r/CyclePDX

Hey Portland cyclists! Visiting for a short trip and hoping to get a road bike ride in. Back home near SF, one of my favorite go-to routes is Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands — a stunning climb with incredible views of the bridge and bay. It’s the kind of ride that feels like a must-do for anyone passing through.

Does Portland have anything comparable? I’m thinking scenic, maybe some elevation, and the kind of route locals are proud to show visitors. Preferably under 100 miles. I’m comfortable with climbing and will be renting a road bike. Open to anything in or within an hour distance of the city.

Thanks in advance — stoked to explore the PNW on two wheels!

So after seeing the anger about cyclists drafting in Portland, i obviously realized that people don't want someone just off their rear wheel. However, i also got the impression that people don't want other cyclists anywhere near them.

I posted a thread politely asking this earlier and got tons of down votes. I think that perhaps it was because i made the mistake of putting "drafting" in the title and people didn't read the actual post where i elaborated on what i was asking. So, my apologies, but I'm trying again.

When you're on a bicycle in Portland, what's a respectful distance for a cyclist to have behind you if you're traveling similar speeds? Should it be 6 feet? Should it be a lot farther? Should you just hang back until your no longer in sight?

I've bicycled for a long time and never gave any of this a thought. I just thought that when you bicycle, your speed changes with wind, your energy level, whether you're going up or downhill, etc. Sometimes you'll trail behind someone, sometimes you'll pass someone slowly (or speedily), other times they'll do similar to you.

I just didn't realize how upset people were at not just drafting, but a biker being just 6-10 feet behind someone. I am posting this question so i can be better community member.

I bike maybe 10-15 miles a day, not far, but I’ve been driving lately due to a pesky hamstring. I’ve seen at least 4-5 riders on these major vehicle roads. I avoid them at all cost, staying mostly on the bike boulevards. Regular bikes, e bikes, occasional biketown. The rentals I get that people might not be familiar with bike roads but surprised by the others.

Edit: kinda figured yall would justify it. You did. I still think it’s stupid for cyclists. Same mentality as car drivers.

I've been mountain biking for most of my life and currently ride Powell Butte bottom to top once or twice a week. I am mindful that bicyclists must learn to get along with other user groups or we lose our right to ride on single track. I ride safely and respectively.

There is a special 'breed' of dog lover who feels they must make a point to bring their biggest, scariest dogs with them on their hikes. Maybe they think that other users will warm up to their snarling wigglebutts when I try to pass them on a 3 foot wide dirt trail. The other day a woman hiking up the hill had three dogs that she clearly could not control. The German Shepard snapped and snarled at me as she tried to control the others so I could pass safely. One dog was not leashed. I told her she couldn't handle all those dogs, of course she just gave me the finger.

A dog breed that is territorial is exactly the wrong animal to bring on a hike with narrow twisting singletrack. Of course, many dog owners don't bother to leash their dog at all. ;(

I love dogs and have owned them for most of my life. Most are a delight to encounter. Fighting breed dogs are unpredictable and bringing them on trails where children and other innocents hike is a horrible tragedy waiting to happen. I am a pit bull attack victim. Encountering an "excited" pit on singletrack with a furmomma that can't handle a dog that "goes postal" is the last thing I want. #breedmatters

Bicyclists have the same rights to be safe on the trails as other users. If the dog alarms you, make sure the human knows how you feel.

Honestly it only seems like it’s a matter of time before bikes aren’t aloud anymore. Skidding down the descent and going off the path (into the grass) in a CEMETERY is extremely disrespectful. I really hope that 5% realizes what they are doing and doesn’t ruin it for the rest of us. Rant over.

Wednesday after I picked up my kid from school we were on our normal route home. We were going through a roundabout when someone on their evening ride decided to pull in behind me and get a draft. No communication to me whatsoever. I wasn’t super bothered by it, but it did throw my son for a loop wondering why some guy was right on his hip. He got lucky that I am experienced with group riding dynamics, but that could easily have gone sideways given that we were in an unprotected shared pedestrian/bike lane on a 40 mph road with a fair amount of both pedestrian and car traffic.

