Portland is a very bicycle-friendly city, and you'll notice plenty of cyclists on the streets. There are also miles of paved bike paths around the city, and some good mountain biking areas as well. For mountain-bike rentals, head to Fat Tire Farm, 2714 NW Thurman St. (tel. 503/222-3276), where bikes go for $25 to $50 a day. Straight up Thurman Street from this bike shop, you'll find the trail head for Leif Erickson Drive, an old gravel road that is Forest Park's favorite route for cyclists and runners (the road is closed to motor vehicles); the trail is 12 miles long.
If you'd like to explore Portland's riverfront bike paths, stop in at Waterfront Bicycle Rentals, 0315 SW Montgomery St., Suite 360 (tel. 503/227-1719), where you can rent a bike for $7.50 to $13 per hour or $26 to $35 per half-day. From here head through Tom McCall Waterfront Park, cross the Steel Bridge, and ride down the Eastbank Esplanade path. This trail leads 4 miles south to the upscale Sellwood neighborhood.
