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The Portland Pedal Power Pack is Growing!

by Tech Crew

Thanks to your support, PPP is growing. Meet our newest members…and their pets!

We’re confident that these friendly folks will keep the gears at PPP running smoothly, so you continue to receive top-notch sustainable service, pollution free, and worry-free. Check out their stories below.

~Aaron~

Position: Chief Operating Officer

Where are you from, and how long have you been in Portland?

I’m from Palo Alto, in the Bay area. I’ve been in the Portland area for 2 1/2 years, and I’m not leaving!

Favorite hobbies/ things to do in Portland?

Eating at new restaurants, being outdoors, going to live shows of any kind.

Aaron’s dog, Meadow

Favorite restaurants in Portland?

Tasty and Alder, Renata, Irving St. Kitchen.

Favorite thing about working for PPP?

The incredibly nice, hard-working, committed people.  

Favorite place to bike in Oregon?

Bend

What are you riding now?

Frankenstein titanium hardtail mountain bike

 

~Shawna~

Position: Marketing Specialist

Where are you from, and how long have you been in Portland?

Originally from the Midwest, I moved to Portland three years ago, after my Peace Corps service in Lesotho. High five for anyone who knows where Lesotho is!

What do you do outside of PPP?

I’m an MBA Sustainable Systems candidate at Presidio Graduate School (Seattle). In my free time, I bike, practice yoga, adventure with my partner and our dog, fiddle around with the fiddle, and get myself lost in the woods.

Favorite restaurants in Portland?

Shawna’s dog, Happy Peanut

Ate-Oh-Ate, Boxer Ramen, Handsome Pizza, Tasty and Alder, & Wolf & Bear’s

Favorite thing about working for PPP?

The culture at PPP is refreshing, engaging and fun. Our leadership encourages everyone to contribute their unique skills to special projects so that it creates a thriving community of people bringing their whole selves to work. I also love that our company is majority woman-owned and that our company is built on sustainability.

Favorite place to bike in town?

In town, Marine Drive and the Springwater Corridor. When there’s time to venture out of the city, I’ll hit the Banks-Vernonia Trail.

What are you riding now?

Salsa Viya (more…)

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Pedal Power’s Street Serenade

by Marketing

We’ve recently produced a video anthem internally here at Portland Pedal Power with the vision and hard work of Timothy Wildgoose, a talented former rider who has since gone on to be a cinematographer.  He worked to capture the city of Portland and what we do here at PPP. We all absolutely love how this piece turned out and we hope you will give it a look.

I love what Tim had to say about this project as well:

“I used to do deliveries on bicycle, my first job in Portland and definitely a very Portland job to do. I loved being on the street, it allowed me to meet people of all kinds from kids selling Street Roots to CFOs of the largest tech firms, and lots and lots of restaurant and food cart owners. I got a real intimate impression of our city and loved spending my days outside in the air, in the seasons, and watch it all change. And I loved those moments where everything came together, it all lined up, the whole world was silent for those singular moments of pure beauty.

I always imagined how I could turn this into a video that other people could experience. After imagining this for a couple years I finally hit the road with Portland Pedal Power this spring with cameras on bikes. Yep, we managed to film this entire piece using only bikes – my camera car was a tricycle – no grip truck, no sprinter vans, just bikes. It was a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. Thanks to the friends that came out for cameo appearances and to the folks at Pedal Power for pulling different roles from camera car pilot to rain makers.”

Music · Solo Mio by Mr. Moo

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Filmed by Bike at the Hollywood Theatre

by Marketing
KOM-urbanstreet

“King of the Mountain” by Orlando von Einsiedel | London, Great Britain

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“Ride Alive” by Terasu/Circles | San Francisco, CA

It is often said that they best way to see the world is on a bike…well, here comes a film fest devoted to this unique two-wheeled perspective. Filmed by Bike is the best little homegrown film fest in Portland, a long running local treasure. What started in a micro-theater with a whopping 60 attendees in has grown to a global bike movement, accepting submissions from all over the world. This year marks the 14th year of the festival, only the second year in its new home at the Hollywood Theatre (previously at Clinton Street Theater).

The festival runs over three action packed days, between May 6-8. Don’t miss the kick-off New Belgium Street Party on Friday, May 6th at Velo Cult. The party always boasts an impressive array of performers, activities, and of course, New Belgium beer for all!

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Don’t miss the street party Friday night!

Over the course of this busy weekend, there are pre-show speed raffles, filmmaker Q+A sessions, dance parties, Brewery Tour Bike Rides with the Filmmakers, workshops, and awards ceremonies. The films selected are from all over the world, from snowy mountain adventure films to urban riding comedies. No matter what your cycling speed, you are bound to leave the theater inspired to ride and explore more.  Check out the “Watch Page” where you can view previously submitted films and the awesome 2016 Festival Trailer.

