This post is brought to you in partnership with Stubb’s Bar-B-Que
As we all know, bacon makes everything better. You know what, though? So does barbecue sauce!
These spicy grilled jalapeño poppers are stuffed with an addictive mix of Stubb’s Sticky Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce, cheddar and cream cheese, and glazed bacon before being grilled until hot and bubbly.
Continue reading "BBQ Bacon Jalapeño Poppers" »
Should be perfect conditions for racing at Skibowl at the 6 Hours of Mt. Hood.
(Photo: Portland Racing)
The Weekend Event Guide is sponsored by Abus Bike Locks. Thanks Abus!
Hard to believe it’s already July and Pedalpalooza is coming to a close.
There’s one more huge ride that you just have to experience at least once. Loud n’ Lit will rampage through the streets tonight, blasting tunes and good vibes all over the city.
Sunday is packed with fun rides from here to Seattle, including a group ride to Gateway Green that leaves from outer northeast Portland.
Check out the full menu below…
Loud n’ Lit – 9:30 pm at Irving Park (NE 7th and Fremont)
This massive blowout party ride will cap off Pedalpalooza. Expect an all-night celebration that starts with a slow and lout and very well-lit parade through the streets. Expect a huge crowd (2,000 in years past!) and mobile dance spectacular that organizers say is “loud than virtually every club in town.” More info here.
Sorella Forte Women’s Club Ride – 9:00 am at River City Bicycles (706 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd)
Weekly women-only ride at an intermediate pace. Sorella is one of Portland’s best clubs. Come learn from and meet very nice people who are good at riding bicycles. More info here.
Beginner Friendly Road Ride – 10:00 am at Western Bikeworks (1015 NW 17th)
Work on your leg strength and group riding skills on this easy, 1-2 hour ride with the kind folks at Western Bikeworks. Free pre-ride coffee. More info here.
NW Tandem Rally – 8:00 am at University of Washington (Seattle)
Join the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club for this annual gathering of tandem enthusiasts (single riders welcome). Numerous ride options, vendor fair, BBQ, beer garden, ice cream social, and more. More info here.
Sauvie Shootout – 9:00 am at Ovation Coffee & Tea (941 NW Overton)
Weekly training ride out to (and around) Sauvie Island and up into the West Hills. Splits into different speed groups. More info here.
Group ride to Gateway Green – 10:00 am at NE 96th and Sandy TriMet Park & Ride
Portland Wheelmen (and women!) are leading a ride to the new off-road bike park at Gateway Green. Dust off your MTB and join them! More info here.
Six Hours of Mt. Hood (MTB Race) – 10:00 am at Mt. Hood Skibowl
8th annual mountain bike endurance and relay race you can enter as a two-person team or solo. 6-mile laps include twisty, forested singletrack and great views of Mt. Hood (of course). Free post-race chili lunch and $1 beers. More info here.
Beyond Portlandia Bike Tour – 3:00 pm at Everybody’s Bike Tours & Rentals (305 NE Wygant)
This free guided tour will take delve into the histoy of the Albina neighborhood and Vanport. Learn your history from ancient settlers to modern-day social issues. Any tips donated to Self Enhancement Inc. More info here.
Zoobomb – 8:30 pm at the Pyle (SW 13th and Burnside)
A proud Portland tradition. Do it again or do it for the first time. Just do it… better! More info here.
What are your plans? Share in the comments… And have a great weekend!
Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.
The post Weekend Event Guide: MTB race, mobile dance party, ‘Beyond Portlandia’ & more appeared first on BikePortland.org.
Fellow gardeners, you know this tale well. You step away from your garden bed for 1 minute (or a weekend) and come back to find a monster zucchini hiding in the greenery.
Sometimes the plant warns you. Regular zucchini production starts slowing down, odd for early summer. The reason? All of the plant’s attention is going to feeding that one humungous baseball bat of a zuke.
Fortunately, those ginormous zucchinis are perfect for stuffing!
Continue reading "Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini" »
Yellow line shows the location of the old Gideon-Brooklyn footbridge. A crucial neighborhood connection, it was torn down by TriMet in 2013 and never replaced.
At long last TriMet says they’ll replace the old footbridge that used to cross over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks between Southeast Gideon and Brooklyn/16th streets.
