On November 16th, 2010, a man that friends and family thought would never stop pedaling his bike — did.

David Auker is a living legend in local and national bike racing circles. You might not know his name, but Auker was once one of the most feared racers on the west coast. He never signed a pro contract because he was too much of an independent spirit to go that route; but friends who were there back in the 1970s and '80s say he won plenty of races against much more famous opponents like Alexi Grewal, Bob Roll, and others.

"In the old days," former teammate Danny Knudsen recalled at a birthday party for Auker in Hillsdale last night, "the pros would not like to see Dave when they showed up. He'd ruin their plans."

Auker's racing prowess made it all that more shocking when his own plans to keep riding well into his 60s nearly came to an abrupt end.

On that fateful day in November of 2010, Auker was out riding about a block from his home in the hills of Southwest Portland when he had a stroke. Rushed to OHSU, Auker was placed in the ICU. He had lost movement on his right side and he had bleeding in his brain. Friends and family prepared for the worst.

"I went and saw him in the hospital," recalled Knudsen, "And thought I'd never see the man again."

Thankfully, Auker got better. Maybe it was his excellent physical shape, or maybe it was just his dogged determination to get back on the bike. Just a few months after his stroke, David's wife Sarah (they've been together over 40 years) says he woke up one day and said, "I should go ride my bike."

So he did.

David and his wife Sarah.

Last night Auker was eager to tell me that he's now riding 30-40 miles every day. Sarah says at first she would ride with him because his short-term memory is so faint that he would get lost even on roads he's pedaled for decades. Now she rides the first few miles and then sets him off on his own. But still, "He takes the exact same route every time," Sarah says, "Because he knows he'll get lost if he doesn't."

Auker (R) and Knudsen
a long time ago.

If you think Auker was just a bike racer, you should talk to Danny Knudsen.

Knudsen, a fit 42-year old with thick white hair who currently coaches the BicycleAttorney.com Cycling Team, calls Auker his mentor. "He really took me under his wing," recalled Knudsen as Auker looked on, "He's had a huge impact on my life."

From how to pack his race-day gear bag, to using mind games as a way to vanquish stronger riders, to using mint-flavored dental floss to sew up flattened tubulars (the mint was for good luck), Knudsen said, "I couldn't run my team without everything he's taught me."

Auker's influence has been felt in other places as well.

He rode fixed geared bikes and led the local Sunday Fixie Ride long before the bikes became an urban phenomenon (he's even mentioned in this 2005 AP story: Fixed-gear bikes now all the rage).

At his birthday gathering last night, Auker's family and friends gathered around to count their blessings and share stories. I didn't talk at length with Auker (he's not exactly chatty these days, especially with someone like me who he's only met a few times over the years); but I could tell he was feeling well and that he was especially happy to be riding again.

For such a competitive person like David, I can only imagine how hard it is to not feel like you can ride as far, as hard, and as often as you'd like. When the topic of his racing came up, David felt like he had to defend the fact that he wasn't going to ever do it again. "I've done that," he said with a tiny smile, "I'm not sure if it means I'm getting old or just moving on to other things."

A handful of lucky Portlanders were treated to quite a show on Friday night at the closing reception of The 2012 Bicycle Experience: Prototypes, Visions & Dreams.

In his first installation/show, Johnnie Olivan impressed everyone with his sculptures and other creations (there were also some excellent paintings by other artists). From the mini-bike 'Teeter-Totter' to the many-armed 'Bicycle Ninja,' the pieces all came together in very convincing way. We were also treated to a performance by the Sprockettes. More images from the event below...

The 'Teeter Totter': "This vision celebrates the simplicity of mechanics and the inner child"...

This show is a new direction for Johnnie O (pictured below), and I hope it's one he continues to follow...

The 'Bicycle Ninja' "honors those that have saved a bicycle from becoming a thief's dream machine." (This piece is a collaboration with Phantom Limb artist Yourself)...

We packed in for a look at the Sprockettes...

There are several new faces in the troupe (at least new to me)...

This piece, 'Bicycle Bomb,' came to Olivan in a dream...

There were two bikes like this, floating from the ceiling by balloons.

Olivan had several interactive pieces. In this photo, he's launching a balloon filled with paint at a pile of bikes (see next photo)...

Splat!...

In case you missed it, the show runs through tomorrow (1/31) at the Gallery at Port City Development on the corner of N. Thompson and Williams (2156 N. Williams Ave). You can also join Olivan at Port City tomorrow night from 7:00 to 9:00 pm for, Learn my Art: Bike Dome where he'll lead a collaborative sculpture-making project. Bring an old bike frame if you have one!

