rickbiker

I am a new resident of Portland, had moved here with my wife and two kids from Los Angeles, C.A. 2 months ago. Just learn that Portland is a great bike-commuting city.

We love it here more than LA, I should move up here long time ago. I heard on news that around 25% of the people in Southern. Californian will move out of state. It is sad to hear that. It is mainly due to the real estate are over price and poor living quality.

I feel that my move up to Portland had made a right decision. It is safer to raise my kids in Oregon than in LA. There are less gangs or violence here in OR.

It is not easy to pack up and go, especially when I have a family and a job to worry about. Once I had made the move, I would be glad that I did! Lifestyle over here is just slower and it is good for our health. I like the rainy and cold weather and the air quality in Portland is worth all the effort!

I love cycling in Portland and would say Portland is the best cycling city in US. I would like to join some local cycling club. Any input would be great.

BTW, where can I find some mountain bike trail near Portland?
Thanks!
Rick

Shifty

Welcome Richbiker, I'm sure you'll enjoy Oregon! Take your kids to the Zoo and to OMSI, and there is a great children's museum in the park near the zoo. Go to the bike gallery for info on local rides, many books and maps to invest in.

ollo_ollo

Welcome to Ecotopia in the NW. If you are willing to drive to Olympia, WA with your bike, there is a large (thousands of acres) wooded area SouthWest of Town called Capitol Forest which the local Mountain Bikers frequent. There are lots of other places in Oregon & Washington.

iamlucky13

Yeah, the weather here is normally pretty good, although it's a little hot at the moment, we should get a break from that before summer hits.

First. If you haven't already, drive west out Highway 30, and head up Germantown road (about a 1/4 mile past the St. John's Bridge). There's plenty of trailheads up there. Unfortunately, most of the singletrack is labeled hikers only, although I have occassionally "missed seeing" the signs. The doubletrack is scenic and a good workout.

There's a little bit of more technical stuff at Powell Butte to the Southeast, and I'm told there's some pretty good riding up around Mt. Hood, which hopefully I will have a chance to check out this summer.

Jakey

Forest Park in NW portland is decent for Mt Biking... If you take NW Thurman west, it dead ends at the entrance. Fat Tire Farm which is on thurman at about 30th is a GREAT shop...check 'em out.

steveknight

here you go https://www.pwtc.com/

rickbiker

Thanks for all your info. Portland has such a great bike path system, and excellent bike lanes along many of the major trafic st. I've been wanting to get out and try the bike path next to I205 starting from Sunnyside Rd (my neighborhood) and go North to Vancouver Washington. I was wondering if anyone had try to across the Columbia river into Washington?

My bike is Trek 7200 FX size 20, I use the bike pretty much general purpose for fitness/ commute / recreation … (expect mountain off road)

Looking forward to do alot more riding this season.

PS . For the MTB, at the moment I use cheap dept store bike and soon will need to get a new one.

steveknight

most of the paths are too rough. Plus htey are lsow. that one runs right past my house but I hardly use it. but I don't want to ride on 82nd so I use it when I have to go towards sunnyside.

55/Rad

Crossing the 205 bridge into Vancouver isn't a big deal - there is a designated lane. It takes a little more focus to not get spooked by the height but as long as you look forward, you'll be okay.

Welcome to Portland.

55/Rad

chowderhead

Where are there mountain bike trails near Portland? They're so common it's almost impossible to even answer this question -- the answers rush out of one's mouth so fast and simultaneously they get stuck there in a blob.

To name just a few:

In town:
Forest Park, including miles of doubletrack and a fun tough ascent known as Holman.
Mt. Tabor Park
Powell Butte
In all those places, there are pedestrians (not sure, but Forest Park also might have equestrians), so pay attention to trail use conventions. There is plenty that is legit for bikes.

Out of town:
great singletrack in the Tillamook State Forest
in glorious old growth forest along the Clackamas River,
surreal plains of abraham on Mt. St. Helens (lots of climbing - not for the out of shape)
and elsewhere

Powell's Books (among other places) sells a book-length guide to mountain biking in the region.

Good luck!

rickbiker

Hi all

Thanks for all your info. Look like Powell Butte is the closer one for me. I will go check it out soon.

PdxMark

You ought to get the Metro Bike Map, which is available from any bike shop. The map grades roads throughout the region according to bike friendliness. It lets you know where bike paths are (as opposes to mtn biking areas) and which routes are best for getting all over the area. Welcome to Portland.

timmhaan

portland is sweet. i used to live there. my only regret is that i was consumed with work and i wasn't really into cycling at the time, so i wasted a lot of my time there. I'd love to go back there again.

Feldman

There's a good bicycling map published for the Portland metro area. River City Bicycles, City Bikes, and most other bike shops usually sell it. Also, Powell's Books in downtown PDX has the best cycling book selection you'll EVER see!

SpokesInMyPoop

Welcome to Portland! I take the I205 path mon-fri from division to sunnyside. I've never tried biking up to the 'couve, but I'm thinking about biking up to north portland from home next weekend... maybe even make it up to columbia and pedal around there. Either way, that bikepath is great, just gotta watch for kids/runners/dwellers/etc, and watch out for bugs! I swallowed 2 of 'em on my way home friday. At least they were tasteless. And quite nutritious, if I may add.

SpokesInMyPoop

not to mention, you could also check out the springwater corridor as long as you're in the neighborhood. I've heard that there are lil trails here and there off the path. Either way, good luck finding more info and welcome again!

SanDiegoSteve

Enjoy the dry(er) weather. Rained again in San Diego today.

Bikesalot

rickbiker-

You can ride bike paths all the way from sunnyside to powell butte if you like. Take the I-205 path north to the springwater corridor which is just north of Johnson Creek Blvd. If you hit Division, you've gone too far. Turn right on springwater and Powell butte is down the path maybe a mile or two. The springwater trail isn't ideal if you want to get out and hammer, but it was my favorite ride for the first summer I had a bike in Portland. You can take it all the way out to Boring and Damascus if you've got a hankering to travel.

Like others have done, I highly recommend the Metro bike map. There are so many great routes around town you'd never know about otherwise. There is no finer weather for riding than what we're having right now, so get out there!