The rickety old bridge was demolished in 2013 as part of the construction of the Orange Line MAX. It was supposed to be replaced by a new bridge, but TriMet never built it. At the time, TriMet said they cut the replacement bridge out of the project in order to meet a federally mandated 10 percent reduction in the Orange Line project budget.
Even though the project came in under budget, TriMet sent remaining funds back to the federal government. Neighborhood and transportation activists were furious.
The bridge is a crucial connection between a new MAX station and jobs to the south of the railroad line and neighborhoods to the north. With a connection lacking, many people make the risky decision of crossing over the tracks on foot — and even walking through train cars during long stoppages at the nearby Brooklyn yard.
A 2015 story in the Willamette Week quoted a Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood District (HAND) Association member saying, “The freight train cuts off our whole neighborhood from the MAX station. People are going to be running across [the rail yard] to avoid missing their light-rail trains.”
Here’s more background from HAND neighborhood activist and Bike Loud PDX leader Jessica Engelman. She shared the good news on the Bike Loud PDX email list last week:
“The Gideon Bridge was a project added to the Orange Line MAX project at the request of area residents and the neighborhood association to replace the ped bridge over the freight tracks at SE 16th that had to be removed for Orange Line construction. It would provide ped/bike access from the north side of the freight/light rail tracks, where more residences and businesses are located, to the south, where the MAX Station and access to Tilikum Crossing are located. It was considered a crucial project because due to the proximity to Brooklyn Rail Yard, long, slow freight trains that block all north-south access are a frequent occurrence at this location.”
Despite the lost funding opportunity through the Orange Line project; neighborhood activists and Metro Councilor Bob Stacey kept the dream alive by getting a new bridge into the Central City 2035 Plan and the Portland Transportation System Plan.
We followed up with TriMet Communications Manager Roberta Altstadt yesterday to confirm the news. She said the agency has secured approval from the Federal Transit Administration to design and construct a new Gideon bridge using Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project funds.
No details about the project are available yet; but City of Portland documents show the estimated cost to be $10 million. The Lafayette Street Bridge, which TriMet built as part of the Orange Line MAX project, sits about one-third of a mile south of Gideon/Brooklyn. As we reported in 2015 that bridge cost about $4 million and includes an elevator for bicycle and mobility device users.
Altstadt says design of the new bridge and a public process will begin this fall (in partnership with PBOT). The new bridge is expected to be completed by mid-2019.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
The post At long last, TriMet says a new Gideon Street-Brooklyn bridge is coming appeared first on BikePortland.org.
Job Title *
Full Time Painter
Company/Organization *
Argonaut Cycles
Job Description *
Argonaut Cycles is looking for an experience painter to lead their expanding bicycle frame painting and finishing capabilities.
Required Experience:
Use of two and three stage paint process: basecoat application, clearcoat application, and polishing.
Paint mask design and the use of an automated plotting machine.
Paint mask application and removal.
Surface preparation on a variety of substrates including composites.
Overall Job Description:
Execute Argonaut paint designs on in-house fabricated Argonaut custom bicycle frames.
Refine current Argonaut paint SOP’s in order to drive efficiency.
Build and maintain a digital representation of paint inventory.
Develop trainable application systems in order to train others and increase output.
Compensation will be based on prior experience. All Argonaut full time employees have health coverage and access to retirement benefits.
How to Apply *
contact ben@argonautcycles.com
The post Job: Full Time Painter – Argonaut Cycles appeared first on BikePortland.org.
Summer is here and with it comes camping, picnics, barbeques, and dining alfresco with the ladies, as well as ripe berries and stone fruit so juicy they drip down your chin.
Oddly enough, this year seeing those peaches at the market triggered a vivid memory of this past winter. Just a little over six months ago – we were standing with family and thousands of other Angelenos at the Women’s March. There were signs with peaches on them, and the questions ‘What will things be like during peach season this year? And, would the call for change still be as charged?’ came to mind.
The next morning the In Chorus print (benefiting the DWC) went live and there was an overwhelming positive response which moved The Jungalow ladies to tears.
Spring soon came around and we were reminded of those same questions when seeing the neighborhood peach trees blossoming, and then as if in a blink of an eye those sweet peaches were at the farmer’s market.
