ORbike

Gearing up for Winter: Head to Toe

orbike — 2011-10-03T15:57:18-08:00

There's no reason to stop riding your bike in the winter. With the proper gear, every ride is possible.

Weather your goal this winter is to ride every single day no matter the weather or you're just aiming for the good days, you're going to need some gear to ensure you can enjoy the ride. We put together this handy list to help you gear up for an incredible winter of riding bikes in Oregon.

Cycling for Health. Health for Life.

orbike — 2011-09-14T14:49:48-08:00

Cycling is a great sport. I might argue it's the most beautiful sport in the world. The scenery, the teamwork, the most dynamic outcomes in sporting and the suffering cannot be matched in other sports. And, yes, cycling is good for your health. Cycling is only gaining more popularity as the exercise of choice as the baby-boom generation ages. I wholeheartedly agree; cycling is an excellent option for staying healthy.

As amazing as cycling is, there are health issues to consider to help you stay healthy on and off the bike. What? The doctor says I am as fit as I was in college! Yes, your blood pressure is low, your body mass is lean and you have stamina, but there's more to health then this. All too commonly fit cyclists injure themselves putting their children in car seats, lifting boxes and with other daily tasks. While cycling is good for your health, you need to consider supplementing your cycling with other activities.

Training for Cyclocross

orbike — 2011-09-01T15:01:03-08:00

Cross season is fast approaching. Are you ready?

This super fun sport is welcoming to all ability levels but it's a physical challenge! Training effectively will help your racing this cross season. It's never easy, but be prepared for intensity. Cross is a "threshold" based effort. We could spend a lot of time defining what that means, but let's just say this is the effort you can sustain for 40-60 minutes. And your races will be 40-60 minutes in duration too.

Here are some training tips to help you prepare for the season:

Buying Power: How to Get the Best Out of Your Local Bike Shop

orbike — 2011-08-29T16:45:34-08:00

I'm often asked, "Which is the best bike shop in town?" We're lucky here in Oregon to have a slew of bike shops within a few miles of work or home. Most of them are fine establishments working hard to bring you the best service possible to keep you happy and on your bike.

So while I'm not convinced that there is a "best", here are some handy tips for getting the best service and most for your dollar at whichever bike shop you decide to patronize.

Taco Pedalers

orbike — 2011-08-23T13:06:40-08:00

Tacos and bicycles: two items that rank very high on the list of best inventions known to humankind have been combined and are now roaming the streets of Portland. Taco Pedalers Melanie and Erica have been out on the streets since February, bringing delicious recipes they picked up while surfing their way down the entire West coast of Mexico.

With a simple operation (aptly named Taco Pedaler) of a grill and coolers packed onto a pair of traditional Mexican cargo tricycles, the two prepare fare made from locally sourced meats and produce, served up on tortillas that couldn't be any fresher (without burning your tongue). Most often your tortilla will be cooked right before your eyes, and even during their daily lunch rush tortillas won't be more the five minutes old. The result is a fantastic taco.

Seven Nutrition Tips for Summer Endurance

orbike — 2011-08-15T11:03:32-08:00

(We are excited to introduce Russell Cree, our new Nutrition and Training columnist. Russell is the principal and lead physical therapist at Upper Echelon Fitness)

Summer is finally here in Oregon and that means longer rides and warmer temperatures. Whether you are commuting, training for your first century, or riding as a competitive cyclist, nutrition is important for performance and health. The following fundamental nutrition concepts will help your cycling this summer.

1. Drink plenty of water during the day. Half your body weight in ounces is a conservative estimate. This amount is in addition to any coffee, juice, or soda consumed during the day and in addition to anything consumed during exercise. Your body will thank you for staying well hydrated.

2. Eat three hours prior to the start of your event. If the event start is early in the morning, sleep is more important. Wake at a reasonable hour, then eat. This amount of time allows time to digest before the ride. If you are hungry before the start, try a healthy energy bar just before.

3. During exercise, break nutrition into three categories:

Bike MS Rider Profile: John Tietjen

orbike — 2011-07-21T11:07:16-08:00

In 1994, John Tietjen stumbled across a Bike MS poster at his favorite Corvallis watering hole. With three cousins - Arnie, Tom and Kris - who have MS, he was eager to take part. Fast forward 16 Bike MS seasons and over $150,000 raised for MS, John Tietjen is now a top fundraiser and an all-star Captain of the 36-riders-strong Team SlugFish.

Why does John ride? It's a family thing, he says. Shortly after joining the ride, John's brother Al and his good friend Christina were also diagnosed with MS.

Top Tools for Your Summer Bike Tour

orbike — 2011-07-15T16:43:45-08:00

By Tori Bortman

Summer is finally in swing and it's time to take on some fabulous biking adventures. At Gracie's Wrench one of the most frequently asked questions in the summer is "What tools should I bring with me on my bike tour?"

Bike touring means loading up your bicycle for long-distance, multi-day travel. Touring is usually unsupported, meaning you're going to have to load all your necessities on the bike and there will be no support vehicle following you with to help out with mechanicals or to pick you up when you're tired.

