PDX cycling
#1
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PDX cycling
So, I'm thinking about moving up to Portland next month.
I know its very flat and cycle-friendly, but what's it like riding in harsh winter conditions?
I'd be selling my car, that's why I ask..
I know its very flat and cycle-friendly, but what's it like riding in harsh winter conditions?
I'd be selling my car, that's why I ask..
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#4
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I've visited Portland with the Boy, not ridden there. I WANTED to, but it was so damn rainy Keep in mind though, even though it's so rainy/overcast all the time, you still see a LOT of cyclists on the street. I'm assuming it takes some getting used to.
I hear summers are usually perfect weather, so maybe that could help ease you into the fall/winter, etc.
I hear summers are usually perfect weather, so maybe that could help ease you into the fall/winter, etc.
Last edited by jeanHTX; 05-24-09 at 09:02 AM.
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Flat? Are you serious?
Portland may not be as hilly as, say, San Fran, but it has a fair amount of hills. I would not classify it as a "flat city" by any stretch of the imagination. It is definitely cold as hell in the winter and rainy. So that sucks. Other than that it's a great cycling city Lots of b ike leanes, etc.
Portland may not be as hilly as, say, San Fran, but it has a fair amount of hills. I would not classify it as a "flat city" by any stretch of the imagination. It is definitely cold as hell in the winter and rainy. So that sucks. Other than that it's a great cycling city Lots of b ike leanes, etc.
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I will also mention that Portland is VERY bike friendly. Even more so than Austin (which is where I live) and I only mention this because they are "sister cities." If Portland had Austin weather (minus the 100+ in the summers), I would move there in a heartbeat.
But srsly, every cyclist I ever saw had a plastic bag over their seat, fenders and lots of water resistant clothing. Like I said, the weather doesn't seem to affect them. also, I don't think Portland is as a flat city... but Pedalling took care of that
But srsly, every cyclist I ever saw had a plastic bag over their seat, fenders and lots of water resistant clothing. Like I said, the weather doesn't seem to affect them. also, I don't think Portland is as a flat city... but Pedalling took care of that
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Also, don't move there if you want one of those "job" thingies. They're hard to come by in all of Oregon and even more-so in Portland now that people from all over are migrating there...that said, if I can transfer at my work, I might move there in a few months.
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huh? there are jobs up there, people just have lower their high standards (not every 'artist' can get a design job). fast food, janitorial, landscape, call center, warehouses.....all real jobs that will pay you real money even if you don't have any other skills than talking on a phone. you can get a job, you just have to look. i feel like it is a lot (not everyone) of the hip young 20 somethings that say that they can't find a job need to look harder then just on hawthorne and both buffalo exchange's and stumptown. these were the same people that were "looking" a year ago.....now they just have a somewhat better excuse to be jobless.
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huh? there are jobs up there, people just have lower their high standards (not every 'artist' can get a design job). fast food, janitorial, landscape, call center, warehouses.....all real jobs that will pay you real money even if you don't have any other skills than talking on a phone. you can get a job, you just have to look. i feel like it is a lot (not everyone) of the hip young 20 somethings that say that they can't find a job need to look harder then just on hawthorne and both buffalo exchange's and stumptown. these were the same people that were "looking" a year ago.....now they just have a somewhat better excuse to be jobless.
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#12
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that is a little tooo real unless they are doing it for irony
#14
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Soaked? Definitely. Fun? Hell yeah!
Portland is fun.
We have rides with hills:
https://www.erikv.com/blog/index.cfm/...25/De-Ronde-09
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbvQqssD_jI
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Pfft, it was pouring the other week, and I was riding around sans fenders and plastic bag. My jacket and backpack are waterproof, but that was it, and it was all so I could ride out to SE to pick up a stem. Then, I rode all the way to NE from SE taking 20th to go to my friend's.
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I was also wearing shorts on that trip, haha. I rode way more that day than I intended to, since I am a failure at directions and was lost quite a bit. I left my house at 15.00, did not reach the guy's house until almost 17.30.
EDIT: I usually do not ride when it is pouring like it was that day, but I really just wanted to ride my bike for some reason. It felt good, though.
#17
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Jeanatx-Im pretty anxious riding in the rain too, take if from another pacific northwest resident.
I've heard getting a job in pdx is super hard, but if you can do it, people seem to like living there. I personally like Seattle more, but..thats why I live here. It's gonna be a hard switch to Philly...
I've heard getting a job in pdx is super hard, but if you can do it, people seem to like living there. I personally like Seattle more, but..thats why I live here. It's gonna be a hard switch to Philly...
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Jeanatx-Im pretty anxious riding in the rain too, take if from another pacific northwest resident.
I've heard getting a job in pdx is super hard, but if you can do it, people seem to like living there. I personally like Seattle more, but..thats why I live here. It's gonna be a hard switch to Philly...
I've heard getting a job in pdx is super hard, but if you can do it, people seem to like living there. I personally like Seattle more, but..thats why I live here. It's gonna be a hard switch to Philly...
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#20
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#21
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oh yeah. I remember when I went there last summer around July...Seattle was just starting to get in the 70's and when I hit Philly it was insanely hot. It's ok, my skin has been lacking vitamin D for three years.
#22
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frame-save? what do you mean exactly?
when i call it a flat city, im comparing it to san diego.
and as for working a crappy job in a warehouse, as a janitor, etc..
that's about all that is available here.. so i might as well do it somewhere cheaper and more fun.
over-qualified for all those positions but then again, i guess that's where a college degree comes in handy.
when i call it a flat city, im comparing it to san diego.
and as for working a crappy job in a warehouse, as a janitor, etc..
that's about all that is available here.. so i might as well do it somewhere cheaper and more fun.
over-qualified for all those positions but then again, i guess that's where a college degree comes in handy.
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It's a spray that coats the inside of your steel frame to fight rust. It rains a lot in Portland...some say.
First chance you get you should sign up for the Portland Century. I did it 44Tx16t SS, good times.
First chance you get you should sign up for the Portland Century. I did it 44Tx16t SS, good times.