Portland Velo Club News

Member Spotlight on… Bob Bigwood

2010-03-05T00:43:00Z

When I first joined Portland Velo, I’d see Bob at the start of rides, and at Longbottom’s after rides, and occasionally on what was a recovery ride for him. I figured I must be riding well to be able to keep up, or he must be riding really slow. I’ve heard tales of him taking other riders under his wing to school them on racing, not bonking, and how to safely ride in a paceline. I figured this guy must really know his stuff. If you read any of his posts on the forum, they are sensible, informative...(read more)

"On your left..." Facts, figures, tidbits, thoughts and ideas for March, by KRhea

2010-03-04T06:29:00Z

On your left… First and foremost a huge thanks to all members who attended and enjoyed themselves at our recent Portland Velo Winter Party! It was a great evening of good food, laughs and club camaraderie. It was a chance to strip off the lycra, don some “real” clothes and mix it up indoors for a change. The only problem for many of us was recognizing each other without helmets, shades, breathing hard, sweating etc. It’s amazing, we actually have some attractive people in our club who clean up quite...(read more)

Community Spin 3/3/10

2010-03-03T16:27:00Z

As reported last month, the BICYCLE MASTER PLAN FOR 2030 was presented to Portland City Council in February garnering mostly positive comments but the vote was postponed a week. Eventually the plan passed with unanimous support and the vote came with a $20 million commitment from Mayor Adams. Commissioner Nick Fish stated “This will make bicycling a cornerstone of Portland’s sustainable transportation system”. Kudos to PBOT and all the dedicated volunteers who spent three years attending meetings...(read more)

COMMUNITY SPIN 2/5/10

2010-02-05T01:41:00Z

The City of Milwaukie (just to our southeast) has installed the first of 212 BIKEWAY NETWORK signs. The signs are similar to signs the City of Portland began installing in 2005. These signs will help cyclists find the best routes to significant destinations and give an estimate of time and distance. Metro’s excellent BIKE THERE! Bike map, last updated in 2007, will have a major update this year. In addition to reflecting public feedback, the map will have greater regional coverage (such as Hagg Lake...(read more)

Member Spotlight on – Linda Rennie

2010-01-30T02:03:00Z

I’ve ridden with Linda (aka “Linda Lou”) many times over the last 2.5 years. She is arguably one of the nicest people in Portland Velo. Always cheerful and chatty on rides, she is a consistent, knowledgeable and experienced rider. Her love of cycling is evident each time she shows up for a ride, as she knows it’s all about doing what she loves. If she doesn’t love hills that day, she doesn’t do hills, and if the route is a long one and she’s not in the mood for that, she rides her own route. Linda...(read more)

And now, a word from our sponsor- by Gordon Haber, Lakeside Bicycles

2010-01-30T01:50:32Z

Good March. A great month. Along with May, July, and October it has an “ides”. Every month gets a “nones” or a “calends”. Only a select few get an “ides”. None of which will make us better or happier cyclists. For March I have a few thoughts about group rides: If for some reason you are finding yourself slipping onto or maybe off the back of the group, try moving to the front at every stop-light or delay. If the group is frisky the other riders...(read more)

COMMUNITY SPIN 1/6/10

2010-01-07T00:00:00Z

THE NEW PORTLAND BICYCLE MASTER PLAN will be presented to Portland City Council on Feb. 4 th at 2:00 pm. It has recently been endorsed by the Planning Commission. The present plan was created in 1996 and needs to be updated. The new plan provides a blueprint for making Portland a world-class bicycling city, reducing the causes of climate change, improving public health, promoting prosperity and building a close-knit community. It will set the course for the next 20 years. The plan will include an...(read more)

"On your left..." Facts, figures, tidbits, thoughts and ideas for December, by KRhea

