john

Nothing wrong with Germantown (eastside), if you ride down it.   Its probably actually safer then most of the other roads going down from the West Hills, cause its clean and smooth nice corners, and you can descend way faster then cars anyway.  And on the westside you simply take old germantown (for going up), although i reccomend Springville. 

If you do descend it at night, make sure you have some bright lights, cause ascending cars can temporarily blind you. 

Saltzman road (3.5 mile) is a nice casual quiet climb, probably the most gradual of all the West Hills Roads and no cars.  But it will be a tad indirect.

And if you are in a hurry, Springville Rd, dirt also, (east side ) is more direct and Short (1.8 miles) but goes almost straight up.. expect to walk/run some of it cause it is so steep and some sections a little loose and some mud in winter, but at that steepness my walking is typically faster then riding anyway.

On the West Side I would recommend descending Springville road (paved).  Its amazing how it takes 30 minutes or so to get up and then like 5 minutes to get to 185th. 

--- On Wed, 9/24/08, Brooke Hoyer wrote:
From: Brooke Hoyer
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Commuting and Germantown Rd.
To: "OBRA list"
Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 4:21 PM

#yiv353525374 .hmmessage P
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#yiv353525374 .hmmessage P{margin:0px;padding:0px;}#yiv353525374 {FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma;}Hey all,

Thanks for the quick replies! Consensus is that I avoid Germantown Rd. at all costs during the times I would likely be riding it.

So now I have to come up with an alternative. Joe C. suggested Delta Park Max to the Zoo and then riding in. I might check that out. I'd also be interested in other suggestions from the Interstate Bridge to the Intel area.

I'll be working at HP/Polyserve.

Thanks,
Brooke

Cyclocross blog
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Steven Carper

Brooke,
A couple (or several?) thoughts:
1. I hope you like your new job and that it's worth the travel & income tax - you'll be devoting plenty of time to getting there everyday.
B. Yes, as you know, Germantown is out of the question and/or many other routes into Washington County from Vanessee.
And (III) You will be so tired from getting up so early to arrive @ 6:30 a.m. and in such great shape from riding all that way, I doubt you need to research a "lunch time" fun ride!!!
But seriously, I used to commute from downtown Vantucky to the far reaches of Hillsboro every day, year round, uphill both ways! for 3 years. Yes, I was in incredible shape but I was also extremely tired all the time from my daily 3 hour (yes, hours as in the plural) commute.
My route started by leaving my garage w/bike @ 4:30 a.m., biking over lovely Interstate bridge to catch Tri-Met bus #6 @ 4:45, riding bus to downtown PDX, stopping @ Starbucks 5:30 a.m. (they had my Americano ready), catching MAX to Hillsboro 5:42 a.m. Arriving at the far reaches of Hillsboro 6:24 a.m. and riding my bike 2 miles to Hillsboro, changing into Carharrts and reporting for duty by 6:45 a.m.
When work was over, I jumped on two-wheeled, leg-powered vehicle @ 3:30 p.m., cycled 11 miles to Beaverton Transit Center (trains leaving about every 5 minutes to PDX) and jumped off MAX @ Goose Hollow station by 4:30, trusty steed between legs and 11 miles home to Vancouver (Washington, that is). Hometown arrival = 5:15 P.M.
All told, that was 22 + 2, carry the 1.5.... about 25 miles on velocipede daily. Any questions?
No really, I'd be happy to help in anyway I can. Send me an e-mail and I'll respond quick as a wink. And I do hearily recommend (especially in the winter & rain) using Tri-Met as part of the trip. No, I don't work for them!
Steven Carper
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matticus

interstate to vancouver (street) then down to the broadway would be my
choice for that route :)

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:28:48 -0700, "Erik Voldengen"
wrote:
> Could you take the Broadway bridge? That'd take you to Lovejoy, which
> turns
> to Cornell, which will take you to work, eventually. You could also
> detour
> up/down Thompson, which turns into West Union, and hits 185th.
>
> -Erik
>
> 2008/9/24 Brooke Hoyer
>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> Thanks for the quick replies! Consensus is that I avoid Germantown Rd.
> at
>> all costs during the times I would likely be riding it.
>>
>> So now I have to come up with an alternative. Joe C. suggested Delta
> Park
>> Max to the Zoo and then riding in. I might check that out. I'd also be
>> interested in other suggestions from the Interstate Bridge to the Intel
>> area.
>>
>> I'll be working at HP/Polyserve.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Brooke
>>
>> Cyclocross blog
>> ------------------------------
>> Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. Learn
>>
>
Now
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>>

Erik Voldengen

Could you take the Broadway bridge? That'd take you to Lovejoy, which turns
to Cornell, which will take you to work, eventually. You could also detour
up/down Thompson, which turns into West Union, and hits 185th.