What you bring might include carrying everything from camping gear to soap, warm clothes and sunscreen to a few days worth of provisions, and you'll definitely need a few essential tools to help keep your bike in top-shape. But what should those tools be and how should you prepare?

Bamboo Bicycle Voyages

orbike — 2011-07-14T15:39:34-08:00

By Sage Warner

There's been a lot of buzz lately about bamboo. The possibilities for the plant as a sustainable resource seem endless, with products ranging from flooring to cloth to biofuels. A bamboo grove creates five times the bio-material of a pine forest, intakes massive amounts of carbon and is easily renewable - it doesn't even need to be re-sewn after harvesting.

For all these reasons and more, bamboo usage in products has been growing rapidly in recent years. Currently, the United States is the largest importer of bamboo in the world but there's a growing movement in the rural south that's looking to change that. The Alabamboo project's goal is to bring bamboo production to Alabama, making bamboo to that state what oranges are to Florida, or potatoes are to Idaho.

So what does this have to do with Oregon, a state about as far away from Alabama as you can get?

Spectacular Routes, Incredible Cause: Jackson's Ride the Gorge

orbike — 2011-07-12T10:30:27-08:00

Many families will encounter hardships that ultimately bring them together. After the tragic loss of a son to cancer at a young age, the Hill family established the Jackson Hill Foundation and the Jackson's Ride the Gorge bike ride (July 23) to transform their struggle into an opportunity to provide strength to others. What they've accomplished is inspirational.

Jackson Hill was an energetic and active young boy, the youngest of three Hill children. At age 10 he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that affects the connective tissue. As Jackson fought hard through his treatment, and struggled with the outdoor activities that he so dearly loved. In September of 2005, at the tender age of 12, Jackson Hill lost his battle with the disease.

In the face of tragedy, Melissa Hill, Jackson's mother, decided early on how she wanted to honor her son. The Jackson Hill Wellness Center, opening in 2012, will offer relief to families with loved ones at Legacy Emanuel's new Children's Hospital. "We started working on ideas for a space in Jackson's memory in 2006, but the Wellness Center idea came when I worked on the planning committee for the new hospital. I realized that it would be a great fit."

Finding your New Ride

orbike — 2011-06-14T09:30:11-08:00

By Tori Bortman

The sun is finally shining, your summer plans are coming together and Pedalpalooza is in full effect in Portland. Could this be your summer of new love? Whether you're buying your first bike as an adult, upgrading for the season or shopping for your kid's first bike, this guide will help you navigate the exciting (but often murky) waters of bike shopping.

BIKE CLUB: Bend's Bellas

orbike — 2011-05-09T13:14:17-08:00

WEBSITE: BendBellaCyclists.org

WHERE: Bend

To provide Bend women with a safe, enjoyable, community-based cycling club. We will strive to enhance your confidence, knowledge and skills through team camaraderie, clinics, weekly rides, tours, races and a healthy living style.

We are committed to the lifelong cycling journey.

BIKE CLUB: Mid Valley Bike Club

orbike — 2011-05-09T13:10:25-08:00

WEBSITE: MVBC.com

WHERE: Mid Willamette Valley

The MVBC is a non-profit club centered in Corvallis, Oregon (one of the top 5 small bike-friendly cities in America according to Bicycling magazine). The club is open to cyclists of all ages and abilities. We have several ride options every Saturday morning touring the surrounding Willamette Valley and Coast Range Mountains. Check out our meeting and ride schedule in the club Calendar for all of the details. All of our route sheets are available on the Routes page for your cycling pleasure.

The many recurring club events are listed on our Events page. Our main event each August is the Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour. The weekend before Labor Day we have a Crater Lake Rim Tour that includes camping and riding around the lake rim in Oregon's only national park. During the summer we run several weeklong Loop Tours and have a club picnic.

BIKE CLUB: Disciples of Dirt

orbike — 2011-05-09T13:06:49-08:00

WEBSITE: DisciplesOfDirt.org

WHERE: Eugene area

The Disciples of Dirt Mountain Bike Club is excited to announce that we have joined forces with the International Mountain Bike Association as an IMBA Chapter. This partnership will help the Disciples of Dirt grow, and will help us become advocates for improved trail access. As a Chapter, IMBA will help the Disciples of Dirt handle administrative duties for the club, and we are now covered under IMBA's non-profit status. IMBA will also be helping us as we work with various local agencies to improve and expand the local trail network, and they will assist us to develop a management plan for Whypass.

BIKE CLUB: PSU Cycling

orbike — 2011-05-09T13:01:13-08:00

WEBSITE: Cycling.PDX.edu

WHERE: Portland State University

PSU Cycling has been supporting new and experienced riders since 2004, and is active in all disciplines of recreational and competitive cycling. We organize rides, events, races, and compete locally in OBRA events as well as in collegiate races throughout the Northwest.

Want to join? We have an open membership policy and welcome riders of all levels of skill or experience. Whether you are a new rider or an accomplished racer, we'd love to have you! If you are at PSU and interested in riding or racing, please contact us through our website.