FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2008 - In a first for the sport of triathlon, participants in the second annual Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon on August 31 will not need to bring a bike to the event. Through a complex and multi-faceted partnership with the Portland Bike Company and the office of City Commissioner Sam Adams, the triathlon will provide a free bicycle to each participant for use during the cycling segment of the event.

Bicycles will be loaned to the event by the Portland Bike Company, a Portland-based company which won a recent bid to develop a network of free, publicly-available bicycles for Portlanders to use downtown. Each bike will be identical and colored yellow, which will allow organizers the dual benefit of staging a fair event and keeping an eye out for thievery.

"In 1980, Rosie Ruiz pioneered the use of public transportation in major athletic events," recalls Jeff Henderson, race director for the City of Portland Triathlon. "We're simply taking her idea a step further and making the option available to everyone."

According to Henderson, offering participants the use of a free bike brings many benefits. An obvious plus is the money saved by competitors not having to transport their bike to the race. "If the participant comes by plane," says Henderson, "the cost savings could be as much as $170 for a round-trip ticket." Similarly, shifting the event's production mindset from capitalism to socialism allows all participants, from all socio-economic backgrounds, the chance to compete on a level playing field.

"These bikes do not have aerobars, carbon seatposts, or disc wheels," notes event bike coordinator Gary Brannan. "They weigh 43 pounds each, one size fits all, there's no messy shifting, and if you get tired in the middle you can simply return your bike to the nearest drop station. It's a win for everyone involved."

The Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon has changed the face of triathlon by introducing innovation throughout its storied two-year history. In 2007 the event was built on principles of sustainability, including bike racks made of bamboo and off-the-grid power from solar energy. The Portland Bike Company/City of Portland partnership complements these initiatives by eliminating the energy and expense required to transport hundreds of bicycles around the country.

"Portland is the most bike-friendly city in the country," reports City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Sam Adams. "And we also value creativity and individuality. To be able to partner with the City of Portland Triathlon and provide everyone the exact same heavy, yellow, steel bike is what this city is all about."

More information on the Oregon Trout City of Portland Triathlon can be found at PortlandTri.com.

More information on the mayoral campaign of City Commissioner Sam Adams can be found at CommissionerSam.com.