-Erik

2008/9/24 Brooke Hoyer

> Hey all,
>
> Thanks for the quick replies! Consensus is that I avoid Germantown Rd. at
> all costs during the times I would likely be riding it.
>
> So now I have to come up with an alternative. Joe C. suggested Delta Park
> Max to the Zoo and then riding in. I might check that out. I'd also be
> interested in other suggestions from the Interstate Bridge to the Intel
> area.
>
> I'll be working at HP/Polyserve.
>
> Thanks,
> Brooke
>
> Cyclocross blog
> ------------------------------
> Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. Learn
> Now
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

Dread Pirate Kermit

Because it's not enough that he 'gets' to pay Oregon State Income tax
even though he doesn't live in Oregon or use (most) services. :P

Brooke,

What time do you commute? I'm off the bike currently due to injury,
but when I get better (soon?!) could meet you @ the bottom of
Germantown / St. John's bridge and ride along. I work on 35th just off
Yeon and live in NW Vancouver off 99th street and Lakeshore area.

Ken,
Disgruntled Vancouverite working in Oregon.

2008/9/24 Monty Hill :
> I would suggest moving to Portland so you can bike every day. And that way
> you can pay property tax to offset the incentives Oregon gave to your place
> of business to locate here.
>
>
>
> Monty

Brooke Hoyer

Hey all,

Thanks for the quick replies! Consensus is that I avoid Germantown Rd. at all costs during the times I would likely be riding it.

So now I have to come up with an alternative. Joe C. suggested Delta Park Max to the Zoo and then riding in. I might check that out. I'd also be interested in other suggestions from the Interstate Bridge to the Intel area.

I'll be working at HP/Polyserve.

Thanks,
Brooke

Cyclocross blog
_________________________________________________________________
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Monty Hill

I would suggest moving to Portland so you can bike every day. And that way you can pay property tax to offset the incentives Oregon gave to your place of business to locate here.

Monty

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Brooke Hoyer
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 3:40 PM
To: Obra
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Commuting and Germantown Rd.

I'm making a job change and start work on Monday off of Cornell between 185th and Cornelius Pass Rd. I live in Vancouver. I fear that if I don't commute a couple days a week at least, I'll not be able to ride much at all. Commuting will mean that I'll have to do Germantown Rd. at least one way in the dark -- I expect to be on it by 6:30ish am.

Is this folly? Am I facing certain death? I did the ride in the middle of the day a few weeks ago so I know what's involved with the ride itself.

Oh, is it better to keep on Germantown to Cornelius Pass rather than using 185th? I only tried 185th.

Then, in a related note, what are some good lunch rides leaving from Cornell between 185th and Cornelius Pass? I'd like from 60-80 (maybe 90 sometimes) minute rides.

Thanks!
Brooke Hoyer
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Brooke Hoyer

I'm making a job change and start work on Monday off of Cornell between 185th and Cornelius Pass Rd. I live in Vancouver. I fear that if I don't commute a couple days a week at least, I'll not be able to ride much at all. Commuting will mean that I'll have to do Germantown Rd. at least one way in the dark -- I expect to be on it by 6:30ish am.

Is this folly? Am I facing certain death? I did the ride in the middle of the day a few weeks ago so I know what's involved with the ride itself.

Oh, is it better to keep on Germantown to Cornelius Pass rather than using 185th? I only tried 185th.

Then, in a related note, what are some good lunch rides leaving from Cornell between 185th and Cornelius Pass? I'd like from 60-80 (maybe 90 sometimes) minute rides.

Thanks!
Brooke Hoyer

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