The Urban Adventure League was founded in 2004 by me, Shawn Granton, as a way to mesh my interests in bicycling, alternative transportation, geography, and history into a pseudo-organization. It is non-profit, as I don’t intend to make money through the league itself.
The Urban Adventure League hosts various events that explore the urban environment using feet, bicycles, public transit, and possibly other alternative forms of transport. All Urban Adventure League sponsored events and projects will emphasize fun, de-emphasize competition, and foster connectivity and awareness. There’s plenty of interesting things to be done in an urban environment, and we want to encourage and foster creative ways to enhance our living experience to its fullest. Boredom will not be allowed.
MEMBERSHIP: This isn’t really a club. At best, it’s a pseudo-organization. Basically, if you want to come on a ride or walk, show up. (If registration is required, you’ll need to do so to ride/walk.) So: You’re a member! Easy as that. No dues or whatever.
WHO COMES ON MY RIDES AND EVENTS? People like you! There is no “type” that comes on my rides. Okay, there is a demographic: People who like to ride bikes or do walks at a relaxed to moderate pace and discover new things while having fun.
THE BLOG: is where I post information about upcoming Urban Adventures, reports on past Adventures, stuff going on in my life, and things pertaining to Urban Adventure League related interests.
Urban Adventure League 
Welcome to a better place to blog,ol friend 🙂 Still enjoying (and using) those panniers I scored from you a couple years back 😀
The DC (Steve)
I grew up in Connecticut and have a beaten stem I bought from Devil’s Gear in a pre-race emergency in 2005 or 2006. It was more of a “race” than a race.
I spent about a month in Portland before returning to Austin. It was tough to leave Portland, as I’m not a fan of Austin.
My bike rides are typically slow, and i stop to look around, take pictures (I always have a certain German film camera with me). Sometimes I go roaring up hills, or slowly up hills (the Rocky Mountain I mentioned in a blog comment is a single speed. My other bike is a well-ridden track bike that I take surprisingly far off road, to the amusement of a friend who has a bike with gears and upright posture). Sometimes there is pushing, which makes me happy I gave up clipless pedals ages ago.
I’m planning some adventures when I get a break from class. There is a state park not far away and Google Maps shows a lot of rights-of-way and access roads there, but I can’t tell if there are fences. I have to go check it out, and get some bikepacking practice/gear testing in.
So, the blog is great. I love history and information. I love that it’s not one more douche who worships John Watson (aka The Radavist) and recently discovered “gravel,” what the rest of us have called a “dirt road” for a very long time.
I just found your blog through a recommendation from WordPress. I like it. You and I have a lot in common because I also (occasionally) lead bike rides. One of the most popular is riding the Cape Cod Canal, both sides, crossing both bridges, for cofee.</a< I'll be a regular here for sure.
Cool, thanks! But you should be saying “I found your blog through Steel on Wheels!” 😉
Hey Shawn, so nice to hear from you via my latest post about cycling into Vancouver (Canada), “UPDATE: CYCLING TO VANCOUVER OVER THE FRASER RIVER ON THE PORT MANN BRIDGE.”
(https://ulrikerodrigues.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/update-cycling-to-vancouver-over-the-fraser-river-on-the-port-mann-bridge/). I feel pretty out of touch with the old Momentum crowd, so I feel pretty flattered to hear from you. Adventure on! – Ulrike
PS – You may be interested to know I just came back from 3 months’ worth of non-urban cycling adventures in the tiny village of Lauzun France. You can see ride reports (with maps, photos) at: https://cardbordeaux.wordpress.com/.
Good to know you are still out there! PS: I’m in Vancouver as we speak!
Cool! Give me a buzz if you want to meet up! https://ulrikerodrigues.wordpress.com/contact/
Alas, I leave town VERY early tomorrow. I may have time later tonight, though.
Shawn:
I live in Ashland, OR. Four of us, seniors, enjoy doing multiple-day, self-sufficient bicycle (&trike) tours. We have in mind doing one in Portland environs this summer. Other than Champoeg and Scappoose, I can’t find any other campsite closer to downtown. I’m told by Portland Visitors, there aren’t any.
It seems likely there must be spots to stealth camp near downtown. We make no fires and eat all meals out.
Would you have any ideas and suggestions?
Phil
If you were into “stealth camping”, I’d aim for Forest Park. Please note that most of the “choice stealth camping spots” near downtown will probably be occupied by a group of homeless folks, so keep that in mind.
As for legal camping, the closest places will be Oxbow, Dodge Park, and Barton. They are all about 15-25 miles from downtown.
Hi Shawn,
My name is Terry Campbell and I am one of the co-hosts of the KBOO (90.7 FM) Bike Show.
My co-host Tori Bortman and I are going to do a show on Wed, August 2 (from 11am to Noon) that covers one to multi-day bike touring adventures that are mostly focused on (it could be by phone) the paved terrain. I am interested to know if you would be willing to come on and share your experience preparing for bike tours, what the Urban Adventure League is all about, and a favorite local one or multi-day routes with our listeners for 15-20 minutes?
This show will hopefully inspire some of our listeners to grow some adventure wings and show them that its not too hard to get out there this summer. Plus, there are lots of resources to help them.
Let me know if you are available to join our discussion.
Thanks,
Terry C
Sure! Please email me at urbanadventureleague@gmail.com
hey-oh,
i really enjoy the stuff you are posting up on this site. as someone who is a native of Portland area, but currently living in the desert of southern Utah, this blog is a great escape and an awesome to see home while I’m away. keep up the great content.
Hi Shawn, You sent me a postcard some time ago with a nice message, and I just wanted to thank you for that (albeit a very late “thank you”). Truly appreciate the kindness.
You are welcome! 😁