Chris Rotvik

Scenes from the Festival

As Jonathan Maus captured it, “… the Festival was like an off-road version of Sunday Parkways. The scenes that unfolded were heartening: Tykes barely big enough to walk ran with balance bikes over whoop-de-dos; a young girl on a full-size bike got her first-ever riding lesson; pre-teen boys raced each other on BMX bikes down … Read More

Dirt Lab Evo: Q1’s Build Out

  Earlier this year, we wrote about Travel Oregon’s Forever Fund underwriting NWTA’s evolution of the Dirt Lab at Gateway Green. This quarter, Jason Van Horn and Joel Armstrong guided crews of two to 15 on weekday evenings and Saturdays, 246 hours in total. Soil moisture and the lack of a dirt stockpile for rework elsewhere kept the … Read More

Dirt Lab, Remixed

Image courtesy Jason Van Horn/Bermstyle The Dirt Lab Evolution work has begun in earnest out at Gateway Green. A small cadre of builders, led by Jason Van Horn, are refining the flow, improving the fun factor. And it’s been done in a way that allows less confident riders to roll through at first, aiding skills … Read More

Gateway Green’s Next Phase

Phase II of Gateway Green — bringing the park to fully-built status — has reached the draft plan milestone. Phase II focuses on: • Natural area restoration, • Water, power, and sewer services, • Additional recreation activities for all ages and abilities, and • Improved pedestrian and bicycle access to and within the site. We’re … Read More

Travel Oregon Funds Dirt Lab Evolution

Northwest Trail Alliance was selected as one of seven recipients of Travel Oregon’s Forever Fund, underwriting NWTA’s evolution of the Dirt Lab at Gateway Green through 2019. The Dirt Lab’s evolution will take the cycling trails, skills area, and jump line at Gateway Green to the next level. By increasing the fun and challenge of … Read More

Meet Lori Sills

Editors Note: this is the third and last in a series of posts introducing NWTA Board of Director candidates for 2018-2019. Voting takes place at our January 30 member meeting. Lori Sills Hi! I’m Lori Sills. I’m a lawyer, a new member of Team AF and I have a cat named Spokes. Originally from outside … Read More

The Trail Ahead

Image courtesy Jonathan Maus/BikePortland Almost 30 years ago, Theo Patterson spoke up to make sure mountain bikes weren’t banned from Forest Park. To help, Patterson founded Portland United Mountain Pedalers, or PUMP. In 2009, PUMP became Northwest Trail Alliance, and we turn 30 this year. With our Big Three-Oh looming, let’s glance back and gaze forward. … Read More

The Tide is Turning

Image courtesy Jonathan Maus/BikePortland Throughout 2017, more than 1,700 mountain bikers — from shredders to striders — dropped in to Northwest Trail Alliance-hosted digging and riding events. And, all tolled, our volunteers carved a smidgen over 12,000 hours into our trails and the political arena that sustains the flow of riding in our region. Those … Read More

Meet Paul Hobson

Editors Note: this is the second in a series of posts introducing NWTA Board of Director candidates for 2018-2019. Voting takes place at our January 30 member meeting. Paul Hobson Paul Hobson, an on- and off-road cyclist and cycling advocate for the past 15 years, cut his teeth in the bike world commuting to and … Read More

Meet Steve Domahidy

Editors Note: this is the first in a series of posts introducing NWTA Board of Director candidates for 2018-2019. Voting takes place at our January 30 member meeting. Steve Domahidy I am a 30+ year bicycle industry veteran with experience in everything from race tech support to founding companies and award winning design. I am … Read More