protect from the rain and wind. My pants are full side zip so that I can take them on/ off without taking off my shoes (although the kind with just the ankle zipper will do just fine ). They fit over my regular work clothes and have their own pockets, so that I don’t have to un-do the clasp to get in to my jeans to get my keys just to lock my bike or something.
side zip rain pants
My jacket, like the pants it is made of a laminated waterproof/breathable material like Gore-tex or E-vent fabric and has pit-zips for ventilation. The hood is large enough to fit over my helmet (I often wear it under as well) and there are front pockets to keep my gloves if I need them. I like an elastic drawcord on the hood and the waist so that if I feel a draft I can put the kibosh on it. I also like velcro adjusting cuffs to lock in the glove cuff so that my wrist does not get exposed when making a hand signal. Bright colors are best.
Sometimes I wear a thin beanie under my helmet on really cold days. My helmet has a micro adjust on it, but if you are buying a new one, I always suggest imagining being able to ride with a thin hat or not when you are trying them on.
Gloves are a tough one and it is hard to find a good pair. Go for thin, waterproof/ breathable full finger gloves and try to get wind-stopper fabric and a padded palm. dexterity is important in gloves and they are sized by palm width not hand length.
I ride with clip-less pedals which is a strange name for pedals that do clip to the pedal with a cleat on the bottom of the shoe. I used a recessed cleat soft bottom shoe that is about as close to a street shoe as bike shoes get. I need to be able to carry my bike up an down stairs or manuver it on foot in a defensive traffic situation and I can’t be sounding like a tap dancer or feeling like I’m in high heels. I like shimano brand shoes, use what is called an “spd” pedal and cleat (the most common) and replace the laces with “shock cord” so that I don’t have to tie them ever. These shoes are not water proof so I use water proof socks that go over my regular socks. These work extremely well and are one of my favorite pieces of gear. You can get them for about $30 a pair at REI or EMS and you only need one pair. The shoes get wet, but your feet stay dry and warm.
waterproof pack, socks, shoes
When I ride with regular pedals I wear waterproof shoes or my xtratuf rubber boots and they work great. I have a shop space at work and there is space for me to keep a tote with an extra set of clothes, socks and shoes there just in case. I also keep a spare jacket there so that if it starts to rain during the day and I have forgotten my jacket, I will be covered.
Let us know if you have any special winter gear riding tips, we love to learn about new products and time tested techniques. Remember Bright Lights.
