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Rideye: The Black Box for Your Bicycle

by Jon Elias

RideyeThe roadways can be an exciting and terrifying place. Portland Pedal Power knows this just as well as the next bicyclist in the PDX area, and we are always considering new ways to keep our riders safe. When the worst is a possibility, we all wish we could have had another set of eyes on the road. You can imagine when we found out about the new dashcam for bikes, Rideye, we were very excited.

This unique camera was introduced on Kickstarter by cyclist Cedric Bosch down in Los Angeles, California. Bosch is a mechanical engineer and considers himself as an avid racer and mountain biker. After having a friend suffer serious injury during a hit and run, Bosch designed a camera “for cyclists to protect themselves while navigating the concrete jungle.”

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PPP + Tula + Ninkasi = Awesome

by Brook

If you’ve ever found yourself at the corner of MLK and Alberta in Northeast Portland, you’ve probably tried a delicious cupcake or two from our friends at Tula Gluten Free Bakery & Cafe. But you probably didn’t know that Tula sponsors a bicycle racing team.

We recently put one of our Pyxis equipped PPP riders up against Tula’s team, which is also sponsored by Ninkasi Brewing Company, on a race through PPP’s delivery zone. Check out the video below to see what happened…

PPP + Tula + Ninkasi = Awesome from Portland Pedal Power on Vimeo.

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Breakfast on Bridges

by Brook
Breakfast on BridgesHave you ever biked across the Hawthorne or Steel Bridge at some point between 7am and 9am on the last Friday of the month? If so, you may have been greeted by a surprise – coffee and doughnuts from a handful of dedicated bicycle enthusiasts! If you’ve experienced this wonderful event, but missed out on the details while enjoying your treat, you were taking part in Breakfast on Bridges, served by the lovely people of Shift.

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Look, Ma! No Broken Bones!

by Brook

KenOur fearless leader, Ken Wetherell, founder and co-owner of Portland Pedal Power was in a cycling accident. Again. Don’t worry though. Ken is a superhero, and he’s doing just fine. Again.

If you look back at Silver Linings, Ken’s blog post from last year, you’ll see that he rides with a streak of luck behind him. He was in two accidents last summer – he was hit by a car in June and wiped out on a mountain bike in August – and while he suffered some injuries, none of them had lasting effects and they didn’t do anything to break his spirit. An avid cyclist who’s always looking for new ways to reduce wind resistance on his fleet of custom bikes, Ken is quick to get back in the saddle.

This time, he’ll be riding again in no time because of one thing in particular: his helmet.

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Five, Count ‘Em, Five PPP Bikes on the Road

by stacy

It is no secret that Portland Pedal Power is growing. More customers rely on us to bring them food, groceries, and other products. More restaurants, publications, food carts, and stores partner with us to deliver their wares. And more businesses sponsor our bikes to affirm their commitment to sustainability while spreading the word about what they do.

With all of this growth we need to keep building more of our Pyxis enclosures to keep up with the demand. And recently, we had a landmark day for PPP- we had enough orders to have five bikes and riders out on the streets of Portland at one time.

Why do we tout this achievement? (more…)

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Goldsprints at Velo Cult

by Brook

Velo Cult GoldsprintsDo you have a need for speed? Do you crave competition? Do you love locally brewed beer?

If you answered “Yes!” to any of these questions, you should go to Velo Cult on Fridays at 7pm from February 8th through March 8th to take part in (or just sit back and enjoy watching) their First Annual Goldsprints!

Here’s your 15 second history lesson on Goldsprints: Starting as part of the 1999 Cycle Messenger World Championships, a Goldsprint is a racing competition between two riders on stationary bikes. The event was founded and named by Adrien Weber, a cyclist and brewery owner whose TurbinenBräu Brewery produces a beer called the Gold-Sprint.

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The Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030

by Brook

Portland Bike LaneHave you ever wondered why Portland is such a great cycling city? Well, take a look at the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 and wonder no more! Adopted in February of 2010, the plan suggests that bicycling will be more attractive than driving by the year 2030 if advances are made in six key areas:

• Attracting new riders.
• Forming a denser bikeway network.
• Increasing bicycle parking.
• Expanding programs to support bicycling.
• Increasing funding for bicycle facilities.
• Strengthening bicycle policies.

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Guest Blog: Living City & Handmade Gardens

by Brook

Garden 1This is a guest blog written by Rachel Freifelder of Living City and Handmade Gardens. We connected with Rachel through Portland Society, a nonprofit business alliance of professional women who are passionate about bicycling in Portland.

It is mid-January and the weather has been truly wintry. The memories of the mild fall, the late frost-date, fade so quickly when freezing fog slicks the streets and fingertips burn with cold! The sunshine is, of course, a welcome tradeoff for the dip in temperatures. I linger in it this afternoon, admiring the thin, yellow light slanting over the brave, sturdy vegetables still thriving in the garden.

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Northwest Rides: Worst Day of the Year

by Brook

Worst Day PictureAre you feeling the chill of the long Portland winter? How about a little bike ride to warm you up? It’s not too late to join a couple thousand other brave souls in signing up for the Worst Day of the Year Ride, the first ride of the year coordinated by Good Sport Promotion. You must have some questions, so read on for more details!

Who should participate in the Worst Day of the Year Ride?

Anyone who feels comfortable riding 16 miles! And if 16 miles sounds too easy, sign up for the 45 Mile Challenge. Either way, make sure you’re prepared with cold weather and rain gear. It’s called the Worst Day of the Year Ride for a reason.

What should I expect along the way?

A great ride! You’ll have a map of the route and you’ll be backed by road support in the form of ride along mechanics and medics, as well as support vehicles, in case you need a lift. If that’s not enough, there’s always the food factor: There will be coffee and doughnuts in the morning, warm treats at rest stops every four miles and hot soup and fresh bread at the finish line!

When are these crazy rides happening?

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