You've already heard about Travis Wittwer's love of bike parking and bike racks. Now he's turning his attention to cargo bikes.

Whether it's their utility (both domestic and commercial) or their potential to help others in the community, Wittwer is convinced there's a need for cargo bike owners and fans to come together and get organized. While his own interest in them started when he bought one to cart around his three sons, Wittwer's now looking to start a grassroots organization to foster cargo bikes' existing popularity even further.

I traded a few emails with Wittwer last week to learn more about how he got hooked on cargo bikes and his plans to raise awareness of their many attributes right here in Portland...

The men of the family on a Yuba Mundo longtail cargo bike.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Wittwer's relationship with cargo bikes began when, in 2007, he took a couple years off from teaching to spend time with his kids. He knew he'd have to make some changes if he wasn't bringing in a regular salary:

"I wanted to make our lives as simple as possible for those years and knew two things (a) I wanted to decrease the out-go of money and (b) spend more time with my kids. Biking, and cargo biking in particular, allowed for this... For awhile I would use a tag-a-long bike with my eldest son, and a trailer for my two, youngest sons. Sometimes I would use both and create a cumbersome bike train: my bike + tag-a-long + trailer."

Eventually Wittwer decided there must be a better way to carry three kids on a bike. What he found was an easier solution that gave him more time to focus on his sons: a cargo bike:

"I looked at the various options, styles, and companies and at the end of the summer in 2008, I purchased a great bakfiets from Clever Cycles. In this one bike, I could carry all three sons and their school gear. We spent about 40 minutes, twice, every day, going to and from school. This was quality time."

This is becoming a common sight in Portland.

Saving money and having more family time are two of the reasons, in Witter's estimation, why many families are starting to look at cargo bikes as an alternative to owning multiple cars:

"People want to do more with their lives and spend less money. A cargo bike can do this. Do you really need a full car to get your kids to the neighborhood school? For most people--no. A cargo bike makes grocery shopping, errands, everything feasible. A family can do a lot with one cargo bike. Many families are shifting their lives to be car free or car light because they have a cargo bike."

It's easy to see why plenty of families have a cargo bike in their life, but Wittwer doesn't see the same level of organization from cargo bike owners that he sees with other groups. That surprises him because Portlanders are known to be proud of their bikes.

Portlanders love cargo bikes!

Wittwer says people he knows with different cargo bikes, "talk about them as if they were talking wine preference."

Enthusiasm for cargo bikes isn't all about fun and games, either. Witter saw them play an important role in the Occupy Portland protest but feels their potential is left largely untapped because there's no way to communicate with people who want to get involved:

"It became clear during Occupy Portland that cargo bikes could be used for social good when [protesters in camp] needed garbage removal. If there was a way to organize cargo bike users, we could come together for a social good."

Thanks to Wittwer and others, that organization is starting to take shape.

Wittwer helped organize the Cargo Bike Roll Call during Pedalpalooza.
(Photo: Will Vanlue/BikePortland)

Wittwer and others are working to start an organization with the goals of showcasing the utility of cargo bikes, organizing them for social good and to (hopefully) inspire other cities.

Right now they've got an email list of cargo bike enthusiasts and a name: TransportLand. The group's website is coming soon so if you'd like to get involved, keep an eye on TransportLand.org or send a message to transportPDX [at] gmail [dot] com.

Today's print edition of the venerable Wall Street Journal features a story on Tim and Sue Butler's Southeast Portland condo. The Butler's are both serious cyclists, with Sue's name gracing these pages on several past occasions for her pro cyclocross exploits.

So, why is the WSJ profiling their condo? The house itself is gorgeous (nice enough to get a feature in Portland Monthly Mag last year), but it's the $1.5 million* amazing bike garage that caught their eye.

According to a video with WSJ reporter Nancy Keates that appeared yesterday on Marketwatch.com, the Butlers' bike garage is filled with their 22 bikes, has a separate workshop room, a sauna, and its own bathroom and shower to clean up after those long rides.

Check out the video below for a peek inside...

Very nice. I just hope they've got a good security system.
—
NOTE: This story and headline initially referenced a "$1.5 million" bike garage. That tidbit was taken from the Wall Street Journal video that appeared yesterday, before the print article. In the article, it was made clear that $1.5 million is the cost of the entire house, not just the bike garage. We regret the error. -- JM

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance opened its new offices (618 NW Glisan St) to the public last week for an evening of food, bicycles, and fun. The evening featured hors d'oeuvres from Madison's Grill and beer from Hopworks.