Does this happen to anybody else who commutes on an e-bike or other cargo bike? How do you all handle this?

Hey all,

Shop employee at a place that takes these: all of us are excited to make this happen with (new?) riders, but there have been some hiccups. Take a gander at this and hopefully the process will go smoother for everyone

• This program is great, but there are kinks to iron out. The portal was problematic yesterday and most staff are learning as we go. Being rude and pushy won't help
• Most of you will likely NOT walk into a place and ride out on your new bike. Orders for bikes were put in weeks ago and what's on the floor is often first come, first serve and I don't think any shop had time (or the trust in the program actually coming to fruition) to pivot and order more bikes than the season forecasted to accommodate. I understand that it may be frustrating if you took the bus in to check bikes out, but do not plan on riding a bike home if you swing by a shop today.
• We will most likely need to special order something for you and apply the voucher as a deposit. Even so, most bikes (especially cargo bikes) will be a few hundred above what the voucher provides for.
• The voucher is good for 60 day, not 30 as the emails that went out said. Even so, shops can get things in motion for you at any time. There are lots of customers coming to us right now. Please don't trample the early birds or wait until the last minute. Come during the week if you can when it's less busy and you'll likely not wait as long.
• Not every bike is eligible. Certain Class 1 and 2 bikes are eligible, but even then, the bike has to be approved by the program. Just to make things more fun; a particular model's eligibility is subject to change without notice. The shop doesn't know any more than the public regarding this at this moment.
• EBikes put a lot of power and torque on parts. You're going to need to have routine maintenance done. If you blast around the city at full power, your chain, cassette, rotors and pads will be roached within months if you don't get into the habit of doing basic maintenance. Given that these bikes are going to lower income folks, you need to be aware that you should budget a few hundred dollars a year to keep your bike running properly. Getting it checked before something breaks can definitely save you money in the long run. Ask about battery hygiene and maintenance when you pick up your bike.

That's it, basically. I am excited for there to hopefully be more people ditching cars.

In January, I got left hooked on Willamette. Fortunately the driver involved stopped and we exchanged insurance info and their insurance deemed my 2021 Specialized Diverge totaled and I got a new bike.

But now, I have the totaled bike in my garage taking up space and getting on my better half's nerves. The handle bars and front fork and front wheel are definitely unusable but I think the front gears and chain and rear wheel and cassette and disc brakes and detailer etc, are still usable and worth something. What is the best way to part these out?

So people are complaining about people drafting behind them without communicating on places like the Springwater Corridor

In the interest of civil discussion, what is a respectful distance to be behind someone before someone is "creeped out".

3 feet? 6 feet? Farther?

Hey all. So I got my first electric bike, the Segway Myon, through the ebike rebate. In 2-3 weeks (So I'm told) I'll be getting the bike and will be needing to get a decent bike lock for it. I'm also born and raised in Portland so I like to think I know of areas to avoid locking my bike in. Just curious about general opinions on bike locks. Thanks!

I'm a total newbie ​cyclist, but getting more rides in lately. ​On Sunday, I made my second bicycle journey from Vancouver into Portland. The first time, the views were so impressive that I figured I'd get some footage the second time around.

In case anyone is curious what some of the bicycle journey is like, although I think this sub's audience is too advanced for my vision of this video, maybe someone will find it useful!

For my 3rd trip and beyond, I think I'll take the east path on the north span of the interstate bridge 😉​

Will be in town with my bike and staying downtown. Looking for recommendations for some good moderate cycling routes (no big hills). Also any organized rides on Thursday evenings?

Thanks!

George.

Howdy all, I'm on the hunt for a modern, steel touring/commuter/gravel bike for my fiancee. Something like a Surly Straggler. There was one on FB Marketplace that she fell in love with but unfortunately it sold before I could jump on it. I was wondering if anyone knew of a good store in Portland that may carry new or used options so she could check them out in person. Thanks!

For those who are on squadrants or wandrer or other similar apps... Are you actually seen anyone with 100% ? because highest i have seen is 91.93% on wandrer...

Also, I am currently on this path and Jesus Tap Dancing Christ... How are yall doing all this? getting past 50% is already becoming a challenge in it of itself