In 2003, I started cycling to lose weight. At the time, Portland Wheelmen Touring Club (PWTC) was the only major cycling club in Portland. They had lots of rides every week, covering the whole Portland metro area. I joined PWTC and went on a dozen rides or so. (Most of my rides are solo)
I lost the weight, had a family crisis, stopped cycling and eventually gained the weight back.
This year, determined to relose those pesky extra pounds, I've gotten back on the bike. Now there are two major cycling clubs: PWTC, and Portland Velo. Portland Velo seems to be focused on the west side of the city and their "signature" rides start in Hillsboro. They seem to be growing fairly fast. On the other hand, PWTC seems to have a much thinner calendar of rides and a surprising number of "welcome" or "new rider" rides.
Can anyone tell me what happened here? Did a group of riders have issues with the way PWTC was run and leave to start Portland Velo?
I have ridden in a couple of PWTC rides this year, plus their Pioneer Century. I haven't ridden with PV yet. I would have gone on their century, but it was only open to members. :(
To me, it feels like PWTC is losing steam and PV is not really a full fledged club yet. What's the story here?
dtrain
07-30-07, 01:32 PM
I'm not a member of either one, but I don't think you are too far off in your assessment.
From what I've seen/heard, the Velo guys are more likely to be involved out at PIR and are a bit more hardcore. I think their 'signature' rides do include something for everyone, but the core of riders are more serious (and younger) than your typical PWTC member.
I've been on a few PWTC rides and their spring century twice. I may become a member in a few weeks since they have a combined deal if you sign up for the 'Mt. Hood Hoo-Ha' (Aug. 18th; replacement for the old Torture 10k).
Mel_A
07-30-07, 01:49 PM
Although I have not joined Portland Velo yet I will this Saturday. I have ridden on the Saturday rides a couple of times and really enjoyed them. Their mottos are "its all about the ride" and "nobody comes back pissed off". I don't know the founders back ground but I think they are very inclusive, at least I have found that on the rides I have ridden.
The Saturday morning rides have quite a few folks show up, 40-80, and you select the pace you cycle on the flats and sometimes the distance. The groups are usually about 12-15 and the ride leader will make sure no one is left. If you can't keep up then you can wait a few minutes and be in front of the next slowest group that is coming down the road. The ride leader on the 42 miler I did 2 Saturdays ago used to coach and was very helpful. I am guessing that most riders are in their mid-40's and up and maybe even alot of old geezers like me.
The Saturday rides leave from the Hillsboro Stadium area and take in the great Washington County country.
Come ride this Saturday and you can see first hand, that its all about the ride! 9am behind Longbottom's Coffee off of Evergreen off of Cornelius Pass Rd.
Portland Velo did field a race team but it has its own agenda and schedule, not really part of the Saturday rides, unless you want to Hammer and Nails!
pdxclydesdale
07-30-07, 06:05 PM
In 2003, I started cycling to lose weight. At the time, Portland Wheelmen Touring Club (PWTC) was the only major cycling club in Portland. They had lots of rides every week, covering the whole Portland metro area. I joined PWTC and went on a dozen rides or so. (Most of my rides are solo)
I lost the weight, had a family crisis, stopped cycling and eventually gained the weight back.
This year, determined to relose those pesky extra pounds, I've gotten back on the bike. Now there are two major cycling clubs: PWTC, and Portland Velo. Portland Velo seems to be focused on the west side of the city and their "signature" rides start in Hillsboro. They seem to be growing fairly fast. On the other hand, PWTC seems to have a much thinner calendar of rides and a surprising number of "welcome" or "new rider" rides.
Can anyone tell me what happened here? Did a group of riders have issues with the way PWTC was run and leave to start Portland Velo?
I have ridden in a couple of PWTC rides this year, plus their Pioneer Century. I haven't ridden with PV yet. I would have gone on their century, but it was only open to members. :(
To me, it feels like PWTC is losing steam and PV is not really a full fledged club yet. What's the story here?
Hey Frugal Guy-
Thanks for mentioning us, we try to keep things very simple at Portland Velo, all about the ride. That's it. In terms of comparing us with other clubs, think of it as like people's favorite watering holes, there are some where you are more comfortable than others.
PWTC does a great job for their members as do we.
And for the record, we are a full fledged club being named CitySport Northwest (now known as Competitor) Magazine's Bicycle Club of the Year for 2006 (yes we're proud of that) and also having a couple of our rides named in Bicycling Magazine. And our growth has been because of the environment we develop. If you want a nail-biting pace, you got it. You want to cruise at 14-15 MPH, you got it.
Best of luck shedding the lbs off, been there, done that. And if you want to come to one of our Saturday Rides, we'd love to have you.
Again, thanks for mentioning us here. ;)
John
John Ohnstad
john@portlandvelo.net
frugal_guy
08-01-07, 06:19 PM
First, please understand that I don't have a hidden agenda here. I'm not a troll and I'm not a member of either of these clubs. I was just curious why someone would go to the trouble of starting a new bike club when PWTC seemed to be OK from my limited experience. I suspected that there was a group of riders who were dissatisfied with PWTC for some reason and I was curious what that might have been. If that was the case, it doesn't appear anyone wants to discuss it here.
