Category: Biking

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Providence Bridge Pedal 2007

Thomas and I rode the 6-bridge version of the Providence Bridge Pedal yesterday. I’ll post photos later but we had a great time. Although we had to walk our bikes for long stretches at the beginning, tearing down the Fremont and Marquam bridges (I-405 and I-5, respectively) at full speed made it all worth it. Thomas had a minor crash towards the end, but he was a trooper throughout even when his legs got tired going up the final bridge. Tina and Graham joined us downtown for a late lunch at Macaroni Grill and we adjourned to CPS for several hours of Guitar Hero II before limping home on tired legs. I was glad it was all downhill going home.

Distance: 20.4 miles
Riding time: 3 hours, 5 minutes
Max speed: 26.8 mph
Average speed: 6.5 mph
Temperature: 75º (approximate)
Route:

  • 162nd to Burnside
  • MAX to NE 7th Ave
  • NE 7th to NE Lloyd Blvd.
  • Lloyd to Waterfront Bike Path
  • Crossed the Steel Bridge
  • Waterfront Park to starting line
  • Hawthorne Bridge
  • Ross Island Bridge
  • Marquam Bridge
  • Burnside Bridge
  • Broadway Bridge
  • Fremont Bridge
  • SW Oak to Broadway
  • Broadway to CPS
  • MAX to NE 148th Ave
  • 148th to NE Halsey
  • Halsey to 162nd
  • 162nd to home
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Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 17.6 miles
Riding time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Actual time: 3 hours (estimate)
Max speed: 21.5 mph
Average speed: 10.2 mph
Temperature: 63º (with a little rain)
Route:

  • 162nd to Powell Butte
  • Rode in circles for 30 minutes
  • Old Holgate Trail down to Holgate (wow!)
  • Holgate to Buddy’s house
  • Buddy’s house to Foster Road
  • Foster Road to Woodward/Clinton
  • Clinton to Springwater Corridor
  • Springwater Corridor to Hawthorne Bridge
  • Waited 10 minutes for bridge to close
  • Waterfront to Oak
  • Oak to Broadway
  • Broadway to work

I originally intended to ride down to the Springwater Corridor and take that into downtown but taking 162nd south ran me right into Powell Butte. Powell Butte is a park with many trails suitable for biking. It hooks up with Springwater Corridor on the south side, so I decided I would ride over it. It opens with a really steep, but paved hill that will literally take your breath away (from pedaling). After I took a five minute break, I zig-zagged the rest of the way up the hill. Once I got to the top, though, it was easier going. I grabbed the paved trail and went on my way. After riding for about 20 minutes, I was very close to where I had started. Powell Butte has many trails to choose from and I had no idea which to choose. Except it occurred to me that the “Old Holgate Trail” might take me down to Holgate Street which is south of Powell. It did and I came out very close to Buddy’s house. I was going to stop and leave a copy of the Constitution in his door (my new calling card) but his truck was in the driveway and his front door was open. He doesn’t work on Friday so we chatted for a few minutes while I plotted my new course with my bike map. I didn’t think I had much left in the tank so I threw out the Springwater Corridor course, which jogs south a few miles, and adopted a new course crossing southeast Portland into downtown. As it turned out, I was not very fatigued as I pedaled up the ramp to the Hawthorne Bridge. Sadly, they had the drawbridge open and were doing some sort of maintenance which took a very long time. I stood patiently and listened to Handsome Boy Modeling School.

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Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 11.0 miles
Riding time: 51 minutes
Max speed: 30.5 mph
Average speed: 12.8 mph
Temperature: 75º
Route:

  • 162nd to Halsey
  • Halsey past I-84 overpass
  • 80th to Glisan
  • Glisan to 76th
  • 76th to Everett
  • Everett/Davis to Floral Place
  • Floral Place across Burnside to Ankeny
  • Ankeny to Grand
  • Grand to Burnside
  • Burnside to Broadway
  • Broadway to office
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Idaho Stop Sign Law

Bike Portland has an interesting article about the “rolling stop sign” bicycle law in Idaho including an excellent letter from the Idaho Transportation Department. As a daily bike commuter, I wholeheartedly approve of such legislation and hope it comes to pass in Oregon.

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Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 11.0 miles
Riding time: 56 minutes
Max speed: 25.6 mph
Average speed: 11.7 mph
Temperature: 70º
Route:

  • 162nd to Halsey
  • Halsey past I-84 overpass
  • 80th to Glisan
  • Glisan to 76th
  • 76th to Everett
  • Everett/Davis to Floral Place
  • Floral Place across Burnside to Ankeny
  • Ankeny to Grand
  • Grand to Burnside
  • Burnside to Broadway
  • Broadway to office
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Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 10.9 miles*
Riding time: 54 minutes
Max speed: 23.7 mph
Average speed: 12.3 mph
Temperature: 58º
Route:

  • 162nd to Halsey
  • Halsey past I-84 overpass
  • 80th to Glisan
  • Glisan to 76th
  • 76th to Everett
  • Everett/Davis to Floral Place
  • Floral Place across Burnside to Ankeny
  • Ankeny to Grand
  • Grand to Burnside
  • Burnside to Broadway
  • Broadway to office
*The cable to my bike computer is shorting, I think. This route is usually around 12 or 13 miles.
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Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 11.3 miles
Riding time: 56 minutes
Max speed: 29.1 mph
Average speed: 12.1 mph
Temperature: 59-61º
Route:

  • 162nd to Halsey
  • Halsey past I-84 overpass
  • 80th to Glisan
  • Glisan to 76th
  • 76th to Everett
  • Everett/Davis to Floral Place
  • Floral Place across Burnside to Ankeny
  • Ankeny to MLK
  • MLK to Morrison
  • Morrison to Water
  • Water to Eastbank Esplanade
  • Esplanade to Hawthorne Bridge

Sighted: RV Bike, Vera Katz statue