The next morning our friend, Leela Cyd, serendipitously emailed us that the mini-cookbook Cooking Up Trouble was headed to the presses and would be arriving in the mail soon.
She and Anne Parker, longtime friends, partnered to develop COOKING UP TROUBLE– and invited other creative women to join them and contribute recipes that nourish women. Afterall Studio headed up the design aspect of the project and 100% of the profits benefit Planned Parenthood.
We are excited to share with you a few of our favorites from the book here.
Leela Cyd’s Anything-Goes Jam Switchel
from Cooking Up Trouble
Serves 4
4 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
4 Tablespoons Jam (We used Harry’s Berries Mar de Bois Strawberry Jam – Yum!!!)
1 Vanilla Bean
Place apple cider vinegar and jam into a mason jar. Scrape vanilla bean pod contents into vinegar mixture and toss whole pod exterior in as well. Screw lid on tight and give a very strong shake to combine all ingredients. Leave in fridge for about 12 hours and then divide into 4 juice glasses, top with about 1 cup bubble water (or still water) per glass, stir thoroughly and enjoy.
Anne Parker’s Fennel Arugula Salad
Serves 4 to 6
1 Large bulb of fennel (or 2 small bulbs), shaved
3 Large Handfuls of Arugula
Chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved
Handful of fresh dill, chopped
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of Half a Lemon
1 Teaspoon flake salt
1 Clove garlic, Peeled
In a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic and salt into a thick paste, Scrape into the bottom of a laarge serving bowl. Add the olive oild, a small amount of the dill, and lemon juice. Whisk until emulsified.
Add the shaved fennel, arugula, and dill to the bowl and lightly toos to coat the greens. Using a vegetable peeler, shave sheets of cheese into the salad. Serve immediately.
Peach Rose Crumble Bars
based on Elizabeth Collings’s Raspberry Rose Crumble Bars found in Cooking Up Trouble
Makes 9-12 bars
For the Crust and Crumble
3/4 Cup Oats
3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Teff Flour
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Cup Coconut Oil, Room Temperature
Zest of a Ojai Pixie
1 Teaspoon Caraway seeds.
For the Peach Filling
1 1/2 Cups chopped peaches
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 1/4 Teaspoons Rose Water
2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
Pinch of Salt
Line an 8″x8″ pan with parchment paper leaving an overhand on all sides. In a medium mixing bowl add all of the dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Add the coconut oil and with your finders rub in the oil until it is all coated with the dry ingredients. Take about half of the dough and press it into the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate the crust for 30 minutes and up to overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the crust until it begins to turn golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the filling by placing all of the ingredients into a medium bowl. Stir and incorporate all of the ingredients. Set aside.
When the crust has been removed from the oven spread the filling over the top making sure it covers the entire bottom crust. Then, crumble the remaining dough over the filling (if some of the filling showing that is ok.) Place the bars back into the oven and continue to bake until the crumble starts to turn a golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Remove from pan.
Bars can be served warm, or wrapped tightly and placed in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cut into squares and enjoy.
Cooking Up Trouble is available for purchase here.
Creative bike racks? Intersection painting? Street seats? Get the city to pay for it!
(Photo of heart painting by Ted Timmons, others by Jonathan Maus)
Been itching to do an intersection painting in your neighborhood? Or how about a bike parking corral with a few creative flourishes?
“We’re inviting Portlanders to put their local knowledge and creativity to work to benefit their communities.”
— Dan Saltzman, PBOT commissioner
If so, you might want to look into the new Portland Bureau of Transportation grant program dubbed “Portland in the Streets” that will fund, “creative community projects to make neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and trails safer, more beautiful and open to all.” Community and neighborhood groups are eligible for up to $20,000 and a total of $100,000 is up for grabs.
“We created this program because small changes can make a big difference,” said transportation commissioner Dan Saltzman in a statement today. “We’re inviting Portlanders to put their local knowledge and creativity to work to benefit their communities.”
PBOT Director Leah Treat added, “I want to empower Portlanders with this grant program. They know best how their streets can serve them differently and better.”
The type of proposals the city hopes to fund are community-driven projects focused on infrastructure and education campaigns that promote transportation safety, equity, innovation and placemaking. Grants are also available for events in city streets and urban trails.
Examples of projects PBOT says they’ll fund include intersection paintings, creative crosswalk art, street seats, transportation-related outreach campaigns, and more.