Filmed by Bike started in 2003 as a small fundraiser for bike events and has since been supporting a burgeoning international community of bike-loving filmmakers. For communities that want to promote bike culture and get people riding, Filmed by Bike encourages folks to bring the festival to their towns. They’ve started a Bike Movie Nights Program to inspire events related to cycling and advocacy. It’s a ready-to-go festival in a box to share the love of cycling in a new and inspiring way.

We will be there and we hope you will too. Power to the pedal!

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Riding Healthy: How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Commute

by Marketing
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Kevin and Andy (PPP) outside the shop

Recently I met with Kevin Schmidt, the Owner/Founder of Pedal PT, one of the only physical therapy offices in Portland specializing in physical therapy for cyclists and bike fitting. Kevin found his passion during a major life shift: In 2007 he left a corporate job and took a massive pay cut in favor of reducing his car commute and working closer to home. He started riding to work every day and while he felt miles better physically and mentally, he noticed that daily cycling was taking a toll. He found that even in his field of physical therapy the answers he was getting about how to avoid this were incomplete, so he set out to learn more about how to fix this. “85% of people who ride regularly develop pain,” Kevin says. “What we do is look at the body, the posture, the pedal style, and adjust the bike from a holistic perspective. We see dozens of people a week just for bike fit.”

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Kevin in the Pedal PT bike fit shop

The office is centrally located in the Clinton district with indoor bike parking, in a gorgeous open office space. They’ll adjust the bike in-house, in the physical therapy/shop pictured to the right. “We’re half physical therapist, half wrench monkey,” says Kevin. While you might spend 300 bucks at some shops for non-medical bike fitting, Pedal PT offers bike fit from a specialized physical therapist for $150, without the product upselling you might get at a shop.

Kevin is one of the more passionate folks I’ve met–a bike geek and cycling advocate–involved in the community and excited about it. His Rivendell bike is swoon inducing and I’m pretty sure I need a bike fit ASAP, since I ride everywhere and don’t own a car. In other words, I’m sold.

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Join us at the 2015 People’s Coast Arthritis Bike Classic!

by Jon Elias

IMG_0297There’s nothing better than a benefit cycle ride. You get to take a ride on your bicycle, enjoy the sights, and best of all, you’re contributing to a worthwhile cause.

We are very excited to announce that we are partnering with The Arthritis Foundation, and will be spreading the word about how you can help contribute to the prevention, control and cure of arthritis.

Who is the Arthritis Foundation?

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of more than 50 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. As a national voluntary health agency, the Arthritis Foundation seeks to improve life through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

Since 1948, the Foundation has spent in excess of $200 million to support more than 1,700 scientists and physicians in arthritis research programs specifically for the study of pediatric and adult rheumatic diseases.

The Arthritis Foundation also provides educational research to help adults, parents and children manage their arthritis by providing a large number of community-based services nationwide to make life with arthritis easier.

Take a look at what the Arthritis Foundation is doing today:

What is the People’s Coast Arthritis Bike Classic?

The People’s Coast Arthritis Bike Classic presented by Amgen is a spectacular 363-mile, 6-days of cycling, bicycle tour from Astoria to Brookings, OR. Scenic coasts, secluded beaches, wildlife, lighthouses, amazing viewpoints, quaint towns and the natural beauty of the Oregon Coast are all part of your daily travel experiences.

The People’s Coast Arthritis Bike Classic offers a fully supported bicycle tour to all registered riders, including breakfasts, dinners, mechanical support, and overnight camping. The entire event will take place in September, from the 12th to the 19th.

For a day-by-day breakdown of what you can expect on the trip, take a look at the People’s Coast Classic website.

This event benefits the Arthritis Foundation by raising vital funds that enables us to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases. The mission of the ride is to fund educational programs, critical research, community services, and free public resources.  The People’s Coast Classic has a goal of reaching $250,000 by the event. At the time of this blog, they have currently raised $83,000!

Ready to help find a cure for Arthritis, improve lives, and enjoy the beauty of the Oregon Coast at the same time? Sign up for the bike ride!

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Happy New Year!

by Jon Elias

bicycle-benefits-imageHappy New Year! Now that the holiday season is officially over, it’s time to ditch the old ’14 and get a jump start on this new year. 2015 is going to be a great!

Many of us have resolutions to hit the new year running… or jogging, lifting, elliptical-ing, and so forth. Hopefully, some of us are planning on cycling as well. This is Portland after all. We didn’t start calling ourselves the Bicycle Capital of the World for nothing!

Here are a few good reasons to start taking up cycling as a New Years Resolution:

Cycling is good for your muscles: If you’ve been on a bike for more than a few minutes, you should be familiar with a burning sensation in your legs. This is, of course, a good thing. Cycling is great for improving the muscles in your thighs, calves, and rear.

