One more thing to be disappointed about in Portland:


No Greg Oden!

C'mon Kevin Durant!

fwiw
we just got back from our first visit - we rented some heavy crappy bikes for a day, didn't do skyline but we did bop around town and did a little of the trail along the Willamette (east bank). Coming from NY it was lovely to hear no horns honking, friendly or otherwise. we even had a spandex dude nod (good as a wave imo) at us and we were pathetically dorky on the most upright position geeked out bikes in the world.

Being used to blowing lights etc, I had to curb my over zealous riding habits, but it was fine. I could easily get used to riding in a more civilized manner.............

I did have one weird sighting - was waiting to cross a light (on foot) near the Main Library at Taylor and a young man was struggling to make the light on a tiny bike (smaller than BMX - maybe 18" wheels). He was in the middle of the traffic lane and there was only one car at some distance behind him. In other words, no one else was near him........Another pedestrian (man about 45 or so, very average looking middle class guy) standing on the curb across from us yelled at him to get out of the street, 'what are you trying to do, kill yourself, you $%#@ing idiot', etc.

I was (unpleasantly) surprised to see this kind of anti bike rant I am very familiar with in NY....other than that the respect and space cyclists get in Portland wowed us.....we're pretty ready to bust a move.

fwiw I don't really care about the culture class stuff....I understand why messengers would hate the posers and how elitist snobs could rub someone the wrong way etc etc but aside from the truly ugly comments like the one I witnessed, I'd rather ride and forget about that stuff. don't let it ruin your ride or your day......just my two cents

Ah, methinks you encountered a Zoobomber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoobomb). :D You know, if you move to Portland, you'll have to do it at least once. (Contrary to popular belief, they do welcome people with normal sized bikes and brakes. You can even ride it sober. Just leave the spandex at home. ;))

Ah, methinks you encountered a Zoobomber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoobomb). :D You know, if you move to Portland, you'll have to do it at least once. (Contrary to popular belief, they do welcome people with normal sized bikes and brakes. You can even ride it sober. Just leave the spandex at home. ;))
Spandex is a privilege :D

Spandex is a privilege :DNo, Spandex is a blessing....after my century yesterday that's how I felt...lot's of gain...no pain! :D

It's overkill and kinda ridiculous on a Zoobomb run, no matter how practical it may be in other circumstances. ;)

Ah, methinks you encountered a Zoobomber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoobomb). :D You know, if you move to Portland, you'll have to do it at least once. (Contrary to popular belief, they do welcome people with normal sized bikes and brakes. You can even ride it sober. Just leave the spandex at home. ;))


not sure if that what he was doing - he was by himself - but we WERE wondering why the mountain of little girls' bikes all chained up in a heap near Powell's Books. :p

That hill is formidable - I wanted us to ride to the Japanese Garden ("but honey - it's only 5 miles away!").....I thanked my wife for talking me out of it when we rode the bus up the hill!!!

for anyone interested, I got my Vanilla last month (see "my new vanilla is so F-ing cool" this forum) but had to go to NYC for work for a month. After a month there... yeah, Portland is the tops for cycling (and most other things too). 27 days in the big apple was enough to remind me how good we have it (no knock to NYC, if cities are your thing it's the best) with trails, other riders, scenery, and all the close-by cycling adventure to be had.

Out riding my Vanilla as much as time allows before the winter dark closes in, and no longer disappointed.

I ride on the East Lake Sammamish trail from Bellevue to Redmond and say hi or nod to just about every jogger, walker or biker i pass. About 95% of them respond positively, the other 5 are either zoned out on their Ipods, on the phone or have problems making eye contact.