This new “Portland in the Streets” program is part of Portland’s emerging Livable Streets Strategy, a program that, “aims to empower communities across Portland to create and activate their own spaces.”
In other words, PBOT wants to promote the idea that streets are for more than just moving cars; they are public spaces that should be enjoyed by all. It’s all part of, “Portland’s new era of open streets.”
Grant applications are due August 31st. Download the application form or learn about upcoming informational workshops at the city’s website.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
The post New city grant program will fund livable streets projects appeared first on BikePortland.org.
We can wax on about the glory of the mojito – this perfect concoction of rum, mint, sugar, lime juice, and sparkling water — but I’m guessing you won’t need a lot of convincing in that regard.
Instead, let’s discuss the building of the mojito, which in my opinion, is what distinguishes a “good” mojito from a “truly incredible” mojito.
Continue reading "Mint and Lime Mojito" »
TriMet plans to build 10 of these station types east of 82nd on the new high-capacity bus line coming to Division Street.
Remember Metro and TriMet’s attempt to build a bus rapid transit line between downtown Portland and Gresham?
Three years ago the agencies embarked on an ambitious plan to route super-fast buses along SE Powell Blvd.
Unfortunately, a reluctance to constrain existing auto capacity on busy 82nd Avenue — a key link in the route — led to projected bus travel times that fell below federal requirements. In other words, their “bus rapid transit” wasn’t rapid enough.
The new plan agreed to by both agencies and a steering committee is to make significant bus upgrades and route a new, “high capacity transit” line on Division Street. If funding plans materialize as expected (they’re hoping to get into President Trump’s infrastructure budget), the $175 million project is scheduled to open in 2021 and will run 14 miles from Northwest Portland to the Gresham Transit Center/Mt. Hood Community College.
With the route utilizing Division Street, the Portland Bureau of Transportation wants to make sure the transit project maximizes potential of the Outer Division Safety Project, which is the centerpiece of their Vision Zero efforts. PBOT has teamed up with TriMet for the project’s first big open house tomorrow (6/29) Portland Community College Southeast (2305 SE 82nd) from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.
Like PBOT’s plans, TriMet’s project will impact bicycling in several important ways. The agency needs your feedback on new station locations and designs and how best to take bikes on-board the new — and longer — buses planned for the route. Whether you ride bikes, the bus, or both, now is the time to weigh in.
Last week I sat down with TriMet’s Division Transit Project Manager Michael Kiser and Active Transportation Planner Jeffrey Owen to learn more about the project.
Coordination with PBOT
PBOT graphic showing how elements of their Outer Division project intersect with TriMet’s Division Transit project.
TriMet’s Kiser says his project will “clarify the corridor” and create a better place for PBOT to insert its updates to Outer Division. “We will build off the approach they’ve defined,” he said.
For instance, PBOT’s plans call for protected bike lanes on Division from 82nd to the eastern city limits (164th or so). The city aims to complete these lanes with a temporary design using plastic “flexible posts” by the end of 2018. Then TriMet will come along and make the protected bike lanes permanent by 2021. Kiser said the TriMet project will include funding for real, physically protected (not just flex posts!) bike lanes “as a condition of project approval.”
Similar to the Orange Line MAX project, this transit investment will attract all sorts of attention in terms of planning and financial resources. At this relatively early stage in the design (plans are at 15 percent now and public feedback will help inform 30 percent plans), now is the time make sure current and future bikeways are smartly integrated.
Why not use Hawthorne instead of Tilikum?
The chosen alignment has raised eyebrows because it must cross the Union Pacific Railroad line at SE 8th Avenue. Some people hoped it would use Hawthorne instead due to fears about long railroad crossing wait times. TriMet prefers the Tilikum/SE 8th alignment for reliability (see below) and its stronger connections to OHSU and South Waterfront.
Kiser said Hawthorne was analyzed as a potential option, but was ultimately thrown out because projections showed it gets too clogged with auto traffic too often. TriMet also analyzed UPRR rail crossings and found that “incidents” (crossings) during AM and PM peak times are “pretty minor” and infrequent. “That gave us comfort about the risk of using the Tilikum route,” Kiser said. The assumption from TriMet is that wait times during morning and evening rush-hour would be less than three minutes.
