OTIS AND THE BIKE RIDE

Welcome To Bike Friendly Portland

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - Day 40

Arrived in Portland today, after a not so long ride from the campgrounds. It was hot today. Once I got in the city and took a break for a snack around 4, though, it was really nice. I sat on a bench at a little park by the river, eating crackers with peanut butter and honey, watching the people go by on the path right in front of me. At least two bikes went by every minute I was there. All kinds of riders, from young kids and hipsters to business commuters actually wearing suits to middle-aged yuppies who try too hard and have way too much expensive gear that you really don't need. It was great.

I've seen every kind of bike since I got here, from trendy fixed gears to old beater cruisers to really high-end race and mountain bikes. There really is quite a bike culture here, just like everyone said there would be.

So far the city seems nice. Granted, I've only been here half a day. I rode around the city a bit, as I have a nice Portland Metro Area bike map. I was looking for an army surplus store to find some wool t-shirts and a bike co-op where I can do a little maintenance and cleaning. It seems pretty easy to navigate around here, all gridded out and everything. I found the army surplus store but they were closing. They said they don't have wool t-shirts, but the guy didn't seem sure, so I'm going to check for myself tomorrow. Also found two bike co-ops, one shop - two locations. They offer rack time for minor stuff, but maybe not suited for what I want to do. One location buys used gear so I decided to see how much they would be willing to give me for my shoes and pedals. Fucking city folk. I know my shoes are dirty, I haven't cleaned them yet, hell I had just gotten into town, but they tried to offer me just $18 for them. Come on. I just got these a month and half ago, they are brand new, minus the 1500 miles I just put on them, but still. They are $220 new. The girl there didn't seem to know what she was talking about. They give you 50% in cash of what they would sell it for. They had a pair of very similar shoes, but older and in roughly the same shape for $70. I pointed that out to the girl and she tried to tell me that mine were older. I told her they weren't and that they retail for $220. I worked in a bike shop, I said. I do too, she said, offended. Oh well. I don't know why I got so worked up about it. I'll just sell them on Craigslist. There really is a lot of pretention at bike shops in cities. It really sucks.

So I'm staying here with a friend of a friend. Dre from Dusty Rhodes hooked me up with her friend Max. It's a sweet deal. I think he's cool with me staying here as long as I'm in town. He just has a small studio, but I don't really care. I got a decent spot on the floor. It has a bathroom with a shower and even a kitchen, so I'm set.

So while I'm here I'm hoping to clean up my bike, sell some stuff, rethink my whole packing strategy and what I've brought, drop some unnecessary gear, meet some new people, see the city, maybe see a few people I know. Try to soak it all in.

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