Pedal Bike Tours Blog

Look what’s on the cover of the most popular guidebook in Japan!

If you didn’t know, Portland is full of foodies, but there were even more in town last week for our first culinary tour.  The International Association of Culinary Professionals recently held their annual conference here in Portland to provide information and inspiration to food lovers from around the world.  Chefs, critics, gourmands and gourmets descended upon Portland for a taste of what our local cuisine has to offer.  Pedal Bike Tours gladly contributed to the event by organizing a custom culinary tour for fifteen attendees.  During our tour, both guides and participants got much more than just a taste of some of the excellent eats available in North Portland.

The first stop was Toro Bravo, an award winning Spanish inspired tapas restaurant on Russell St.  After overwhelming the convenient Toro Bravo bike corral, our group settled down for a delicious sampling of various treats including paella, smokedpork rillettes, and “Kisses,” brandy soaked prunes stuffed with foie gras.  Chef/owner John Gorham patiently fielded questions as we feasted and sipped refreshing sangria

Next we were off to Grand Central Bakery for a brief presentation by Piper Davis, head baker and co-author of the cookbook, “The Grand Central Baking Book.”  Afterwards we gathered together for strawberry rhubarb pie and coffee.  For those with room a plate of “Green Goat” sandwiches beckoned.  This smart combination of hazelnut arugula pesto, chevre, and roasted beets puts even bigger smiles on the faces of those who indulged.

Our bike mob continued on to Mississippi Ave. for a stop at The Meadow.  Owner Mike Bitterman offered samples of his artisan chocolates and gourmet finishing salts.

We then rode on to local taqueria Por Que No where owner Bryan Steelman greeted us as we sat down to try various Por Que No favorites such as Oaxacan style pollo tamales, crispy and juicy carnitas, and the surprisingly delectable veggie tacos.  A mixture of fresh strawberry and pineapple juice helped to wash it all down.

Though we were all filling up fast on great food, the best was yet to come as we hopped on our bikes and headed to Ned Ludd, a modest North Portland restaurant owned and operated by Jason French and Ben Meyer.  Opened in December 2008, Ned Ludd offers handcrafted food from a wood-fired oven.  Jason and Ben are inspired by traditional European and American immigrant foodways.  As Jason spoke to our group about various aspects of the restaurant and menu, it was obvious that both chefs are extremely passionate about every aspect of their food and space.  With a focus on sustainability, community, and local produce, as well as a commitment to preparing food the right way as opposed to the easy way, Ned Ludd is truly the perfect Portland eatery.  Samples included pastured pork chops with porky smothered kale and the popular mac ‘n’ mornay appetizer.

Our final stop was Lincoln Restaurant on the corner of Williams and Shaver.  Lincoln offers a comfortable, contemporary atmosphere with simple dishes elemental in style, flavor and presentation.  Co-owner David Welch welcomed us as we enjoyed dessert, Jenn Louis’s dreamy Rhubarb Pavlova with rhubarb, meringue and whipped cream. A fine end to several great meals.

With our bellies full, the group slowly made its way back to the shop before concluding the tour.  Our participants were clearly sated.  Thanks so much to the folks from the IACP who came with us!  We had just as much fun.

Now you can come, too!  Pedal Bike Tours is pleased to announce the Bites by Bike Culinary Tour as part of our regular tour offerings.  So come ride and taste with us!

With early torrential rains and low temperatures, it seemed as if Friday morning’s Gorge Tour might not happen.  But two of our hardy tour participants, Susan and Chris of Boulder, Co. , decided to brave the elements anyway in order to experience the scenic Columbia River Gorge and its many lovely waterfalls.  Susan and Chris came to Portland to show a 2 minute fake sausage commercial at Portland’s Faux Film Festival taking place at the Hollywood Theater this weekend.

While Susan and Chris are accustomed to rough mountain bike trails and have hiked extensively in Alaska, Washington and Central America, Friday morning’s rain proved challenging.  Even so there were smiles on their faces as we strolled alongside the Gorge’s unique waterfalls and admired it’s beautiful vistas.  And they were quick enough riders that we all had time to do an extra hike at the end of the ride.  Awesome job guys!

With my tour participants exhibiting such great riding mettle, I figured the least Pedal Bike Tours could do is show up to support them at the film festival.    So at 7 pm last night, I was fortunate enough to see Susan and Chris’s handiwork as I sat through “A Great way to Start the Day,” one of the racier 2 min. fake sausage commercials I have even seen.  The rest of the shorts were as much fun, and I even made it through the 1:40 min. feature “Scream of the Bikini.” Alas I was too tired to attend the after party at Sam’s Billiards.

I highly recommend checking out the rest of the festival tonight and Sunday.  You can view Susan and Chris’s other projects at Luna Moth Productions.

Check out this neat little piece from a local news cast on the Historic Highway and the efforts to reopen it for bicycles along its entire 72 mile length.  The Friends of the HCRH are working to get it all open by 2016.  It’s a lofty goal but will be worth it, I can’t wait!