My current impression is that PV differs from PWTC in a couple of ways. The "Saturday Signature" rides (maybe all rides?) are "group" rides with people aggregated by preferred speed. PWTC has some "group" rides, but most that I've been on were non-group rides where folks start out pretty much together, spread out over the route based on their personal pace, and the leaders might occasionally wait for folks to catch up. I can see how some people might prefer the social aspects of the PV formula.
On the other hand, though PV has some rides in other areas of Portland, its focus seems to be on Hillsboro and western Washington County. Also, PV is still young enough to appear to not have the infrastructure for major event rides. Their group century was only open to members and from their web page, it appears that they had to close registrations early even then. I suspect that with time this will change.
PWTC still has their usual major event rides like the Pioneer Century and finish line responsibility for STP. Unfortunately their weekly schedule, though much bigger than PV's seems to be smaller than I remember it from a few years ago.
PV clearly has some energy behind it at this point and PWTC seems to me to have lost some. I just wondered why an area the size of Portland would need two competing cycling clubs.
Do Seattle and similar cities have multiple overlapping clubs?
velocity
08-02-07, 11:19 AM
Personally I don't see them as competing. I see them as giving a direction and a movement that would benefit all different types of riders. Since Portland has a very large sub culture to cycling we can even be privy to what is going on in the Vancouver club that has been left out of this discussion since many feel that Vancouver is an extension of our population just across the river. There is enough room for all and the support for each club is not one of "see that guy we are better than them" I don't hear that at all in my rides with either club. If it is happening it would be petty in my eyes and not worth validating with a continued conversation. I am sure the heads of both clubs feel that they can strengthen their clubs by having the other as a datum point.
V
pdxclydesdale
08-02-07, 04:49 PM
Thanks as always Mr Frugal...Replies are in BOLD
First, please understand that I don't have a hidden agenda here. I'm not a troll and I'm not a member of either of these clubs. I was just curious why someone would go to the trouble of starting a new bike club when PWTC seemed to be OK from my limited experience. I suspected that there was a group of riders who were dissatisfied with PWTC for some reason and I was curious what that might have been. If that was the case, it doesn't appear anyone wants to discuss it here.
I joined shortly after PV was formed. There was some frustration by the folks who started PV but the energies were put to creating what they wanted to see in club. No hard feelings, just differing viewpoints.
My current impression is that PV differs from PWTC in a couple of ways. The "Saturday Signature" rides (maybe all rides?) are "group" rides with people aggregated by preferred speed. PWTC has some "group" rides, but most that I've been on were non-group rides where folks start out pretty much together, spread out over the route based on their personal pace, and the leaders might occasionally wait for folks to catch up. I can see how some people might prefer the social aspects of the PV formula.
I can speak for the PV side on this. We accommodate riders speeds between 15 MPH to a hammering pace. The 15-17-19 MPH Rides Regroup. If s rider is not feeling strong on their pace, they can sit up and let the next fastest pace pick them up. Are we social, YOU BET!:D
On the other hand, though PV has some rides in other areas of Portland, its focus seems to be on Hillsboro and western Washington County.
TRUE TRUE, we do have most of our rides in Western Washington County. We have brought rides out to the Tualatin Area. We also have a ride departing New Seasons on NE 33rd that goes up into Clark County (Sunday Rewind). The signature rides are getting busy...we have had 70-110 riders show up for these.
Also, PV is still young enough to appear to not have the infrastructure for major event rides. Their group century was only open to members and from their web page, it appears that they had to close registrations early even then. I suspect that with time this will change.
By design, our infrastructure is to support the club in a transparent manner, behind the scenes if you will.
We are looking into supporting event rides. We will be providing Riding Course Marshall Support and Sponsoring a Rest Stop for the LIVESTRONG Challenge in September.
PWTC still has their usual major event rides like the Pioneer Century and finish line responsibility for STP. Unfortunately their weekly schedule, though much bigger than PV's seems to be smaller than I remember it from a few years ago.
The Pioneer (Formerly the Spring Century) is a wonderful ride. I missed it this year due to an injury, I love that ride! PWTC does a great job putting that on.
PV clearly has some energy behind it at this point and PWTC seems to me to have lost some. I just wondered why an area the size of Portland would need two competing cycling clubs.
Believe it or not, their are many cycling clubs in Portland. PWTC, PV, Slugvelo (see them if you want a pastry ride), Skyline Velo, and others. It's great seeing the diversity of groups here. And I don't see us competing with PWTC. We have members of PV that are in PWTC.
Do Seattle and similar cities have multiple overlapping clubs?
Don't know. CBC seems to dwarf all of us here in the Pac NW.
Hope to see you out on a Ride Frugal Guy. Thanks for your response. ;)