Pereira goes for "neo-retro" at bike show

[This is the second in a series of four interviews with local bike builders who are exhibiting at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show next weekend (March 2-4) in San Jose, California. Read about Ira Ryan in the first installment.]

[Tony Pereira of
Pereira Cycles.]

Tony Pereira hopes to continue his winning ways at the Handmade Bicycle Show. Last year, he took home a third place trophy in the Road Frame category.

This year, with a new shop location and more building experience under his belt, he hopes to keep the momentum rolling with another good showing in San Jose.

A few months ago, I spent the day in his shop and shared this report and photos.

Like the other three builders, Tony’s preparation is coming right down to the wire. Luckily for us he spent a few minutes to answer my questions…and he even sent me a few exclusive shots of his brand new, still unpainted show bikes.

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Portland picked to host world carfree conference

Portland Car Free Days (Day 1)

[A scene from Portland’s
Car Free Days last September.]

The city of Portland has been chosen to host the 2008 Towards Carfree Cities conference. The conference is a project of the World Carfree Network and it aims to “bring together people who are promoting practical alternatives to car dependence.”

Portland will be the first U.S. city to ever hold the conference.

Past conferences have been held in Lyon, Timisoara (Romania), Prague, Berlin, Budapest and Bogota. The 2007 conference will be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

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Metro passes Columbia Crossing resolution

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Opponents of the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Task Force’s plan to build a gargantuan, $2-6 billion new highway bridge claimed an important victory last night.

Metro Councilors heard a steady stream of public testimony in support of two resolutions to study other alternatives that were put forth by Metro Councilors Rex Burkholder and Robert Liberty.

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Ira Ryan sees opportunity at builder's show

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

[This is the first in a series of four interviews with local bike builders who are exhibiting at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show next weekend (March 2-4) in San Jose, California.]

Framebuilder's party

[Ira Ryan]

For up-and-coming bike builder Ira Ryan, this will be his first time as an exhibitor.

Ira is a former bicycle messenger and sometimes ultra-endurance mountain bike racer who builds bikes out of a shop in the basement of Weir’s Cyclery in the north Portland neighborhood of St. Johns.

With his business just getting off the ground, this trip is an especially big step. It will be the first time people outside of Portland are introduced to him and his work.

Below is a sneak peek at his just completed “Project Cupcake” show bike, followed by a brief interview.

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Cyclist alleges attack on Sellwood Bridge sidewalk

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The story was posted to the forums last night. Here’s an excerpt:

sellwoodbridge3

[A narrow sidewalk on
the Sellwood Bridge.]

“My wife was attacked this evening*, on the Sellwood Bridge, during her evening commute from work, for riding her bicycle.

…she was on the sidewalk. The runners mostly stopped to let her and another rider by, but one hit her as she rolled by slowly. She responded to him and the guy ran up behind her and drug her off of the bike and… slapped her across the face, knocking her mirror into the river.”

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