2009-12-14T03:58:58Z

Wow, already a club ride cancellation and “winter” just got here, what are we in store for this winter????? I certainly appreciate everyone’s understanding of why we had to cancel our Saturday Signature ride last Saturday. It’s the last thing we ever want to do, but our first priority is always the safety of our members and with the forecast being freezing rain/sleet and snow, conditions were not good for a safe club ride. It was my first “trainer” ride of the season and I wish I could say it’ll...(read more)

Member Spotlight on: Jeff Ballantine, with intro by KRhea

2009-12-14T03:15:13Z

"Jeffy" or "wonder boy" or "damn, that dude is fast"...all of these describe Portland Velo Race Team member Jeff Ballantine. As I give most folks a nickname, his is "Jeffy", don't ask me why, it just fits, and he always answers when I call him that, my kinda guy. Jeff is pure cycling fiend, he rides, repairs, builds (both bikes & wheels) , eats and sleeps cycling - plus..."damn that dude is fast"! His passion for the sport transcends...(read more)

If it ain’t broken, fix it! by Gary Meinhardt

2009-12-13T03:43:00Z

If it ain’t broken, fix it. (Why I became a fixed gear addict.) I’m writing to share my love with riding a fixed gear bike with you. For me, a week without a fixed gear ride is a week missing some of the special joy I’ve discovered this life has to offer. I was attracted by the science of riding a fixed gear, and wound up totally seduced by the feeling of it. So let me share with you what I looked for when I got into riding fixed gear as well as the added bonuses I discovered. Historically, fixed...(read more)

Community Spin 12/6/09

2009-12-06T19:04:00Z

Cyclists have been inconvenienced by the construction on NE ALDERWOOD AND NE CORNFOOT RD which has caused the intersection to be closed for months. The construction had been delayed because of the weather. December 1 st was supposed to be the revised completion date so 4 of us decided to ride through there on Dec. 3. We were a little too early as they were just finishing up. We were told that it would be open the next day because they would work all night, if necessary, to get it open. We did notice...(read more)

Portland Velo 2010 Club Kit Announcement

2009-12-02T21:58:00Z

The NEW 2010 Portland Velo Club Kit Design is ready! Get excited everyone, it's our favorite time of the year, time to order our new Portland Velo club kits for the upcoming 2010 cycling season! This year's kit features a brand new and exciting design by Portland Velo member and cyclocross madman, Victor Duong ! A big thanks to Victor for donating his time, energy and incredible design talents to this project. The new kit design will set our club apart with its modern styling, unique use...(read more)

Member spotlight on: Dave Kelley

2009-11-17T00:14:03Z

“DK” as he’s known, seems to be a permanent fixture within Portland Velo. I learned a lot by reading what he wrote for this article, and he is truly the foundation of this club. I wanted to ask him about his cycling experiences because I could sense that he has a long history with the sport and that he’d have much to share, and I was right! Dave has also recently joined the Management Team as the Race Team Treasurer. He’s sure got his work cut out for him, and we’re glad to...(read more)

"On your left..." Facts, figures, tidbits, thoughts and ideas for November, by KRhea

2009-11-16T23:47:05Z

Velocity: the rate of speed with which something happens; rapidity of action or reaction. It’s been just a year since I began my “reign of terror” at the helm of Portland Velo and what a year it’s been. The club has experienced some real highs, Monster Cookie, huge Saturday ride turnouts as well as an extremely sad “low”, the loss of our friend and club member, Mr. G. We’ve proven yet again that no matter what; we’re a club to reckoned with, whether it’s the organization of our rides, our ultra-competitive...(read more)

Epic Ride of the Month: From British Columbia to Mexico – by John Rockwood

2009-11-12T01:39:00Z

As it was for many of us, 2008/09 was a rough year. For me, the challenge came in the form of a divorce. I decided to plan this cycling trip from Canada to Mexico so I'd have something to look forward to while I dealt with affidavits, attorney fees and the other annoyances of my life. Knowing that I'd doing my favorite activities, cycling, camping and traveling for a month through some the country's most beautiful regions fueled my cycling passion. It also kept my spirits up. Preparing...(read more)