Cycling can help with joint conditions: Because cycling is considered a low-impact form of exercise, it can be especially beneficial for those who can’t take part in other higher impact exercises (jogging for example). This means you can keep cycling long into your twilight years!

Cycling increases lifespan: Cycling has been linked to improving cardiovascular health, and drastically decreases your risk of heart disease. According to the British Medical Association, cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. Discovery Magazine even writes cycling can improve your immune system, and has even shown evidence of fighting cancer. Even when adjusted for risk of injury, cycling has associate with increasing “life-years.”

Cycling improves the waistline: On an average ride, a cyclist will burn approximately 300 calories per hour. An average person will burn approximately 11 pounds of unhealthy fat per year, while building muscle mass and increasing your metabolic rate. You’ll feel healthy and look healthy to boot!

Cycling improves mental health: While the physical health benefits are usually very apparent, few consider the mental benefits behind riding a bike. Bicycling has been proven to reduce stress and increase hand-eye coordination among those who choose to cycle a mere 30 minutes a day. The Journal of Occupational Health published an article showing cycling significantly improved mental health among those who choose to commute daily to work.

Some of these benefits may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember you can only take advantage of them if you choose to climb on the bike. The most important thing to remember is that this is an enjoyable experience! Get out and explore some of the fantastic bike trails Portland has to offer!

Have any New Year’s Resolutions you plan on making? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook what you want to do this upcoming year!

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Friday is Bike to Work Day!

by Jon Elias

Logo for San Diego BTWD

While we may be some of the lucky few who can ride their bike to work everyday, we recognize the chance to do so may not come so easily to the average daily commuter. Cycling is great exercise, but who has the time? Cycling to work may not be a daily option for you right now, but wouldn’t you love a reason to do it anyway, even just for a special occasion?

It turns out, May 16th happens to be National Bike to Work Day! Instead of grabbing the keys to the four-wheeled cage, why not grab your helmet and cycling gloves instead? The best things in life are better with company, so join all of us who are going to be out on two wheels and experience the freedom only a bike can offer!

Check out some of the events being hosted in Portland for Bike to Work Day:

Go Lloyd Bike to Work Day Party: Start the day off right with a party! Breakfast smoothies, fruit, coffee and other snacks will be available for your tasting pleasure. There will also be live music, free minor bike repair, bike registration and lots of great new and returning vendors. Bike parking is available, so bike straight to the party! The event starts at 7:30 AM and continues until 9:00 AM.

Portland Employers Bike Summit: Come learn how bicycle commuting is an option for anyone! The summit will include a Keynote address from Commissioner Steve Novick, a few expert workshops, some post-workshop group facilities tours, and a post-workshop happy hour! The Summit starts at 1:00 PM and lasts until 4:00 PM.

Bike Ride and Happy Hour: Bike to Work Day ends on a high note, with a bike ride on the east side of Pettygrove Park and a happy hour at Bambuza in South Waterfront.

For more details on how you can bike to work and more information on how you can take advantage of PDX Bike Month, take a look at the full schedule. Show us how you’re going to commute to work on Friday on our Facebook Page and on Twitter!

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Bike Loans & Pedal Ads with Point West Credit Union

by Brook

Point West Credit Union has been serving Portland for the past 80 years. Hear what Co-CEO Nick Hodson has to say about Point West’s relationship with Portland Pedal Power and the amazing cycling community in the Rose City.

Bike Loans & Pedal Ads with Point West Credit Union from Portland Pedal Power on Vimeo.

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Celebrate Spring with the CCC

by Brook

Community Cycling CenterYou may not be able to tell by the weather over the past couple of days, but it’s springtime! And there’s no better way to celebrate spring than by hanging out with the amazing people at Portland’s Community Cycling Center (CCC).

The CCC is hosting a spring fundraising party on Friday, May 31st, from 7:00 to 10:00pm at their new workshop location at 1805 NE 2nd Ave. Tickets to the event are only $10, and that low price will help the CCC move towards their spring campaign goal of $20,000. Your ticket also gets you delicious food from Russell St. Bar-B-Que and Bipartisan Café, as well as beer from Hopworks Urban Brewery, which will be flowing out of the famous Metrofiets beer bike.

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Bike Show, Bike Loans: A Match Made at Point West

by Brook

Point West/PDX Bike ShowThe PDX Bicycle Show is going down this weekend, March 23rd and 24th at the Portland Expo Center. Let the drooling over brand new, shiny bikes begin!

This year, your friendly neighborhood delivery riders at Portland Pedal Power have partnered with Point West Credit Union to bring bicycle loans to the show – a perfect pairing, don’t you think? Point West is proud to support Portland’s pedal efforts through an affordable loan for not just the bike, but all the accessories needed to make it road ready. With rates as low as 4.49% APR, YES, that brand new, shiny bike could be yours! You can even get pre-qualified for the loan before you visit the bicycle show!

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