TriMet says they’re also working with UPRR to speed up trains through the area. One method would be to install automatic train switches in the Brooklyn yard to replace manual onces currently in use.
Station designs and locations
With 41 stations and 80 platforms, the new Division transit line will significantly change the look and feel of the street.
TriMet will use four types of station designs along the route, depending on right-of-way and traffic volume restrictions. Here are the three designs:
Island 1:
Island 2:
Integrated 1:
Integrated 2:
Learn more about each design at the online open house.
Space for faster buses
None of this works if buses can’t go fast. And absent real, 100 percent bus-only lanes for the entire route, TriMet has devised several ways to increase bus speeds.
“Sometimes this project has exclusive right-of-way,” Kiser said, “But for the most part we’re operating within existing travel lanes.”
To keep buses moving quickly, TriMet is laser-focused on decreasing “dwell times” (when the bus is stopped for passenger loading) and using a combination of “bus access and transit” (BAT) lanes and high-tech traffic signals to clear cars out of the way.
There will be no more fare-checking by drivers (it will be more like getting on MAX light rail). Station platforms will be raised up so buses don’t have to kneel down for customers. The Hop Fastpass will be operational by the line’s opening day. The buses will have three boarding doors.
And about those BAT lanes: Some of the stations will have specially marked lanes where only buses and right-turning cars are allowed. To keep cars from blocking buses, new signals will be installed to give buses priority. “We’ll be implementing advanced technology for transit signal priority,” Kiser said. “Using systems we don’t even have in place today.”
The signals will be programmed to “flush” cars through the right-turn only BAT lanes so that approaching buses can access stops. TriMet’s Owen said, “It’s an invisible priority that will allow us to sneak through.”
Getting bikes on board (no more front racks!)
One of the biggest changes coming with this project are longer buses. They’ll be 60-feet long, 20-feet longer than typical TriMet buses. And they’ll have three doors instead of two. TriMet’s bike planner Jeff Owen says, “They’re kind of like a standard bus with half another bus attached to it.”
The upshot for bicycle users is threefold; room for more bikes, a bike-specific loading door, and the ability to store bikes on racks inside the bus instead of on exterior front racks.
TriMet says putting bikes inside the bus is meant to improve loading speeds. It’s a bonus that people won’t have to mess with those front racks — which take longer and are intimidating for many people to use.
As for the type of rack that will be in the new buses, that’s still undecided. Based on what other cities are using, TriMet’s Owen says the racks will either be a hook on the roof (similar to MAX) or more of a ramp-style.
If you’d rather park your bike, TriMet plans to install bike parking staples at the new stations. Because this project has a limited budget and existing right-of-way is so constrained, they won’t build new bike parking shelters or bike-and-rides.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider here. While it won’t be the full-fledged bus rapid transit we need; it will be TriMet’s first-ever high capacity bus line.
“We’re introducing a new type of mode,” Kiser shared with me last week. “We want it to be successful not just for this project but for future projects. We have to set our priorities accordingly, creating that balance between community needs, performance, and costs — and doing it in a way that is transportation and has integrity and equity built into it.”
How does it look to you? Is TriMet Please attend Thursday night’s open house and/or check out TriMet’s online open house.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber, advertise with us, or make a donation today.
The post Faster buses, better biking: Weigh in on TriMet’s Division Transit project appeared first on BikePortland.org.
Looking eastbound on SE Morrison near SE 8th. The lane on the right would be eliminated to make room for a protected bike lane.
Looking to improve safety and bicycle network connectivity in the central eastside, the Portland Bureau of Transportation is proposing a new protected bike lane on Southeast Morrison between Grand and 11th and a new bike lane on Belmont between Grand and 7th.
Morrison, which runs westbound toward the Willamette River, is designed as a couplet with eastbound Belmont. But for some strange reason (anyone know the history here?), there’s one eastbound lane on Morrison for the six blocks between Grand and 11th.
In a notice to nearby residents and business owners sent out earlier this month, PBOT asked for feedback for a new configuration that would shift the striping on Morrison, remove this eastbound lane, and add a protected bike lane. In addition, the project would re-stripe Belmont from Grand to 7th to add an eastbound bike lane.
“The unbalanced lane configuration in this section of SE Morrison is unusual and PBOT engineers are concerned about traffic safety,” reads the notice.
