PDX Bicycle Show highlights

Boy I sure am glad that I just didn't blindly head down to the Convention Center, where last year's show took place, but checked online and discovered that this year, the Expo Center was the place to be.  I got to see & touch & test some really awesome products, and talk to their designers.  Here are the ones that I liked so much that we may eventually carry them at Upcycles - if you're interested in anything here, we can certainly special order!

Retroshift - It's kind of tricky to explain this one, but it's an ingenious retrofit of a downtube shifter on a Tektro ergo brake lever.  Designed with cyclocross in mind, but I would totally use them for commuting and touring as well...combines the functionality of STI levers with the reliability of downtube shifters.  The only problem is that I didn't think of them first!  Here's a photo:

Green Guru - Biking gear made from "upcycled" bike tubes, climbing ropes, wetsuits, and other outdoor gear.  They're all made in Boulder, CO, by really nice folks.  I love the sexy goes-with-everything matte black look of this line!

Flipside Hats - Your friends wear 'em and you should, too: fashionable hats made from "abandoned" materials, hand-crafted right here in Portlandia.

Titus/Planet X/On One - designers and direct sellers of thriftily-priced steel and carbon-fiber frames and components.  You might see me riding one of their carbon fiber cyclocross frames soon...

Alright, enough of this: it's time for me to enjoy the last of this weekend's sun :)

Two awesome bike tripping resources!

Here at Upcycles, we're always trying to encourage our friends to take a fun step up from daily commuting and go on a little weekend bike adventure!

While the term "bike touring" may seem a bit daunting for some - I dunno, maybe it makes you think of loaded bikes trudging across the Sahara desert?  Well, just think: with the bike you currently own, whether it be your commuter, road bike or mountain bike, you can explore the area just outside the city limits and gain new perspective on where you already live.  Some call it "credit card touring," others call it "bike camping," but I'm just going to pretend that I've coined the term "bike tripping."

A quick and refreshing one or two night jaunt can place you in the veritable middle of nowhere in a few hours, especially if you utilize the Max transit system to get a head start either east or west.  The past couple of summers I've biked the Banks-Vernonia trail several times and it's a blast!  Here are two neat websites to help you outfit yourself for a short bike trip.  Chances are, you probably have nearly everything you need, but for anything that you may not, at Upcycles we're ready to help!

Bike Overnights - a website organized by Adventure Cycling Association.

Rivendell Bike Camping and Touring - very informative - I love perusing this bike builder's site!

(Better weather will be here soon, I promise...)