DogsBody

Hey Portland!
Myself and some friends are planning an Amtrak/Bike trip to the Mecca of Cycling Culture next year.
Questions: Best month for a small group of Vancouver Bike-Nuts to visit?
We will be "Hosteling": Best Hostel?
We would also appreciate names/locations of the Cycling Hotspots to visit; as we plan on an educational go-round to see how things are being done in that fair City.
This will be my first visit; and I look forward to pedaling my sorry butt around, and seeing the sights.

dogbreathpnw

Hmmm....I'd recommend July, with early September and any time in August being second and third choices. (The weather can break some time in September and end up being drizzly and cool, and we often get a thunderstorm in August.)

Hot spots...that's harder. Of course you want to ride the Hawthorn Bridge, but that'll take all of three minutes. Portland is best known for its urban cycling culture, but I'm not sure how scenic southeast Portland would be for you.

There are a number of nice bike rides in the vicinity of Portland, however. I'd be remiss to remind you that a falls-and-fries ride (start at McMenamins Edgefield, ride out to Multnomah Falls and back, then have a great meal and microbrew) is a must.

Cruising up Skyline Drive way as far as you can take it (esp. to Rocky Point Road) and then a quick jaunt back on US-30 to town would be fun.

Many people will recommend Sauvie Island for a day of very flat riding.

I personally have a great fondness for a west side route involving Dairy Creek Road and Cedar Canyon Road, but that starts quite a bit outside of town, so you may not want to wander so far afield.

Finally, I've never had to hostel here, so hopefully someone else will give you some advice there.

P.S. -- we call ourselves "Oregonians" (second /o/ is a "long oh" sound).

DogsBody

Thanks Dogbreath.
"Oreganites" was a little tongue-in-cheek; but from now on "Oregonians" it is!
Thanks for the bike-tour recommendations: I am sure we'll find something that fits our bill.
Question: What month does Portland have the most Cycling related celebrations?
Eg. June is "Bike Month" up in here (Vancouver, BC).

Shifty

You may want to come the second week of June for the week long Pedalpalooza celebration. All kinds of bike activities, and fun things to do. It's mostly the city bike culture, so dress up rides, naked rides, rodeo and other things like that. Here is the website from last summer's event, it will give you an idea, the 2009 event I think starts around June 10th, something like that
https://www.shift2bikes.org/cal/viewpp2008.php

Dabbo

Bravo Shifty, 'looza week is pretty good, it was hot last year, great for riding less for the fair.
Dogs you want to check for hostels in the Hawthorne area, I know there are a couple, small ones, if possible have reservation. Check Tri-Met MAX trains and take to one end and explore, same for the other end. Look for the 40 Mile loop and try to follow it around. Check bikeportland.org for any inspiration. Do the loop to Vancouver WA via I-5 bridge and return on the I-205 bridge and Marine drive. Make sure to ride the Esplanade, OMSI to Sellwood bridge and Springwater trail to Boring.
If you are not scared of a little dirt you can even venture in Forest Park.
And have fun.
Ciao
Paolo

randya

there are two AYH hostels in PDX, one's on SE Hawthorne at 31st, the other is on the west side at NW 18th and Glisan, both are pretty central. During Pedalpalooza in June would hands down be the best time of the year to experience Portland bike culture, in June it's best to be prepared for a mix of warm and cool, wet and dry weather, not that different from Vancouver BC. You will get to see your share of PDX bikey hot spots just by participating in a few Pedalpalooza events.

https://www.portlandhostel.org/
https://www.nwportlandhostel.com/
https://www.shifttobikes.org/pedalpalooza/index.shtml

DogsBody

Wow.
Thanks to you all for the information flow!
Pedalpalooza definitely fits the bill for what I am planning!
Maybe we can get together for a fine brewery product when myself and my friends come down there!
I have registered with Bike Portland (though the Admins seem to take forever to approve registration): So I'll see y'all there as well.

david le

Naked ride during the Pedalpalooza week is sooooo much fun. Let you inhibitions go and hang out with all the crazies. Don't forget to get lubed up with some microbrews before but you didn't hear that from me. Just have fun!

DogsBody

My inhibitions and I don't talk much David.
Though I might be viewed as "conservative" in some ways: I am as "Liberal" as they come.
"There is nothing either good nor bad; but thinking makes it so".
I have a feeling i will be wanting to stop-in at the HUB quite a bit!

DogsBody

Here's a question:
How's the ride up the Columbia River Gorge?

gregstandt

While in Portland you have to check this out at the Deschutes Brewery restaurant. I''ve never seen its equal.

randya

it's a nice ride on the old highway. however, someone that doesn't like cyclists periodically spreads tacks along the road side

HoustonB

You piqued my curiosity. I just did a google search for old highway columbia gorge tacks -tracks, and came up with some hits, with BikePortland.Org (2008 May 16) at the top of the list.

DogsBody

Oh sweet Georgia Brown (reads as "WTF"?).
I guess my schwalbe's could earn their keep.
LOL. I'll make sure to put urinals on the top of my "Must see" list!
Heh.
Searching "asshat" just gives to many non-specific hits.

Mofopotomus

Be prepared for people to correct your pronunciation on tons of stuff. Here's a short list.

Willamete
Couch
Oregon
Sauvies Island

Oh and whatever you do not look people in the eye here, they'll either look away, or engage you in a conversation which may make you laugh/insult your sensibilities. Either way, you should totally go to zoobomb.

DogsBody

Let's give them a try:
Will-ah-mett
Cow-ch
Or-ee-gone
Sow-vees Eye-land.
How'd I do?

randya

cooch
orygun
sawvies

DogsBody

Damn.
I going to be talkin' like a Native in no-time flat.

DogsBody

Bump for more local pronunciation tips (and any other information-goodness-input).

Shifty

Here's one that will be helpful:

Which way to the Lucky Lab? luck-e lab

https://www.luckylab.com/

DogsBody

See? Valuable info continues to flow my way (with a nice white-foam head on it).

Kitty Gatita

When my friends and I ...

Kitty Gatita

Let's give them a try:
Will-ah-mett
Cow-ch
Or-ee-gone
Sow-vees Eye-land.
How'd I do?
Not very well...
wi LAM it
Coooch ...coochie w/o the 'ie{Cooooch} not couch...old family name
So (long O) veees, Soooveeees
Easy...rube...:-)
Ory(a)-gun... run the y and a together, easier...o (long o) a (short a) gun...natives know how...
5th and 6th generation native...
Now try Tualatin, and it is NOT too-a-LATIN!! :-)

M_S

Of course you'll want to visit some bike shops. There are all kind sin Portland. River City is fun as it's always packed to the gills and there are lots of ultra expensive ride shanging up to oggle at. Veloce cycles would be right up and across Hawthorne if you're staying at the hostel. They're mostly a high-end road shop, but the place is tiny and there's a realy cool vibe.

If you want o see some realy neat transportational stuff, Clever Cycles is on lower Hawthorne. They're the one's importing Dutch bikes. I had a good long chat about xtracycles with them, and when I do get one I think I'll purchase from there.

Community Cycling Center is a cool coop, as is City Bikes, both the Anex and actual shop.

And many, many more.

DogsBody

You guys Rock!
Thanks for the continued input; I am definitely going to have a good itinerary to work with.
Keep it coming if you think of more!
I'm also registered on Bike Portland now...but watching both sites
Ummmm....TWATlatan? Sounds Mayan doesn't it?
Probably wrong though.
Feel free to post-up the Native-speak.