Northeast - Bike riding in Portland (ME, not PDX)

I want to move to Portland this spring. I'm working on finding an apartment and a mcjob to hold over until I can go to college after a year to avoid out of state fees.

How is cycling in Portland? The beaches look like they'd be great to ride a cruiser across and it's a lot flatter than what I'm used to (I notice some Mainers call out-of-staters flatlanders, but compared to northeast TN Portland is anything but mountainous). I am surprised by how much it snows there. :eek:

Portland's a cool town. Lots to do, good food, good culture, good cycling, especially just outside of town. Just be ready to freeze your ass off for a good part of the year.

Plenty of good biking in Portland, fairly bike friendly. Bike Coalition of Maine (http://www.bikemaine.org/) website, Portland Trails (http://www.trails.org/) web site, and the Eastern Trail (http://www.easterntrail.org/)web site can give you a little info on biking in Maine and in Portland.

Portland's a cool town. Lots to do, good food, good culture, good cycling, especially just outside of town. Just be ready to freeze your ass off for a good part of the year.

Yeah I am going to work on getting enough warm clothes. I want to try bike commuting at least a few times a week year-round. Do people actually go in the water on Portland beaches during the summertime?

Yeah I am going to work on getting enough warm clothes. I want to try bike commuting at least a few times a week year-round. Do people actually go in the water on Portland beaches during the summertime?

yep, very nice beaches in the area, too. the water's not too bad once you get in. ;)

Howdy Ralph, Check out Route 77 through South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. Fairly flat, bike friendly and very scenic. Access to beaches, parks and other interesting landmarks.

Howdy Ralph, Check out Route 77 through South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. Fairly flat, bike friendly and very scenic. Access to beaches, parks and other interesting landmarks.

Sounds awesome! Thanks.

You can also check out the Portland, ME bike commuter group:

http://bike.meetup.com/132/

i live about 15 minutes outside of portland and another 15 minutes away from me is the Bradbury Mt. State park. They have some great trails over there that you should check out. And also if you're looking for a great bike shop, Cyclemania is the place to go! 59 Federal Street (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=59+Federal+Street,+Portland,+ME&om=1&ll=43.661942,-70.251346&spn=0.015368,0.033989)

Well, I went to Portland on Xmas eve. It is awesome. Much better than the town I live in now and a lot more fun. I saw more than one bike shop in the area and SMCC has this great little beach right behind campus with wildlife. I saw a lot of cyclists even though it was wintertime.

Portland's a cool town. Lots to do, good food, good culture, good cycling, especially just outside of town. Just be ready to freeze your ass off for a good part of the year.

I will be going to Portland in February and don't think I will have any issue with staying warm.

Staying dry might be an issue.

I will be going to Portland in February and don't think I will have any issue with staying warm.

Staying dry might be an issue.

Reminds me of a saying I heard: "Maine is cold, but it's damp" :p

It was not very hard to stay warm in December. It wasn't really cold at all, and a lot of people were in windbreakers or light jackets. By February though, I'm sure that will be another story. I would be sure to take enough clothes to keep you both warm and dry.

road rides

hook up with cyclemania. cat 1,2,3 level road rides

http://www.cyclemania1.com/

and back bay bike, cat any

http://www.backbaybicycle.com/
http://www.bikecccp.org/


or portland velo

http://www.portlandvelo.com/


and Allspeed bike for MTB rides

http://www.allspeed.com

Excellent. :D

Excellent. :D

Plus, there are some hills around Portland,
but this is the nearest biggest one.

a lot of rides work their
way out to this hill and back. it's fun to hammer 30 miles here, then hammer
up it, and then try not to die 20 miles back. it is only 10 miles away, but fun to
ride up the coast via Yarmouth and Cumberland to get there

Dutton HI, Gray Maine


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Dutton+Hl,+Gray,+Cumberland,+Maine+04039,+United+States&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.688845,82.265625&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,43.843240,-70.337150&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1

Plus, there are some hills around Portland,
but this is the nearest biggest one.

a lot of rides work their
way out to this hill and back. it's fun to hammer 30 miles here, then hammer
up it, and then try not to die 20 miles back. it is only 10 miles away, but fun to
ride up the coast via Yarmouth and Cumberland to get there

Dutton HI, Gray Maine


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Dutton+Hl,+Gray,+Cumberland,+Maine+04039,+United+States&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.688845,82.265625&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,43.843240,-70.337150&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1

Thanks for the info. I did see that the Portland area had some hills, but fortunately it was still a lot flatter than where I live now (more winter cyclists too from what I saw, so maybe a few less people will think I'm crazy for riding in a little snow). I'm not much into hills, although that may change if I get fitter or get a lighter bike (my current ride is easily over 40 pounds). On the way, I saw some MAJOR hills in NY and CT, that are as big (and a few bigger) than where I live. Coincidentally, my town is also called Gray, in Tennessee.

O/T But the beaches of Maine really were beautiful, if a little more rugged than most of the ones I've seen. I hope they stay as beautiful and clean in the summertime as they were in December.

I live in portland and it is awesome like everyone says. Yeah it's hilly but hills are good for you. Rent is fairly cheap (depending on what end of town and how many folks you're shacking up with). If you got any questions man please feel free to PM me. I got to School at USM too if you got any questions.

Hi,
get this..
http://www.amazon.com/25-Bicycle-Tours-Maine-Coastal/dp/0881501700/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205690778&sr=8-1

There are a number of group rides and such. I have come up with some rides of my own, depends on what you want.

Home to Rte88 to Tuttle Rd to Blackstrap Rd to home is nice.

To answer your question, it's pretty good. Portland was Bicycling Magazine's first BikeTown. That helped. When you get here look for winter duds in the various LL Bean outlets.

i also live in portland on the east end, right up from the prom. great location with a great view to wake up to. anyway, i just wanted to throw some support out there (and i am not knocking any other bike shop in town, they all have their own charm) for back bay cycles, on forest ave. as a new cyclist and someone who asks too many questions, they were quite patient.