nuovorecord

Hi all. I'm a long time lurker, infrequent poster on Bike Forums. Thought I'd stick my head up and say hello.

I'm a Portland native, and a fair weather bike commuter, year-round rider otherwise. I have a couple of Eddy Merckx's; a MX Leader and a Corsa Extra.

East Hill

Have you shown us photos of the Merckxs in C & V?

How can you be a fair weather commuter in Portland ?

East Hill

nuovorecord

The day I bike commuted last year was PERFECT!!!

No, I haven't yet posted pic of my bikes. I'll work on that this weekend...when I'm not riding!

kw

Hi, I was born and raised here in the City of Roses and have been cycling for a couple of years now. I'm a pure roadie, not in equipment but in where and how I ride. I am fully convinced of the road bike's superiority for the type of riding I do. But I've only owned a 2002 Raleigh M20 mountain bike since I started cycling five or so years ago. It serves my needs well and I spend much of my cycling budget maintaining and upgrading it. But I want to ride faster. So I certainly want to get my first road bike as soon as I have the money. Yes, I've browsed craigslist and other sites, and you guys might be able to talk me into going used. However, for the moment I just want the reliability of new componentry and am willing to wait and save to get it.

I began club cycling three years ago and now want to start road racing, especially climbing in a group, as soon as I get my first "ramhorns". But my top interest in cycling is what got me started in the first place, and what I have the most time for: commuting. I want to accomplish the most efficient and meaningful transportation as safely, as often as I can.

I read most all the forums, but am most interested in:
A&S
Commuting
Road Cycling
Winter Cycling - I want to adapt my equipment and riding to more weather conditions.
Bicycle Mechanics
Long Distance Cycling
Training & Nutrition
and perhaps Utility Cycling

I'm here to learn and to help others.

Mark Turner

I'm a long-time cyclist who just stumbled upon the forums recently. I live in Bellingham, WA where I work from my home as a free-lance photographer specializing in gardens and native plants. If you're into wildflowers you may have seen (or own) my book, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. I didn't do any bicycling to photograph the plants in the book, but found a few while riding that I went back to shoot later.

When I had a day job I commuted by bike, both in Bellingham in previously in Lincoln, Nebraska. No commute now so I don't get out and ride every day.

I've done one tour down the coast as far as Bandon, Oregon. I'm thinking about riding the circumference of Washington, perhaps in 2009. It's about 1450 miles and I'd do it solo and camp or crash with people. Maybe a new touring bike is in order since I'm still riding my 1979 Windsor Super Carrera, only the second geared bike I've owned.

I've ridden sporadically in recent years, with a big push in 2005 to get in shape for hip resurfacing, no riding to speak of in 2006, and then 1000 miles from August to December 2007 when I decided I needed to lose a little weight (and did). I ride loops around Whatcom County ranging from 18 to 50+ miles and usually average around 15.5-17 mph, on the slow end when its hilly and the fast end when its flatter. I don't ride pace lines (tried it, didn't like it) and usually ride solo.

Mt. Constitution on Orcas is probably the toughest climb I've ever done, followed by riding my roadie down the trails with a bunch of mountain-biking Boy Scouts.

BengeBoy 

Welcome!

Is this the book?

https://www.amazon.com/Wildflowers-Pa.../dp/0881927457


Any minute now, someone named East Hill will come along and ask you to post photos...

kw

Welcome to BF, Mark. Glad you could join us!

MillCreek

Mr. Turner, as a long-time Canon EOS digital photographer dilettante who futzes about from time to time with flowers, if you have any thoughts on lenses, I am all ears. I assume that for someone like you, a 50 mm. 2.8 macro lens is your friend.

Dapper

I've been reading the threads for a while but haven't really put in much input. Anyway I'm up in Bellingham and mostly bike to commute, but like the occasional weekend ride.

Mark Turner

Yes, that's my book. I saw a LOT of Washington and Oregon in the process of finding and photographing the 1220 species that have main entries.

-- Mark Turner

Mark Turner

I much prefer the Canon 100/2.8 macro for flower details. It gives greater working distance than the 50. I carry many pounds of lenses with me when I'm working and use most of them on each trip. Sometimes a wide angle does the trick, other times a telephoto. I'll be teaching a wildflower photo workshop for North Cascades Institute in early August near Mt. Baker. (I do NOT plan to bicycle up to Artist Point with all my camera gear.)

-- Mark Turner

MillCreek

I have heard others talk about a 100 mm macro lens for this use as being much easier than a 50 mm macro with a set of extension tubes or a bellows. A friend of mine swears by his 200 mm macro but he likes to photograph insects on flowers, and says the increasing working distance minimizes the chance of disturbing the insects.

East Hill

I HAVE that book !



I've got it out in the car (which went to work with my husband) along with some of the bird books, and the mushroom field guide . Oh, and a Geology of the Pacific Northwest book. Ummm, and Mammals of the PNW too. Guide to Tracks and Scat, anyone?

East Hill

TommyL

The Bellinghamsters are coming out of the woodwork!

p.s. I don't even know where that saying comes from.

redmondroubaix

Checking in from Redmond, WA. I do most of my riding along the Sammamish Slough and Burke Gilman.

comet the dog

oh come on, nobody other than me from the longview kelso area. anyone? anyone?

donnamb 

Dogbait lives in Columbia County, OR.

East Hill

There's a couple, although I can't remember who, offhand.


East Hill

East Hill

Hi redmondroubaix, there are a lot of members in your area. You've probably passed half a dozen or more on those trails, and never realised it.

Welcome to BikeForums!

East Hill

redmondroubaix

Thanks for the welcome. You're probably right about seeing lots of forum members on the Burke. I look forward to hopefully getting together for some group rides come spring.

djkenny

south east Portland OR. In the Woodstock area.

I am loving biking here! I did in San Jose CA, where I am originally from just 1.7 years ago, but it wasnt as accepted as in Portland. Well...it was at least "flat"...I guess that accounts for something??

Bike to downtown to take a bus to work in Beaverton 3 days a week. When the weather is iffy I just take the bus downtown most of the time.

Still own a old school GTI 16v (VW scene stuff and DJing car shows is one of my long time jobs) ...but I drive a maximum of 2 days a week...if that. I have gone week's not driving at all. I

Carpool with a friend in his Jetta within my hood' 3 days a week to Mt. Hood Community College. When I cannot jump in the car with him, I just take 2 busses.

Car Free living would be quite doable. For now I mostly drive to downtown to go clubbing on a Fri or Sat night on occasion.

If anyone wants to bike pool from Woodstock area to downtown anytime mon, wed, and sundays...let me know!

Cheers,

DJ Kenny

East Hill

Where were you in SJ? I grew up in the West Valley area, right on the SJ/Los Gatos border.

East Hill

djkenny

I went to that community college in 93...much later to San Jose City (****ty) College. Actually the last 5 or so years SJ City has turned into a nice campus. West Valley was the one all the high school students wanted to go to it seemed.

My Aunt live's in Monte Sereno, Los Gatos area.

I lived in Willow Glen San Jose, near Hamilton and Meridian.

How long ago did you relocate? Any reasoning?

I like the Mexican food in San Jose and diversity, ok...some decent clubs in SF and one (Blank Club) in San Jose...otherwise, I am not a huge fan of the area. Willow Glen is nice...but a basic home is like 1 million bucks! Condos were over 450k. Nutz!

mtmann

Me Too - And I've climbed that mountain!

East Hill

I moved up here long ago--1980. It was just too hot in San Jose/California. However, all my relatives still live in the Bay Area, except for one brother who moved all the way to...Modesto .

East Hill