Here’s more from PBOT:
PBOT is proposing to remove this one eastbound lane and restripe SE Morrison as west-bound only consistently. This proposed change would maintain existing parking on both sides of the street and allow for a protected bike lane to be installed. The project would have the benefit of separating freight and bicycle traffic, ease pedestrian crossings, and would improve freight access to the Morrison Bridge off of 7th Avenue. PBOT would shift the striping slightly on SE Belmont from Grand to 7th to include an eastbound bike lane to complete the connection for cyclists; the number of motor vehicle lanes and parking on SE Belmont will not change.
Here’s the current configuration:
And here’s the proposal:
PBOT has shared these elements of the proposed configuration:
I’ve always thought this contraflow lane was awkward and unneccessary. PBOT data shows it gets very little use and over 96 percent of eastbound traffic uses Belmont instead. In their recent notice, PBOT points out that construction closures of the lane have had “little impact” on auto traffic.
And the safety issues are real. PBOT cites state data showing over 300 crashes in a 10-year period between Grand and 11th. 44 of them were directly related to the eastbound lane, 17 led to injuries and four of them involved bicycle users. PBOT also says the current lane configuration makes it more difficult to walk across Morrison because people have to look both ways for oncoming traffic.
The lack of a bikeway on inner Morrison — a key way to connect to the protected path on the Morrison Bridge — also exposes vulnerable road users to unnecessary risk. This has become an even greater problem since PBOT installed a protected bike lane between Grand and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd back in October.
To garner feedback and comments on the proposal, PBOT is circulating an online survey. They want to know how often survey takers travel on Morrison, what modes of transportation they use most often, and whether or not people support the proposal in general.
The survey is open until July 10th. You can also contact PBOT Project Manager Gabe Graff directly at Gabriel.Graff@portlandoregon.com.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber, advertiser, or make a donation today.
The post City seeks input on plan for bike lanes on inner Morrison and Belmont appeared first on BikePortland.org.
Job Title *
Bike Mechanic
Company/Organization *
Bike Gallery
Job Description *
The Bike Gallery is hiring now at all of our stores in Portland, Clackamas, Beaverton & Lake Oswego for experience bike mechanics and bike builders. We have both FT & PT positions available.
Bike mechanics represent the link between customers and our service department. Being able to comfortably interact with customers is a basic expectation of all service personnel. This includes being able to respond to telephone inquiries, and customers in the store who have questions, want to buy parts, drop off a bike for service, or pick up a completed service job. When not responding to customer needs, technicians will spend the balance of their shift building or repairing bicycles, installing parts, or calling customers who have completed repairs waiting to be picked up. Service technicians must be highly skilled in the maintenance and repair of a wide variety of bicycle makes, models, and component parts. It is also an expectation that service technicians will keep current with new technology and changes in equipment design.
Qualifications:
– prior shop experience preferred
– ability to diagnose and service a wide range of performance complaints for a wide range of equipment types
– ability to complete a bicycle assembly for any product carried, to the established quality standard, and within the established time parameters for the product in question
– ability to identify and perform all aspects of replacement part installation to the established time and quality standards
– preferred UBI certification
– strong customer service skills
– ability to work as a part of a team
Both permanent and seasonal positions are available. Permanent full-time employees are offered a full benefit package that includes medical/dental/vision insurance & 401(k) with a match as well as Aflac and Flex spending accounts.
How to Apply *
Send resume to bgresumes@bikegallery.com
The post Job: Bike Mechanic – Bike Gallery appeared first on BikePortland.org.
Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com
Converting a bathtub into a shower is not as difficult as you may think. If you don’t use your bathtub for bathing, why not convert your old bathtub into a walk in shower? Here are 3 tips on converting a tub to a shower.
Determine Spacing & Placement
A bathtub to shower conversion is easiest when you situate your new open shower in the space left behind by your bathtub, since your drain lines and water supply will already be in place. Moving plumbing can add significant cost to the project, plus require bringing in a plumber.
Spacing Required for a Walk In Shower:
Waterproofing and Drainage
Properly sealing the shower floor from water leaks will help protect your home from problems associated with water leaks, like wood rot, drywall damage and mold. Hot mops are prepared onsite and are the best way to waterproof the shower pan.
