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Be Seen This Halloween!

by Jon Elias

Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun this fall! Halloween is coming up this month, and you know what that means! Candy, costumes, parties, and trying to forget the Christmas commercials you’re going to endure for the next two months.

You might be staying out on the road a little later than usual these coming weeks, what with Halloween parties or finding the best neighborhood to do your trick-or-treating (you’re never too old to like candy). Portland Pedal Power wants to remind you that even though you may think your Zombie-Batman costume stands out among the crowd, People on the road might not be looking for the undead Dark Knight… in the dark night.

One of the most important things we can do when we’re on the road is make sure we are seen. Here’s a couple of ideas you might want to implement if you’re out celebrating All Hallows Eve a little late:

Illuminate: Flashlights, flashlights, flashlights! Make sure you’ve got some source of light while you’re on the road. You probably know your regular routes by heart, but that doesn’t mean everyone else on the road knows you’re there. If you’re looking for some new additions, take a look at these great lights from Knog. Knog has some great products that are easy to clip on your bike, and as we said in prior blogs, the lights are all rechargeable through USB. (more…)

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It’s Dangerous to go Alone! Take This!

by Jon Elias

worst_day_ridersHappy Fall everyone! As of the 23rd of this month, we are officially packing up the good weather. The sun begins to hibernate, we put away the shorts, and we break out the Gortex jacket and rubber booties to endure our 9 months of showers.

I for one welcome our moisture-ridden months, but its also a time to be extra cautious on the road. People tend to forget that it’s been 3 months without water on the roads, and with that comes oil slicks and bad attitudes.

Whenever it starts to rain when we’re on the road, we always need to take a few extra precautions to make sure both our precious cargo and riders get to their location on time. Here’s a few tips to help keep you safe on the road:

Dress to Stay Dry – Ok, so this might be a “Duh” moment for some people, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. After all, moisture seems to come at you from all directions on busy roads. Be sure to grab the rain jacket, Walz Cap, If you need some new equipment, ask our riders where they get their gear, or check out North St. Bags to see how the locals do it.

Stay Away from the Rainbows – Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing rainbows after a good rainstorm. It makes a good picture for Instagram! But if you see one on the road, steer clear. That’s oil showing true colors. Oil buildup from the summer is still clinging to the asphalt, and provides a wonderfully slick surface the help your face become fast friends with the ground. (Not a friend worth having)

Yellow Lenses – Eye protection like your regular sunglasses are always a good idea, but when it’s overcast and a little darker outside, it might be harder to see where you’re going. Yellow lenses don’t darken your view, but still offer you protection from the water aiming directly for your corneas. It’s science! (more…)

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Make the Best of Your Bicycle This Memorial Day

by Jon Elias

Ah, summer. Memorial Day is coming up once more, and we’re all getting ready to roll out the BBQs, grab some micro-brewskies, and enjoy the sunny, warm weather. Some may go off on a vacation for the weekend, some may hang around the place and enjoy the weather. Some of you may even think about taking yourself for a ride on one of our fantastic local bike trails.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re dusting off the ol’ fixed-gear now after a long winter, or whether you never stopped cycling in the first place. We’re just happy you’re on the road with us! But before you hop on the saddle, make sure you cover your butt on a few key areas, so we can all enjoy the streets incident free!

Bicycle Check – If you’re a fair weather rider, it may the first time you take your bike out for the day. Make sure nothing has run amok during its time indoors. Check your brakes, make sure your tire pressure is up to snuff, and make sure everything that needs grease has grease. If you’re not feeling too sure about the state of your bike, take it in and have a professional look at it. The best medicine is preventative, and you don’t want anything to happen in the middle of your trek.

Safety Equipment – It can’t be much clearer folks: helmets save lives! Your brain is a valuable tool (and the only organ in the human body that has named itself. Trippy, right?) so make sure you protect it. Check your helmet for any cracks and make sure it fits you correctly. Aside from helmets, make sure you’re seen on the road! North St. Bags has a number of reflectors that can help make you visible even in the harshest of storms, so it will certainly make you apparent on a clear sky day.

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The Rain Is Coming… Be Prepared!

by Brook

RainAttention, Portland! The rain is coming. Are you prepared to ride through the wonderfully wet weather that greets us in the fall and lasts all winter? If you’re feeling a bit intimidated by the forecast and your lack of quality gear, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!

Here at Portland Pedal Power, we take to the streets to deliver food from great, local restaurants and food carts regardless of the weather. So we know what works to protect our bodies from the elements. We know what keeps our phones dry. We know what gear keeps us visible and safe while riding alongside other commuters.

Here’s a quick rundown of what we use on our delivery routes throughout Portland:

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Riding with North St. Bags, Part 3

by Brook

The bag was designed, the bag was built, the bag went out on the road on deliveries in downtown Portland. The verdict? We love it.

Thanks to PPP rider Colin Wagner, who came up with the idea for the new bag, and North St. Bags owner and designer Curtis Williams, who made the bag for us, our delivery shifts are that much easier because we have one less thing to worry about when we’re on the road. The bag is convenient, adaptable and durable and it’s defense against the elements can handle whatever weather we get from the crazy Portland climate.

Take a look at Part Three of this video series, as PPP rider/mechanic Dan Fitz gives his review of the bag:

PPP & North St. Bags, Part Three: The Bag from Portland Pedal Power on Vimeo.

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Riding with North St. Bags, Part 2

by Brook

After meeting Curtis Williams, owner and designer of North St. Bags, at the Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show in the fall of last year, the riders at Portland Pedal Power were in for a treat: new, waterproof hip bags to use while out on deliveries in downtown Portland.

After designing and manufacturing the bag, which is now available on North St.’s website, Curtis welcomed us into his workshop to tell us his part of the story:

PPP & North St. Bags, Part Two: The Process from Portland Pedal Power on Vimeo.

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Riding with North St. Bags

by Brook

When Portland Pedal Power riders head out on a delivery shift, there are a few necessities that they need to carry with them: a cell phone, PPP cards, a receipt book and some petty cash. Until last fall, we were using a random assortment of bags that weren’t well-suited to the job or the Portland climate. Then we teamed up with local bicycling bag manufacturer North St. Bags, and the rest is history.

Colin Wagner, one of our longest tenured riders, recently took some time to tell the first part of the story:

PPP & North St. Bags, Part One: The Idea from Portland Pedal Power on Vimeo.

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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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