jyl

I'm sorry I disappointed some of you by cancelling the C&V ride I'd planned to lead last weekend during Pedalpalooza. Life got crazy hectic, I ended up exhausted and sick on the day of, and it was pouring rain anyway.

Let's try again. I would like to invite all C&V'ers in the Portland OR area, and those who would like to visit our fair city, to a C&V meet, ogle, ride, and drink (MORD) in July.

My calendar has just two weekends open in July - the 5th/6th, and the 26th/27th. I am thinking that the first weekend is kind of short notice so folks would prefer the second weekend i.e. July 26th/27th?- but you tell me.

As for Saturday vs Sunday? I care not - what is the will of the interested?

Naturally I would like to start and end at Velocult, 1969 NE 42nd St. Sky has a ton of ogle-able C&V bikes hanging in his shop, offers excellent coffee and beer, and we can bring all our bikes into the shop. My offer of free beer, as stated in the original ride advert, proudly stands.

What sort of route would we prefer? I had originally planned a lazy ride over quieter city streets for about 2 miles to Mt Tabor, then a couple of laps up Mt Tabor just to prove that we are Real Men with Light Bikes, followed by a triumphant cruise back to Velocult for restorative beverages. This would be a loop of roughly 10 miles and about 650 ft vertical, assuming just one Mt Tabor lap. Too short? We could head east from Mt Tabor to pick up the 205 MUP for a mile or two, to accomodate those of you who want to show off your 55T chain rings and C&V funny bikes. That would make it, let's say, about a 15 mile loop. What is the collective wish?

Just to set the mood, here was the original Pedalpalooza ride invite . . . but if your C&V bike is "in restoration" you are still welcome on your non-C&V ride, as long as you say the appropriate things, such as "I know this here recumbent should have downtube shifters".

We will meet at Velocult with our classic & vintage road bikes, to celebrate lugs, downtube shifters, sew-ups, high-flange hubs, drillium, Nuovo Record, corncobs, Bennoto tape, and the era of Merckx, Hinault, and the Other Greats. After suitable ogling (of bikes!), we will take a socially paced and shortish ride, which might include an epic ascent of Mt Tabor sans compact chainset, and return to Velocult where it might just be time for beer. I will buy a pint for the first to present with a Huret Jubilee or Campagnolo Porta Catena. Two pints for a Suicide Shifter.

Hope we have a good turnout of C&V bikes and their riders! I know we have a few Portland folks on the forum - anyone want to get a free pint off me, you know what you have to do.

jyl

Here is a possible 10 mile loop.

But I can make the ride longer, follow more squiggly lines, take us out to the MUP, whatever.

If there is a collective desire [edit: let's make that "unanimous" because I'd like our ride to be inclusive - including folks with corncobs] for more self-harm, I can plot an alternative appx 25 mile loop over slightly larger city streets out to the West Hills where we can find some longer climbs, a few 10% grades, and cross back over the scenic St Johns bridge. For locals, I'm thinking something like Broadway -> Broadway Bridge -> Lovejoy -> up Cornell -> up Skyline -> down Germantown -> up and down Old Germantown -> St John's Bridge -> Willamette -> Rosa Parks -> Russell -> Brazee.

Drillium Dude

I'm in - and I vote for Saturday. Any route/distance sounds good to me. I'll come down Friday night and crash at a friend's place before the ride.

Looking forward to visiting PDX again; it's been way too long

DD

Velocivixen

We're likely to have sun later in July plus avoid the holiday. I prefer Saturdays myself. Honestly I'm not such a strong rider. I've done 30+ miles only once or twice (Banks to Vernonia), however I don't want to hold anyone back. So if it were to be a longer, faster ride maybe the first part of the ride could be "softer & gentler" with a natural breaking off point for those who don't want to go far & hard. Still meet back at Velo Cult, etc. Personally I find the I 205 MUP & it's environs quite ugly and noisy, but that's me.

Thanks for for organizing this!

jyl

Thanks, VV - I'll make sure the route/ride accomodates those considerations.

I forgot to ask: are we morning people or afternoon people?

If morning: VeloCult doesn't open until 10 am, but the Saturday farmers market is just three blocks away, it would be a good place to meet up, grab coffee and a snack while waiting, then we can ride and end up at VeloCult.

If afternoon: we can meet at and return to VeloCult where it will be beer o'clock. Stage 20 of the Tour may be on the screen, the penultimate stage which is a long, 53 km time trial. This may be a critical stage. If the GC race is close coming out of the Alps, it will be decided in the TT. At the Dauphine TT of 10 km, Froome took 8 sec from Contador and 13 sec from Nibali, and the Stage 20 TT is 5X as long - so if Froome is behind exiting Stage 19, he could still win the Tour on Stage 20.

Velocivixen

Well, I've got more juice in the morning, but I'm driving from way the heck on the west side. Yes....driving. I guess it depends what time is "morning". Maybe meet at Velo Cult at 9ish walk to farmer's market as a group,then head out. Meeting at farmers market would also be fine - we'd likely recognize each other by the fact we all have vintage/classic bikes with us!

cycle_maven

Darn, I envy you guys. Since leaving PDX for Austin as an economic refugee in 2008, I really miss our summertime rides. My wife and I would ride from West Linn, thru the graveyard, down to the Broadway Bridge, back along the Springwater trail, out to Gresham, have coffee then ride back.

What about the Springwater?

jyl

The Springwater is a bit farther from VeloCult (in Hollywood).