A standard drain may not be sufficient to stand the test of time. To ensure your shower remodel lasts for many years, select a high quality and durable drain. Source: Angieslist
Which Type of Shower Works Best for Your Space?
Now that you have some ideas about what you want your shower to look like, you’ll want to consider the best type of shower to install in your bathroom.
Shower stalls
All-in-one shower stalls that can be added to an existing tub-sized space can make your job easier. Many options exist with built-in ledges and shelving; some even have seating areas. The stalls typically include a curb to contain water and the option of installing any type of door you wish — or even just using a curtain.
Tiled shower curbs
A tiled shower created in the existing wall space usually necessitates a curb or ledge that will hold the door and keep the water inside the shower. The curb should be tall enough to contain moisture and short enough to step over easily. Curbs should also be polished and have smooth edges to reduce injury.
Curbless showers
Showers with no lip to contain the water make it much easier to access the shower, especially for the elderly or disabled. But beyond that, curbless showers offer a particular open look that is appealing and modern. The curbless style can also save you a little space if you’re making the most of a small area.
The issue with a curbless shower, of course, is the difficulty of containing the water. This problem can be minimized by choosing a shower screen — essentially, a pivoting glass door — and a directed showerhead that keeps the flow of water moving away from the rest of the bathroom. Source: HomeAdvisor
Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com
The post 3 Tips to Converting a Tub to a Shower appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.
Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com
So, you’ve taken the plunge (so to speak) and purchased your very own steam shower. Perhaps you’ve opted for a pre-fabricated, modular type that’s ready to use as soon as the pieces are properly secured and sealed. Or, perhaps you’ve splurged on a complete custom steam room. Whichever course you’ve followed, you can now have a personal spa experience any time you feel like it.
Even though you have the user instructions that came with the steam shower unit, and advice from either our support technicians or your own contractor, you may be wondering how exactly you should use your steam shower for the first time.
Begin by ensuring that your body temperature is at room temperature or cooler. Then, turn on the steam function. Sit back on the bench and soak up the warm steam for no more than 30 minutes. Afterwards, you can cool off by stepping out of the steam shower unit. Or, you can stand under the cool spray of the water. The key to enjoying the whole experience is to move gradually from one step to the other. Don’t shock your system by jumping into hot steam or standing under cold water at the end.
Did you opt for a combination steam shower-whirlpool tub? Lucky you! You have the option of switching at will between a relaxing steam shower and soaking in a luxury steam bath. As with the steam shower, make sure your body is not already too warm before slipping into the whirlpool tub. The key is to always make sure that you don’t overtax your circulation. “Used properly, a steam bath will help to overcome the stresses of everyday life, to relax and recover, and to gain new strength and improve general physical and mental well being” .
Do you have questions about how to use your steam shower or whirlpool tub? Ask us!
Contributed by: Perfectbath.com steam shower experts
The post Q & A: How Do I Use My Steam Bath For The First Time appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.
The Saltzman jersey from Portland-based Anthm Collective.
(Photos: James Buckroyd)
By our newest contributor, James Buckroyd.
In the world of product development, this is how it usually goes: You have a great idea, you make contact with an agent in Hong Kong or Mainland China and you start in a series of negotiations. After many long e-mail chains and late-night phone calls you begin to develop a product.
Unfortunately, what gets lost in the back-and-forths with the factory are the fine details that are essential to make the product shine in an ever-demanding consumer market. As you view sample after sample from your offshore agent, you realize things aren’t as perfect as you’d like them to be.
Rewind the tape. Enter Brian Anthony of Portland-based Anthm Collective.
“Basically we wanted gear to ride in that represented the values we believe in,” he shared with us recently. “So we went out and made it.”
“If something comes up, it’s a short bike ride to see what’s going on in person as opposed to 20 hours on a plane.”
— Brian Anthony of Anthm Collective on making his jerseys in Portland.
Anthony channels his knowledge of materials and product development into a cycling jersey (and brand) that is made in Portland, where he controls the details. Anthm uses local sewing contractors which allows him to have what he says is, “Complete visibility of how our garments are being made.”
“The other great thing about using local sewing contractors is that if something comes up, it’s a short bike ride to see what’s going on in person as opposed to 20 hours on a plane,” Anthony added.
This care in development is where craft meets manufacture and it takes the best of both worlds to produce great stuff.
