Next Ride Saturday March 17 Rites of Spring

Slug Founding

Inspired by members of the iBOB newsgroup and others who desire a group ride without the potential intimidation factor of traditional club rides, Slug Velo debuted in Portland on February 1st 2003. About two dozen relaxed riders were on hand for our Groundhog Weekend Coffee Worship Ride. The ride was fun and met the goal of a mellow pace. You can view some photos from the ride.

The Slug Velo Ride Guide

• No one gets dropped. Ever. To reduce the intimidation factor so often found in traditional velo club rides we will never exceed speeds of 8 to 10 miles an hour. Perhaps we'll make an exception for a big downhill, but we'll be carefull there.
• Helmets are required. You get only one brain in this life. Keep it safe. Slug Velo values brains of every stripe and we want yours to get home safely. Helmets are cheap and they work. In Oregon the law requires helmets for all riders 16 and under.
• Clothing is required. There are times and places to ride nekkid. A Slug Velo ride isn't one of them. Please don't come naked to ride with us. Consider a casual look there's no penalty for wearing sneakers or riding with flat pedals. Wear lycra at your own risk.
• We'll follow the law. If you think you don't know about the legal responsibilities of bicyclists you can review Oregon Cycling laws. In particular we'll stop for stop signs and red lights; ride no more than two abreast; and, signal for turns and slowing down. Note: If the group is divided by a traffic signal front riders will wait for the rear group to join them after the next green light. We'll ride with the traffic flow, which sometimes means in the traffic flow.
• Ride any bike you want as long as it's safe. As in: make sure your brakes work. If we might be out after dark have lights. No bike snobbery will be allowed. We want all bicyclists to feel welcome.
• Expect a theme. Our first ride was the Groundhog Weekend Coffee Worship Ride starting, breaking and ending at coffe shops. We admired inventive ways of carrying hot coffee on bicycles. We ignored any shadow sighting that might portend more weekend. We sang Happy Birthday to Beth. Late in the spring we have a Garage Sale ride that stops at garage, moving and estate sales. August dips into ice cream places for the most delicious ride of the year.
• Variable Routes, no rut for the Slugs. We'll keep it under 20 miles, maybe even under 15. It will always start in or near Portland and sometimes loop and sometimes not. Routes will be chosen for making the ride one that can be enjoyed while chatting with the person riding next to you.

Just to be extra clear this is not a Critical Mass Ride! Critical mass aims to make a powerful statement. Slug Velo is a social ride at a determidly mellow pace and nothing more.

Ride Schedule

Rites of Spring Saturday March 17, 10:00
Host: Jeff Wills
The Rites of Spring ride starts at the special 10AM RST (Recumbent Standard Time: we've never had a ride start on time, so why start now?). We'll start from the Gateway Transit Station Park 'n' Ride lot, south of the Transit Station proper and Pacific Street. There's a real purty flyer. Map and cue sheet coming.

Another way to look at it:
Celebrate the Vernal Equinox!
Come out and worship the single ray of sunshine that cracks the firmament and heralds the coming of Spring! Dance and cavort among the bloomin' flowers! (And ride about 35 miles, too.) Odd bicycle enthusiasts of all sorts encouraged to attend! Head cat herder: Jeff Wills (Note: there will be a "Slug-esque" shorter ride option available, as there was last year. Details to follow.)

Dress for the weather! Remember money to buy food! And Coffee!

Coming Up
March: Rites of Spring Ride (shared with Oregon HPV), hosted by jeff K.
May: Yard sale Ride: open, can be hosted by anyone who wants to take us yard-sale-ing in a new neighborhood.
June: Rose Ride. Beth, the traditional ride leader for this event, will be happy to offer this up to someone else who wants to share a new route wth us. Or she'll host it again.
August: Will you scream for an Ice Cream Ride?
October: Fall Colors Ride -- hosted by Beth H.
What's your favorite neighborhood to ride in? Give us a tour!

Notes For All Rides

Riders will be asked to sign a waiver and wear a helmet to participate. We promise that no one will get dropped off the back -- our rides are not races! (If you decide to peel off the front, well, have a lovely ride.)

Heads Up! We really mean this enough to repeat it.

1. We require helmets to avoid legal difficulties that might arise. Not just for kids, but for everyone. So if you wanna ride, you must wear a bike helmet. They're cheap and they work.
2. Riders will be asked to sign a wavier and a ride sheet so if they have an accident we can call someone to come for them. Again this is to avoid legal difficulties.

Previous SlugVelo Rides

   February 2003
The inaugural ride on Saturday, February 1st the Slug Velo riders met at from Groundswell Coffee, corner of NE 19th and Alberta Streets in Portland.

From that beginning we celebrate the anniversary of Slug riding with a coffee worship ride every February.

   June All Years
Ride for the Roses - there are public rose gardens in Portland. We go from one to another checking out what individuals also do with our cities name sake flower.

   October All Years
Fall Colors viewing. A ride with views of Portland's hillsides and ridebys of intensely colored foliage. Yes, we know it ain't New England. Pretty just the same.

   August All Years
Summer and Ice Cream go well together. A group of Slugs toured through southeast Portland and visited four ice cream stores - one organic, one gelato, one Oregon and one comfort ice cream.

Check back here for announcements of future rides.

Feed Your Curiosity

For more information please contact Beth Hamon.
For other Portland area rides see Blueberry Rides organizers of other social "No Drop" rides, Portland Wheelmen Touring Club if you're looking for a workout, and the Portland Velo founded in 2006, this club is providing a wide variety of rides. Bicycle Transportation Alliance for creating a better bicycling environment.
Shift aka Shift to Bikes for putting enthusiasm into cycling. Disclaimer: Their link is not here because they gave me free coffee and pastries on the bridge when I rode my bike to work. They do that for every bicyclist who stops. Last Friday of the month. One of many good Shift things.

To stay informed about future Slug Velo Rides sign up for Slug Velo email list.