The bottom bracket of my brother's bike has a big, nasty crack in it. Since he now has a fiancee, I had help in convincing him to get a new bike. (Yay- an ally at last!) He ordered a new frame and fork with plans to transfer as many components over as possible. Of course to save money, he orders it from one LBS and makes arrangements for yet another to build the bike. Of course, my brother & his fiancee don't own cars, and neither do I. Of course, B is banned from pulling the trailer until he has a bike without freakin' cracks in the frame. (I'm really loving this sister-in-law thing...) All of this amounts to his sis hitching up the trailer and making the transfer. Fortunately for B, his sis thinks stuff like this is fun. :D Fortunately for me, B remembered to call both bike shops to tell them what we're up to. Of course, he can't remember what kind of frame he bought. ("You know I don't pay attention to stuff like that, Donna. It's black, I think.") That's my bro... :rolleyes:

Here's my bike and trailer, ready to go.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/biketrailer082407.jpg

After a lot of confusion at LBS #1 because I couldn't tell them what kind of frame I was picking up. I finally get it.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike1.jpg

All set.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike2.jpg

Merrily we roll along...
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike3.jpg

Since I had the camera out, I thought I'd share some images of Portland traffic calming devices. Here's a traffic island in the middle of an intersection. Many motorists call them "traffic irritants". :D
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike4.jpg

You can see how they slow motor vehicles down. We like them to go 25 MPH when that's the speed limit and there are a lot of bikes around.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike5.jpg

Saw a cool, old car while I was there.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike6.jpg

I love this sign. It's so odd.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike7.jpg

More Portland signage. It's really hard to get lost on a bike around here.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike8.jpg

Here we are. These are the people who will build up B's bike.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike9.jpg

I didn't want to unwrap the frame out in the street, but I did take a peek, since I had no idea what he bought.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike11.jpg

I think this will be a good bike for B.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike10.jpg

Just goofing off on the way home.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike13.jpg

It's a warm, sunny day, and there was a pretty sucky hill on the way to the LBS. Why not stop for some delicious, iced ginger tea?
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike14.jpg

As I was enjoying my tea, I saw this guy go by. I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike15.jpg

Since I already had the trailer hooked up and was out and about, might as well pick up a load of really heavy groceries for the ride home...
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/biketrailer2082407.jpg

That's all, folks. :)

Donna, you are cool! :)

Donna, you are cool! :)

+1000

I don't know if I'd rather have you as a Sister or GF. :)

"You know I don't pay attention to stuff like that, Donna. It's black, I think."

Yeah, right, and he ends up with a Soma Double Cross? You are gonna posts pics of the finished bike yes?

Of course I'll post pics. If you knew my brother, the fact that he had no idea what he was buying would come as no great surprise.

Wow.....that was fabulous !!!
Thanks for putting that up, Donna !
:)

I like your world Donna, it's pretty, friendly, and there are flowers on the handlebars.

As I was enjoying my tea, I saw this guy go by. I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/billsbike15.jpg


Depends on wether or not he made it past that pole in one piece, I would guess.

Book zombies *snort*, damned literate hippies.

I like your world Donna, it's pretty, friendly, and there are flowers on the handlebars.
Thanks, Allen. Now you know why I'm always saying that Portland is a great place for a bike-related urban vacation. :)

1.) A Soma frame? Bro DOES pay attention to those kinds of things, trust me!

2.) You guys are LIVING, and I'm falling in love with Portland ...

3.) That house you're parked in front of, with the "FOR SALE" sign ... I want it ... :D

1.) A Soma frame? Bro DOES pay attention to those kinds of things, trust me!

2.) You guys are LIVING, and I'm falling in love with Portland ...

3.) That house you're parked in front of, with the "FOR SALE" sign ... I want it ... :D
1.) No, he really doesn't pay attention. He just got it from a Soma dealer bike shop whose owner listened to what he said he wanted and ordered a frame accordingly. He never asked what it was. When I told him what kind it was, he asked me, "Is that a good bike?" Never, ever underestimate the obliviousness of my brother. He's been like that since the day he came home from the hospital. Honestly.

2.) Take a vacation. (http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/23/portland-hotel-offers-carless-vacation-package/) :)

3.) As for that house... I've lived in this apartment for 4 years and this is the 4th time it's been up for sale. We can only wonder what's wrong with it, because it's exactly the sort of house that people engage in bidding wars over around here. My housemates and I have this theory that it's haunted. :eek:

Thanks, Allen. Now you know why I'm always saying that Portland is a great place for a bike-related urban vacation. :)

Sigh, If I dared to cross the border Portland would probably be first on the list.

Now I think about it, I have been there! About 15 years ago I went down to spend a couple of days with a friend who was on a teacher swap thing from England, had a very pleasant evening downtown having sushi and met several friendly strangers. (who we ended up having drinks with)

Depends on wether or not he made it past that pole in one piece, I would guess.



That's why God invented audio books, Walkmans, Discmans, and mp3 players

I know a lot of people hate them, but I'm still enough of a kid to think that round-a-bouts are fun :)
Also, as much as I love my xtracycle and all the new found freedom I have on my bike, I still find myself envious of flatbed trailers. I wish I had a reason to haul enough to justify both :D

That's why God invented audio books, Walkmans, Discmans, and mp3 players

I was just thinking the same....

...and thak you Donna for sharing, I love these sorts of posts, I lose myself in them and it's kinda like being there :D You'd make one cool sister :o

I guess I'll have to do more of these now that I own a camera. :) I like 'em, too, BTW.

That's a cool old Chevy C-10 truck you saw too. I learned to drive on one just like that, with a manual three on the tree.

I sure do admire your trailer! :) Your Bro sounds alot like my BIL, always good for a smile! Thanks for the pics, looks like a nice place to live!

Excellent photos Donna :D I always enjoy seeing how folk make use of trailers & etc to make best use of their bicycles. Nice too to see some photos of Portland which looks like it's a really lovely town.
Where I was living before in a city suburb (Papatoetoe in Manukau City) the council had placed quite a few anti fast traffic devices in the side streets which was a really good thing for cyclists (as well as children, the elderly & etc). The problem which remained of course was that the traffic on the main roads was still diabolical and the roads weren't really up to traffic flows which they'd never been planned for.
I had to smile over your brother's frame purchase and lack of knowledge about what he'd spent money on. Aren't families wonderful :)
Oh and that photo of the chap reading a book while cycling is an absolute classic and really made me laugh. :roflmao:

Donna: I noticed that you took a pic of your trailer behind you as you were riding. How did you manage that without tumbling?

(And, for God's sake, next time you take pictures of this neck of the woods, make sure it's raining or something.)

We went to Portland for our honeymoon. Didn't bike, but we did use the bus, light rail, and Amtrak. Also did rent a car for two days - went to Astoria one day, and points south the other.

Really enjoyed the town and the area, so +1 for a vacation in Portland!