Along with craft, material and manufacturing excellence, Anthony has a different business strategy. For many years bike shops have struggled with apparel sales; shoppers don’t buy in-store because they see the same products with more selection and discounts online. To them, apparel became a commodity. Anthony sells directly to bike shops with a unique feel and exclusivity (via a custom-embroidered shop logo) so buyers know that they are getting something special and won’t be tempted to “Google it”.
On display at River City Bicycles.
Now, let’s get to the nuts and bolts.
The Saltzman Jersey
The minimal styling and high couture vibe of this jersey immediately reminds you of a large brand founded in the UK that starts with an R. It’s difficult not to like this high-end aesthetic.
The Jersey is 60 percent polyester and 40 percent merino wool from New Zealand. That combo gives you the characteristics of wool (great heat management, moisture transfer and odor resistance), and polyester (structure to maintain shape and fit). The material is constructed so that the wool is close to the skin for comfort and polyester on the outer surface. This is different than most manufacturers and provides the benefit of less snagging and a better moisture transfer system.
The jersey I have is black and size medium. I’m 6-foot 3 with a 37-inch chest and narrow shoulders. The jersey fits me nice in length and doesn’t feel pinchy at the shoulders or neckline. The material has a nice hand feel and feels like a quality garment, not inexpensive cycling fodder. It is notably thinner than Rapha’s sport wool, which means it’s more suitable for more months in a milder climate and can be used in warmer weather where I would usually switch to a polyester jersey.
As an endurance rider, it’s important to me that garments are comfortable, fit well and have usable features as I am often on the bike for four to seven hours at a time.
Cases in point: The Saltzman has a silicon gripper strip on the rear hem and three open pockets in the back. The central pocket is deeper and the two outside ones are slightly tapered outward for easy access (a feature on some older Castelli jerseys that I really like). The jersey also has a small secure zippered pocket that is perfect for a credit card and a $20 bill. At first blush the pockets are located at a great height on the jersey (everyone hates pockets that are too high), but the test will be when I load them up with food and supplies. The neck line runs high and a flap over the zipper at the top stops it from snagging into your skin. The rest of the front is plain with a nicely embroidered logo in the same colour as the jersey — a subtle aesthetic for that high couture look found by the skinny guys in the black and white photoshoots.
On the road
This is Jonathan with the orange version of the jersey on its namesake road in Forest Park.
(Photo: J. Maus)
With around 600 miles on this jersey I can now say I have thoroughly used it. From short to long rides and at various temperatures this jersey seems to resonate as a solid 0-70 mile jersey. It breathes well and stays a tad warmer than a polyester single layer jersey. On chillier days I could wear the jersey in the mid 50s (with a base layer) all the way up to low 70s.
This jersey stands out in two areas. First, it looks smart. It’s pretty subdued and classy looking, not adorned with tons of logos or colour breaks like most other cycling apparel. When worn with fitted shorts (not skin-tight spandex) the outfit has a refined, high-end urban look look.
The second bonus area is that you can wear it multiple times without it smelling – the benefit of wool and a well-designed mositure transfer between the layers. On its longest stretch I managed to wear it for 4 days, each day riding about 35 miles.
On the flip-side, there were a couple of downers. Personally, I like doing longer rides of 80 to 110 miles and found that for longer rides, the pockets weren’t quite designed well enough for the gear and food I had to carry. With a bit of weight in them the side pockets tend to sag off the sides and they are not quite deep enough.
The second area that was a little concerning is pilling (when tiny balls form on top of the fabric). In a short amount of time I found that the material on the front of the jersey pilled up a little, maybe because this was a prototype? Indeed. Anthony assured me this issue has been resolved on production versions.
And there are a couple of fit changes I would suggest to the folks at Anthm; one being the tail of the jersey be made shorter and possibly run the pockets 15 mm longer.
Summary
At $120 this jersey offers high value and craftsmanship, great construction and quality materials. And the fact that it’s made in Portland is a win for all of us.
See the Saltzman jersey in person at River City Bicycles in Portland or University Bicycles in Boulder, and learn more at AnthmCollective.com.
— James Buckroyd, BuckyRides.com and @jbucky1 on Instagram.
The post Product review: The Saltzman jersey from Anthm Collective appeared first on BikePortland.org.
