You can bet I was heartbroken when the kind lady at Citybikes
informed me that my bike wasn’t worth fixing.
“We generally don’t fix Target bikes. It’s kind of a store policy.”
Especially not when they’re over 20 years old, and valued at around
$25.
Needless to say, I’m not a frequent biker. Or at least I wasn’t,
until rising gas prices and a shortage of paid jobs made me realize
that biking was, really, the only sensible option.
A few months back, I got a bike for free from a friend’s parent
(thanks, Mr. Hardy), and it has gotten me where I needed to
go—all 50 pounds of it. But as a new biker in Portland, I
certainly wasn’t making the most sensible choices. My bike has been
called a “death trap,” with brakes that stop functioning when they get
wet, no lights to speak of, and gears that shift (and detach) at
random. Also, I tend to wear darker colors, and I was without a helmet
for way too long.
Fortunately, Portland is not without bike resources for newbie
bikers. In fact, Portland is flush with them, and they are oh so
willing to dispense advice.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is a great place to start; as
far as Portland bike resources go, they are king. Their website
showcases the various cycling events taking place in the city (which
are numerous) as well as providing tips for getting around Portland.
And bikeportland.org is the best
source for keeping you up to date on biking news around the city.
The Portland by Bicycle map is a necessity for general Portland
biking, and is available at every respectable bike shop. If you’re
looking for more in-depth maps, the Portland Office of Transportation
provides maps of nearly every nook of Portland for free—either
via the website or by phone order.
But really, talking to other cyclists is the best resource. Every
respectable biker has their favorite routes through the city, and most
are even willing to offer tips on how to fix what’s ailing your ride
(in my case, they would mostly say, “this bike is fucked”). Biking
through a city can be daunting, but there’s a reason we are a hugely
popular city for biking; somewhere out there is a route to get you
where you’re going. And as long as you show courtesy to cars, they tend
to show it back to you.
But for now, it’s time for me to say good-bye to my silver Road
King. Thanks to Dubya’s surplus check, I am on my way to Citybikes to
buy a lightweight refurbished mountain bike. Maybe then the little
girls on pink bikes will stop passing me.