Grant’s Getaways

Time Magazine wants you to take a bike tour!  Given 24 hours in Portland Time list 10 things you should do and number 2 is you should take a bike tour across some of bridges that span the Willamette river through the center of Portland.  Our Historic Downtown tour takes us across 3 of the 4 (5 beginning next week!)  The other 9 must do things are pretty awesome too!

http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975578,00.html

Check out this cool video about a Portland bike commuter who takes the Tour de France to work with him…

(and yes, it is that green and bike friendly here!)

watch?v=CI7T2iuGjjc

The pedal cargo bike is up and ready to go!  Holly is so excited!

Credit goes to Tom at Tom’s Cargo Bikes, Brooker Enterprises for the powder coating and Benn Schonman at Schonman Signs for the decals.  Great job guys!

Here’s a link to see the photos:

Cargo Bike Photos

Art By Bike- First Friday

Free community bike ride to Southeast Portland’s Monthly Art Walk

We had so much fun last month we’re doing it again! Check out highlights on our blog. On April 2nd feed your soul and stretch your legs with Pedal Bike Tours and Art Scout Art Consulting on a free bike tour from Pedal’s shop (2249 N Williams) to First Friday, southeast Portland’s version of Last Thursday where galleries and other businesses throw a street-side party of art, food and community.

Easy riding for everyone, bring spouses, significant others, grandparents, children, even portable pets! We’ll ride on quiet streets through lovely neighborhoods and pause for nourishing art and refreshments at three different galleries.

Date: April 2nd

Time:5:30pm-8:30pm

Where: starting at Pedal Bike Tours, 2249 N. Williams

Stop 1) B. Rogers Gallery

Address: 2415 NE Broadway St.

Telephone: (503) 236-0600

Hours: Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-5 First Friday till 8

Sky, Roads, and Rivers Pastel works by Andrea McFarland.

Stop 2) Grass Hut www.grasshutcorp.blogspot.com

Address: 811 East Burnside St.

Telephone: (503) 445-9924

Hours: W-Su 12-7pm and First Fridays

“Balls Out”, as in give it your all. A group show of 50+ Artist from all over the country who were given a panel of wood, ink, and felt to do what ever they wanted to do with.

Stop 3) New Space www.newspacephoto.org

Address: 1632 SE 10th Ave.
Telephone: (503) 963-1935

Hours: M-Th 10am-10:30pm, F-Su 10am-6pm and First Fridays

Photography show with works by Bryan Wolf and Elizabeth Fleming.

The Car That Killed The Hat

I walked the 2 miles to work the other day. I do it sometimes because the dog can’t ride the bus, it’s good exercise (for me and the dog) and it only takes 30 minutes.

Today’s walk was a bit more interesting because of the steady rain coming down. Knowing my waist length rain jacket merely sheds water straight down, leaving me very quickly with wet pants, I opted to put on rain pants. Now I really looked like I was going for a hike, even if it was an urban one.

Now, generally when moving about the city I like to look like I’m a city dweller, not a hiker who’s wandered out of the woods and lost his way. The same is true when I’m riding my bike around town. When I’m out on a training ride it’s spandex all the way, but for errands, commuting or heading out on the town, I prefer to wear street clothes.

So, as I’m walking along all duded out in my plastic shell with my hood up I began to wonder to myself why I was dressed this way and how I might have dressed differently. For example, I could have worn my mighty fine Pendleton wool coat which goes down to my knees. THAT would shed water nicely, resulting in minimally wet pants, if at all. Of course, then there’s the issue of my head, what about keeping it warm and dry? I had a stocking cap on, but that doesn’t keep the rain out of your eyes or off your face and neck. A nice wide brim is perfect for keeping the weather off your face and neck, stylishly too.

President Kennedy was credited for “killing” the hat when he stopped wearing one around 1960. But why did he stop? Did fashion suddenly change after hundreds of years, never to return? This is what I think happened: Cars were invented, people started to buy, ride in, and drive them. Cars have roofs, heaters and later, air conditioning, precluding the necessity to dress for the weather. With a car you can move from your warm house to your warm car to the warm store, office, shopping mall, etc. As fewer and fewer people walked from place to place and more and more people used cars the necessity for hats, warm overcoats, etc. dropped rapidly. Finally, President Kennedy was the first one to take that fateful step, leaving his hat in the closet and its fate was sealed. Poof, no more hats.

Recently the hat has been making a comeback in Portland and elsewhere. British driving caps, cycling caps and various brimmed hats are appearing on heads all over the place. Whether this indicates more people are moving around and in need of a head covering to keep the rain off or if it’s just pure fashion, I don’t know, but it is nice to see hats making a small comeback.

How many other previously ubiquitous things have disappeared with the rise of the automobile and will they reappear as we move slowly away from the hegemony of the automobile culture? We’ll see…

Todd