The founders of Jorg & Olif, a company that was around at the inception of the Dutch Bike Invasion in America, have announced that they’ll sell off the company if they don’t find an investor.
In a statement posted to their website on September 16th, co-founders Rob MacDonald and Jane Cox wrote that their company, “faces [...]

(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Thanks to good folks at Seattle Bike Supply, for the past several months I’ve been the lucky caretaker of a Batavus “Old Dutch”. I hoped the Portland sales rep who loaned it to me would have forgotten about it, but unfortunately, last Friday it was time to give it back.

I usually don’t share product news, but you know I have a weak spot for all things Dutch.
Here’s an exclusive look at Vancouver BC-based Jorg&Olif’s brand new “Scout” (it’s not set for full public release until August 10th):

Clever Cycles is now open.View gallery(File photo)

It’s been almost ten months since I first mentioned bakfiets on this site. Back in August, I spotted one on NE Broadway and I was blown away by the simple, elegant utility of it.
That story sparked a lot of interest and it was clear Portland was ready for [...]

[File photo]

Northeast Portland native Jamie Nichols “totally flipped” when he saw his first Dutch bakfiets cargo bike. He sees them as the perfect way to replace the family car for short neighborhood trips and even sees them as an answer for what he calls “a looming fuel crisis”.

Well I had my doubts whether or not it would ever happen, but after some ads popped up recently it was just a matter of time…
And now it’s official, the Batavus “Old Dutch” bikes have landed in America.

Scott Mizee aboard a bakfiets.File photo

The Oregonian’s inPortland secion has a nice story today that will give a big boost to Portland’s awareness of and interest in bakfietsen (Dutch for “box bikes”).
The story focuses on how great the bikes are for kids and families, and even mentions a woman who uses one as a way [...]

Can you spot the bakfiets?Photo: Clever Cycles on Flickr

Clever Cycles, Portland’s soon-to-be-opening retail shop that will carry bakfiets cargo bikes and “a complete line of resoundingly practical biking gear” is showing signs of life at their location on SE 9th Ave., just south of Hawthorne Blvd.
Part of a Dutch bike invasion sweeping North America, this [...]

I first brought you the news about original, Dutch Batavus bikes potentially coming to the U.S. market back in October. I had received spy photos of them from my correspondents at the Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.

[Clever Cycles' Todd Fahrner in San Jose.]

Cleverchimp founder and Clever Cycles co-owner Todd Fahrner is here at the Handmade Bicycle Show and he just gave me an update on his plans to open up a new bike shop in Portland.
Todd and his partners in the business (his wife Martina Fahrner and Rachel and Dean [...]

[Scan of BTA's Alice Awards party invitation.]

[Bakfietsen. They're here.]Photo: Clever Cycles

[A truck full of Dutch cargobikes bound for Portland!]

Todd “Cleverchimp” Fahrner and Dean “Bakfiets” Mullin have just returned from a top secret European foray where they did some business networking and researched the inside dope on city and cargo bikes.
They’re gaining steam for their Clever Cycles business and they’re anxiously awaiting their first big shipment [...]

All photos by Jonathan Maus, unless otherwise noted.

When I first saw the Electra Amsterdam in an ad in Bicycling Magazine I was stunned. Not just by the bike’s drop-dead gorgeous looks, but because of what the bike signified to the U.S. bike industry and American cycling in general.
U.S. companies have long offered various city [...]

[Former Mayor Bud Clark andCongressman Earl Blumenauerat 2006 Alice Awards.]

The BTA is busily working on plans for their big Alice B. Toeclips Awards party and auction. Last year, the formal event — which is the BTA’s big annual fundraiser — packed the Oregon Convention with a who’s-who of Portland’s bike scene.
This year’s event will [...]

[Overloaded? No such thing!]

What do I love most about Portland’s bike community? That’s impossible to answer, but very high on the list would have to be bike moves.
Last night, amid dark and drizzly skies, a cheery group of people showed up to help Ernie Wisner move from his place near SE Belmont and [...]

[Photo: Ethan Jewett/Stickeen Photography]

The long-awaited, Dutch-inspired Electra Amsterdams have hit U.S. bike shops, and it just so happens there’s one in my basement right now ;-).
Unfortunately I have to give it back after the weekend so stay tuned for a review on Monday…
UPDATE: Read my review and see more photos of the Electra Amsterdam.

[The Ace Hotel is coming and they're bringing Dutch bikes with them.]

The Ace Hotel — Seattle’s “leading design hotel” — is set to open in Portland on January 30th of next year.
I confirmed today with jorg&olif CEO Rob MacDonald that he is partnering up with the hotel to have a standing fleet of 6-10 Dutch [...]

[The Aerorider]Photo: Ready to Ride

Flexcars are everywhere in Portland. So are bikes. So why not have Flexbikes?
I’m not talking about a snazzy, European style bike-rental program (like the one being discussed by Commissioner Sam’s office), I’m talking about pedal-powered vehicles that you’d rent when your regular, everyday bike just won’t cut it.
Portland cyclist [...]

[Dean Mullin of CleverCycles demonstrateshis bakfiets.]

I have just confirmed that the Dutch Bicycle Company — a Florida-based importer of bakfiets and Dutch city bikes — has named a Portland distributor.
According to Dutch Bicycle Company owner Dan Sorger, Northeast Portland resident Dean Mullin will represent the complete range of Dutch city bikes offered by his company [...]

Todd Fahrner, the man behind Southeast Portland-based Cleverchimp, has just published photos and video of his latest creation. He has outfitted a Dutch “bakfiets” bike with his superlative Stokemonkey Human Electric Hybrid Drive device. Check it out:

I know isn’t directly related to Portland, but I’ve been following the local bakfiets and Dutch city bike news lately and I know a lot of Portlanders (including myself) love these things. So here you go.

[Click for full view]

Jorg & Olif, the stylish Canadian company who re-brands and modifies authentic Dutch city bikes has [...]

[Screenshot from Richard's blog]

Northeast Portland resident Richard Wilson is on a Dutch bike kick. Like myself, he’s especially smitten with cargo bikes, or “bakfiets.”
In fact, he likes them so much, he’s started a Bakfiets blog that he hopes will become the, “…go-to resource for bakfiets and to stimulate serious interest in the bike [...]

I usually wouldn’t post about a bike that has no connection to Portland and that I haven’t even ridden yet…but the new “Amsterdam” bike from Electra could make a serious run at being the perfect Portland bicycle. I’m also excited about this bike because it’s looks to be the first time a euro-stylish city [...]

[A Brompton builtfor two.]

Since neither of my girls can ride a bike on their own (yet), we’re always looking for ways to carry them. So far Juli and I have used a trailer, baby seats, backpacks, my arms and even my shoulders (just for fun).
Last week I came across two new methods that were [...]

A few weeks ago I was on NE Broadway and 15th when I looked up and saw this woman and her peculiar bike. After a moment or two I realized it was an authentic “bakfiets” (Dutch for container bicycle) straight from Holland…and so was the rider, given her strong, confident, blond, helmetless style. [...]