Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Solling Pedersen, 1978, Denmark

Bikes are big in Portland. Like 300-plus miles of bike lanes big. So big that we were dubbed “America’s Best Bike City” by Bicycling Magazine in 2012 — another in a list of accolades that stretches about as far as the aforementioned bike lanes.

Since art imitates life, it makes sense that the Portland Art Museum will feature a stunning array of iconic bicycle designs with “Cyclepedia” (June 8 – Sept. 8), a special exhibition of 40 two-wheelers integral to bike design.

T & C Pocket Bici, c. 1963, Italy

Featuring touring, racing, mountain and even children’s bikes, the display is a comprehensive look at the evolution of bicycles, and is required ogling for riders and design buffs alike. Fittingly, Portland is the only U.S. stop for this European collection.

With accompanying programs like public workshops, lectures, locally made bike displays and even free bike tours in June and July, this exhibit offers an excellent way to get a peek at Portland’s pedal-powered culture.

That mountain is a lot closer than it looks. With Portland Bicycle Tours’ new shuttle service, you and a mountain bike can be up on Mount Hood’s west side in just 90 minutes. There the Sandy Ridge Trail System awaits with its spectacular views — and 15 miles of single track trails.

Even closer to town — in fact, in town — Pedal Bike Tours now offers a ride through Portland’s Forest Park, the largest forested park in within city limits in the U.S. Take their shuttle service to the top of the park and ride down in the cool of the canopy for 11 miles. Not sweaty enough? Ride back up!

Photo: Rich Grant

Our CFO, Ron Melton, passed along an engaging blog post by Rich Grant, a former colleague from Visit Denver who recaps a wide-ranging trip to Oregon and locates the soul of Portland in the “three B’s, which this ‘city of roses’ can claim above any other American urban center: beer, bicycles and bookstores.”

Even the name of Rich’s blog – Walking and Drinking Beer — feels just right for Portland. Which brings to mind two things:

1. Oh, how Rich suffers for his art.

2. Ron: Any way to get him on our payroll?

Spoke art by Carye Bye.

Portland celebrates the bicycle all year ‘round, but summer is when our spoke cards really fly. The season gets up to speed with Pedalpalooza – “2+ weeks of bikey fun” – with events throughout the city in June. Feeling adventurous? Strip down for Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride (ours was the largest in the Americas last year) on June 18. Check the Pedalpalooza calendar for other events, including bike-in movies, mobile dance parties and unicycle jousting. (more…)

Not your usual tourism pitchman: My uncle J.R., visiting from Omaha.

Yes, we’ve seen the bicycle frames that decorate the popular, kid-friendly and ec0-minded Hopworks Urban Brewery on Southeast Powell Boulevard.

But for further proof of Hopworks’ commitment to bike culture (and, I suppose, a sign that my uncle is a too-willing photo subject), check out this picture of the banana-seat headrests affixed above the urinals in the men’s room.

Travel Portland / John Hughel

The accolades for Portland’s bike scene are flattering and many.  However, flying with a bike can strain your wallet … plus, there’s the additional stress of carting a bike and tools through the airport.

Thankfully, Portland’s bike-friendliness extends to its plethora of bike-rental options.  Mountain bikes, road bikes, cruiser bikes, even cargo bikes — you can rent them here for an hour, a day, a week or even a month. Some hotels even include a free bike rental when you stay. There are so many rental options, we created a guide to them all. Here are details on some of my favorites: (more…)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer; photo courtesy of BikePortland.org via Flickr

Portland’s bike-friendliness extends beyond our borders. U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) is the state’s — if not the nation’s — most involved congressman when it comes to bike issues.

In this short video by Streetfilms, Blumenauer explores biking in the Big Apple. Here’s the introduction from the Streetsblog post:

Blumenauer’s bike commute to the Capitol has become as much a personal hallmark as his predilection for bowties. So when he came to New York City … to stump for a progressive federal transportation bill, the congressman didn’t pass up the chance to tour the city’s evolving bike infrastructure with Paul Steely White and Noah Budnick of Transportation Alternatives.

I especially like Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Paul Steely White’s comment that their organization started with aspirations to “be Portland.”  Awwww … we’re touched!

Cafe Velo at Portland Farmers Market (photo credit: Sarah Gilbert)

One of my favorite things about the Wednesday farmers market is fresh-brewed Stumptown Coffee from Café Velo. The coffee, which is brewed to order using porcelain filter cups and hand-stirring, is superb — it’s the best way I’ve found to savor Stumptown’s varietals. The price for a 16-ounce cup is a bit steep at $2.50, but the coffee is so good, it’s worth it. Plus that money goes to a creative entrepreneur.

Speaking of creative, the number-one coolest thing about Café Velo is that it’s not just a coffee stand — it’s a bike. The owner rides his 800-pound Dutch cargo bike to the market twice a week (he’s also at the Portland State farmers market on Saturdays), then folds out the counters and sets up burners to heat giant kettles of water. It’s innovative and fun … and a great wake-up call.

Another note on bicycling — September marks Portland’s annual Bike Commute Challenge, so this month there are even more cyclists on the streets than usual. If you’re driving (or riding) around town this month, please keep an eye out and travel safely!

As a cyclist, I love all things bikey.  I have bike photographs, a bottle opener made from a bike chain, bike sculptures and even jewelry made from old bike parts.  This slight bike obsession has me anxiously awaiting October, when I’ll get to revel in bike goodness thanks to Oregon Manifest or OM.

What began last year as a three-day event featuring hand-built bikes has exploded into a showcase of bike art, cycling personalities, and, of course, bike gear. A six-week extravaganza celebrating bikes and bike culture, OM runs from Oct. 2-Nov. 8, with signature events held every weekend.  While the schedule is still a work in progress, confirmed parties include the hand-built frame competition and race, a bike fashion show as part of Portland Fashion Week, and the kickoff to Cross Crusade, the country’s largest cyclocross race series, with more than 1,000 participants each week.

In addition, Dreams on Wheels, a Danish bike exhibition, will set up shop at the Oregon Manifest Bike Union.  The bike union will be the official headquarters for OM.  Located in the Pearl District, it is easily accessed by Portland Streetcar, with free travel to and from downtown thanks to Fareless Square.

Watch the website for new events to be added each week.  If you stop by, say hello to the girl with the goofy smile on her face, drooling over the amazing designs and dreaming of a hand-built bike.