PDX job market is pretty good now . . .

jyl

Okay, we're set - Saturday July 26th 10 am at VeloCult, and I'll map out a friendly, not-too-long route and bring maps. I'll bump this thread a couple times before then as a reminder. Tell your C&V friends! Polish your Portacatenas and win a free beer!

jyl

Bump for reminder.

By the way, here is our route!

'portland BF CV ride July 2014' bike map |

or if you prefer

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=https:...09613&t=h&z=14

12 miles, pretty flat (just 700 feet climbing), and we go through a golf course and two parks. We'll be on greenways, side streets, low traffic roads, or good bike lanes almost all the way; the only major exception is a downhill run on Belmont which is very bike-friendly, I ride it often. At Mt Tabor, we have the choice of skirting around the southern edge (as shown) or riding to the top; we will regroup at the west exit from the park. I rode the route today and it should be suitable for every rider and practically any gearing (21T cog today).

Velocivixen

@jyl - I hope to be there! Now I just have to figure out what bike to ride. Choices, choices. I'll invite some people who will likely attend. Thanks!

Jeff Wills

I'm in. I may not be vintage if my LeTour single-speed sells by then.

thinktubes 

Looks like a cool route! I live in Chicago, but My sister lives on NE 41st ave. I've always wanted to ride up Mt. Tabor.

jyl

We didn't specify it was the bike that had to be classic & vintage . . . Hope to see you, Le Tour or no.

VeloCult has the TdF recording in the downstairs theatre. So, even though they are normally showing the day's stage at 5 pm, we could possibly talk them into showing it earlier in the theatre. Should there be interest in viewing the ITT, which could be decisive this year.

I learned about some new roads as I rode around to try out this route. The road through the golf course is pretty, I had no idea there was a golf course there. There are some quiet roads and pretty neighborhoods east of Tabor. And the southeast entrance to Tabor (Lincoln) is steeper than the others.

poprad

Hey guys, I am in Oregon on vacation and may be able to make it to this...you say riding a non-vintage is OK? All my bikes are in transit from Europe so my only ride is my Surly cross check.

Sounds like a fun ride...

jyl

Look forward to seeing you, Surly and all.

Fahrenheit531 

Well boo. We're moving back to southern AZ on the 22nd. Would've liked to have met up with some fellow BFers.

Drillium Dude

That simply sux - talk about crap timing

On the plus side: hope to meet up for a ride the next time I visit my family in AZ

DD

Fahrenheit531 

If you find yourself anywhere near Tucson, yes!, do that. My wife and I have decided we're gonna ride in the El Tour de Tucson this November. Not the full tour; we're not ready for that yet. But we're thinking the 40+ mile version will be pretty cool.

coolkat

I'm going to be in Portland that weekend, bringing the Univega. I can definitely make it to this ride.

jyl

I'm sorry we 'll miss you. I would have liked to thank you in person for the tip about how to use CL's grid view!

jyl

Cool. I like Univegas. Some friends have a pair, that I've maintained and fixed for them, and I enjoy it - quality bikes.

The Thin Man 

Well, since you've planned a route 3 blocks from my house (at one point), it can't possibly get any more convenient... unless you want to run the route down 81st Ave?

Hope to see you all there.

gaucho777 

How may laps? Sorry. Couldn't resist. I do realize the point is more socializing than hammering. Hope you all have a great ride! Wish I could join you.

Btw, I'll be up in Portland visiting family the week of Aug. 17-23. I'm planning to bring my Look if anyone is up for a ride or has suggestions for good routes in the area.

jyl

This is a social ride! For anyone seeking a more challenging ride, on July 27 (the following day) Maria from Western Bike Works (NW 17th at Lovejoy) is leading one of her monthly shop rides. It will be 30 miles and 3K feet in the West Hills. Meet 10 am at the shop. I will probably be going on that ride.

Bring your Look and I'll try to take a ride w/ you when you are in Portland.

As for suggested routes, here are three:
- Flat 40-50 miler: "Forty Mile Loop". See here 40-Mile Portland Loop - Ride Oregon Ride It can be 50 miles if you count getting to/from the loop and extend the west end of the loop to the end of Marine Drive by Kelley Point Park. There is a farmers market in St John's on Saturday, a nice place to stop for a bite. About 70% of this is on MUPs and another 15% on roads that are wide and usually pretty deserted on weekends.
- Hilly 20 miler: West Hills. go west on NW Lovejoy, continue westbound on NW Cornell, turn right/north on NW Skyline, turn left /west on NW Germantown Rd, turn hard left/east on NW Old Germantown Rd, continue through NW Skyline intersection and go eastbound on Germantown Rd, at the end of the descent, turn around and climb westbound back up NW Germantown Rd. At NW Skyline intersection, either turn left/south on NW Skyline and go back the way you came, or turn right/north on NW Skyline and keep exploring the hills, or go back down/east on NW Germantown Rd again, cross the St John's bridge and pick up the route of the Forty Mile Loop, above. The grades of these climbs are similar to riding the Arlington from Marin circle to Richmond. NW Cornell doesn't have much of a shoulder so avoid riding this during rush hour - drivers are pretty considerate but it is still a bit nervy.
- Flat and very scenic extension to the hilly 20 miler: Sauve Island. after continuing north on NW Skyline, turn right/east on NW Newbury, turn left/west on Hwy 30, turn right/north on the bridge to Sauvie Island, turn left/west on NW Sauvie Island road and explore the island, you can get 10-15 miles done there easy. Come back on Hwy 30 then turn off at NW St Helens Road to get back into the city.