The Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP) will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Sunday, March 30th, 2008, with a fun ride in Forest Park followed by a party at Lucky Labrador Brewpub, 1945 NW Quimby.

All riders are invited, from relaxed to speedy — either way you will be sure to have fun! Bob Crispin of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame will ride the Northwest’s first mountain bike, Tankagnolo, and riders are encouraged to ride vintage bikes and dress in vintage clothing to celebrate the start of recreational mountain biking in the city and the founding of PUMP. Admission to both events is free. The ride will be ending with good times at the Northwest Lucky Lab.

We will be closed on Monday February 25th. A few of us are headed out of town for some riding/vacation. We will reopen Tuesday at our regular hours, 11am-7pm.

Pump is hosting another work party on firelane 5, Saturday Feb 9 @ 9am at the skyline gate. "Our November crew's work was a great start in showing our commitment to stewarding singletrack in Forest Park. A main concern in regard to this effort remains sustained maintenance contribution and stewardship from our mountain biking and cyclocrossing community. Please continue to attend the work parties in Forest Park and draft your biking friends. You will find that it is a flat blast to work shoulder to shoulder with other bikers." Let Shanti know if you will attend so she can arrange projects and snacks.

This must have been a novel machine back in the day. Kinda makes the suspension patent infringement lawsuits and licensing arrangements seem a bit silly.

I just got back from my hometown visiting for the fabulous Thanksgiving feast etc. While in the parental abode, I had my dad scan my senior pics from high school. These are some sad documents of my obvious bikenerdage. More interested in trick bikes than automobiles.

Late Bloomer?

Nice move sportsman!

Revolver will be closed Thursday November 22nd and 23rd for Thanksgiving holiday. We will be back on Saturday the 24th @ 10am. Have a great holiday!

We had a great pizza/beer event last night at the shop with a healthy chunk of the Ironclad team.  Last week I met with the Existential Velo core at Amnesia brewing to develop the plan for next season. Nothing like drinking beer to gel a cycling group and get the creative juices flowing.

Last week's Amensia outing started with a review of the season, moved into light event scheduling combined with some discussion of personal goals and ride schedules.  It looks like the EV guys will be assisting with regular open group rides which will stop by the shop on Saturdays or Sundays dependent on race schedule.  They are currently offering an invitation to new members to hop on their midday weekly training rides which leave promptly at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays through January 08.  Check the community calendar for contact info.  We talked about their experiences balancing family, career and cycling fun.  After we finished our final pitcher of specialty ale, the meeting ended with a downpour and a soaked ride home.

Do you ride bicycles off road? Wish we had more stuff to ride? I know I do. Portland United Mountain Pedalers(PUMP) is having a work party on Firelane 5 in Forest Park on Saturday 11/3/07. Pump is in the process of formally adopting this trail, and a large user turn out would demonstrate the cycling community's committment to maintain singletrack in town. I personally ride this trail weekly, so I would love to see a swarm of trail users helping to keep this trail safe and fun. If you can make it on Saturday please do! Bring work gloves, wet weather gear and water. Hope to see you there. Stay alert out there folks and keep riding your bike!

Lots of activity since the last posting. Several shop folks took a trip to Bend and the McKenzie River around the 4th of July. I broke a bone in my hand on the mad dash to complete the McKenzie river trail before dark.

***Quick note:
Hands are useful in the bike shop during the summer. I don't recommend attempting to run/ work in a bike shop with a broken bone in your hand. Clay worked with his broken collar bone, and he seemed to manage well enough. I tried with my hand bone. It was not neato.***

The broken hand has made the blogging, repairing and riding difficult, which made me cranky. I tried to listen to the medical people, but their suggestions didn't take at first so the hand took a while to set up. Another reminder. Listen to the medical people, they often have some good advice. I met a randoneering zealot who taunted me with his tales of multiple century weekends while hanging out in the cast room. Bike nuts in all walks of life.

We have had a very busy season so far and we decided to take a little "brake" in the action, yuk, yuk! A few of us are headed out of town this Sunday through Wednesday to regroup in the woods for a little cyclisimo and family time. We will be back in the shop on Thursday the 5th of July. Feel free to fill up our answering machine with sassy messages, ideas, comments etc, but we won't be able to help you till Thursday. Enjoy whats left of your American freedom and we will catch you after the 4th.