Moving from Seattle to Portland
 

Hello,

I have been in Seattle for 19 years and have decided to move to Portland. I lived there for a while about 20 years ago and the city has changed a lot (me to). I hear the Portland is very "bike friendly".

I am wondering if anyone from Portland can give me some good links for queue sheets etc ... Are there any scheduled group rides, clubs etc ...? I am still some what of a novice and only just completed a CTS century here in Seattle last week in the 14-16Mph group. I had a lot of fun.

I have a fear of hills which I have been working on here in Seattle. We have so many of different grades that you almost have to get over it. It has been a fun challenge. Are most of the hills in Portland the west hills (those seem daunting)? Are there some that are a little less daunting? I don't want to lose my work on hills.

Thanks

I am from the west side suburbs of the greater portland area (Beaverton, Hillsboro, etc.). There are basically two major bicycle clubs in the Portland area. For the east side (they meet in Portland proper) there is the Portland Wheelmen bicycling club. For the west side, there is the Portland Velo cycling club. Both of these groups meet every Saturday morning and several times during the week. You can also contact them for queue sheets for various rides.

About hills. We've got flat routes and we've got hills. I used to live in Seattle as a student at UW; Seattle has short steep hills. Portland has longer but not quite as steep hills. If you want a workout, you can climb Bald Peak hill (2 miles, 8% grade on one side, 3-4 miles, lesser grade on another, and a mile at 12% grade a third way) or Skyline blvd which is also long and steep. But there are also a lot of farm country routes (I don't know what is on the east side because I don't ride there much) which are flat to rolling hills.

My suggestion is to get with one of these clubs and go for a ride. Both are friendly and accept newcomers. Both have various levels of rides. The Portland Velo, which I belong to, has rides with a pace anywhere from 15mph average (the ride leaders control the pace) to >21mph (this group is aptly called the "Hammer and Nails" group, 'cause, sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes you are the nail :) ) if you can keep up with the racers.

Thanks Brian!

Favorite Portland Rides
 

My favorite Portland Rides:

Lolo Pass Ride to Top http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=262300 A great ride up MT. Hood. You might want to drive to Troutdale, park and ride from there. Take Buxton, becomes Troutdale Rd south, Becomes 282nd. Left on Bluff (better rd) to Hudson to Lusted (see Map) and join ride here.

Prune Hill Washougal River Hwy Ride http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=108035 Only to be done on Saturday or Sunday as there is no shoulder on Washougal River Rd. Not much climbing, but beautiful and shaded on a hot day.

Salmon Falls Rd. Mt Pleasant Ride http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=108052 If you add this as the return to the Washougal River ride you add climbing and an interesting non repeat route back.

North RAAC Route http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=206109 A great ride north of Portland about 1/2 hr non-rush hour. This follows the well known Ride Around Clark County Route doing the Northern Part. It takes away the part in the Vancouver area. You loose Lacamas Lake Lacamas Lake Ride http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=108016 , but gain a great road from Amboy to La Center. One advantage of this ride is that except for the ride east at the start to Hockinson, you can follow the Henry Markers on the road from The RAAC ride.

Crown Point Mltn falls Bull Run Ride http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1011423 This is the Classic, Grandaddy of all Portland rides. It is a combination of three classic rides. Most people either do the Multnomah Falls ride which is at mi 17 on the total ride. Or they go up Larch Mtn , which is 14mi of climbing. Or they do the Bull run ride going to Larch up only to Louden rd and then through Bull run. BTW, don't miss stopping at Crown Point 8.5 mi into the ride.
The 26.25 mi mark is the Start of the Larch Mtn ride. The Louden, Littlepage, Hulbert Gorden Creek Rd Part can be a bit tricky otherwise the entire ride is pretty easy to follow. There is no shoulder on most of this ride, so be careful and aware of cars. MP3 players are never a good idea, but can be fatal on this ride. As with all rides, best done on the weekend. Water at Multnomah falls and at Rosyln lake. There is a 7-11 at the turn to Hwy 26 in Sandy.

If you want to stay in Portland, but have a very challenging ride there is the Council crest X3 ride. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=574236
Add in Schools Zoo Skyline Montgomery Loop http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1118876 for a Great Beautiful Ride!

There is also the Vancouver Bicycle Club across the river in Washington that hosts a lot of Portland people. You have biker gangs from each club that meet with bike chains and pumps and pummel each other for street supremacy! just kiddin'
V