Guests also got to meet local bike builders and get an up-close look at award-winning Oregon Manifest entries from Pereira Cycles, Tsunehiro Cycles, Cielo Cycles, and Signal Cycles.

Tsunehiro/Beebe longtail:

The Pereira:

And the Signal Cycles/Ziba Designs collab:

Catered by Madison's Grill (a dedicated supporter of many bike-related events in Portland):

And beer from Hopworks Urban Brewery:

The crowd inside the BTA's new digs:

The BTA had an array of signs on-hand and encouraged attendees to have their picture taken with them...

Here's Caroline Zavitovski:

And Washington County Commissioner Dick Schouten:

This is Andrew Plambeck, an assistant transportation policy advisor in Governor Kitzhaber's office:

And PSU's Transportation Options guru Ian Stude (L) with BTA Director Rob Sadowsky:

In addition to showing off their offices (and an excuse to have fun), the BTA also wants to draw attention to their inclusion in the Willamette Week's annual Give Guide.

For more images from the event, see my BTA Open House photoset.

"I see a greater need for civil disobedience and believe the success of the movement will mean long term safety for all vulnerable uses of our streets."
— Dan Kaufman

Sellwood resident Dan Kaufman is no stranger to BikePortland. The man behind Crank My Chain! CycleTV has helped us with video projects in the past like coverage of the Aerial Tram and a video ad. His most recent project is a new video about the effort to ban studded tires in Oregon.

Dan Kaufman covering last weekend's
Occupy Portland eviction rally.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Dan is a father of three boys, a professional videographer, a musician, and an entertainer — but he's a transportation activist at heart. He has gotten swept up in the local 'Occupy' movement. Below he answers a few of my questions about the movement, his role in it, and why he feels it's important...

What have you done so far to participate in the local Occupy movement?
"I attended and livestreamed the original OWS solidarity march. I have participated in and supported several meetings and discussions live and online. I videotaped part of Sunday's rally against the eviction and then brought down the disco trike to celebrate the success of the night - knowing full well the camp would eventually be cleared. I have written poetry, music, and twitter/FB posts in support. I helped organize the bike/ped action committee which organized the swarm."

Why are you doing it?
"I see first hand how the economic crises is effecting most of us. It is creating economic casualties and refugees. All the while, the Dow Jones continues to climb and corporate profits/CEO pay soars. Trickle down didn't work and now the system is broken. It will take fundamental repairs and paradigm shifts. The sooner the better for all.

At the heart is of our problems is the overweight influence of money in government decisions and peak oil (which we have passed, by the way). None of our leaders can or will address the real issues so it is time for the people to lead. That has been manifested in the occupy movement, which I hope can remain peaceful and inclusive."

Some people feel that mixing bicycling and this movement politicizes bikes. Do you see it that way?
"It is a very valid concern. We are already so overexposed as bicyclists (naked if you will) and we carry all the negative baggage of scofflaws that no other mode must. Does anybody every complain about "all you speeding motorists" for example?

However, I see a greater need for civil disobedience and believe the success of the movement will mean long term safety for all vulnerable uses of our streets. So it is imperative to me that the bicycle actions remain peaceful and civil. It should attempt to minimize the disruption for the "99%" but that won't always be possible. No matter what measures we take, this revolution away from the status quo is going to bother and offend some people the same way people on bicycles always manage to do (sadly)."

Do you think other people who care about human-powered transportation and bicycling should participate?
"Definitely, I hope that everyone who believes the government and road systems need an overhaul will join in as much as they can. Especially in actions and the meetings. Human power is the best tool we have at our disposal."

Where can people follow your work?
"CrankMyChain! Cycle TV is the best place to see my work. My video production company is PDXK Productions - I am available for hire and need community support (volunteer, money or promotion) to continue putting the effort into this movement that I am. My knees are sore from riding the disco trike everywhere I have been working on minimum sleep and family time; but I believe the task at hand is critical if we wish to preserve our government of the people, by the people and for the people. I am very serious! I also want to plug in bike fun and music into the movement. The positive response and need for these contributions is immediately obvious and amazing."
—
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dan. Good luck out there and we'll see you in the streets.

Know someone else we should feature in "5 questions with?". Get in touch.

Bike tourer, photographer, foodie, train lover, journalist, artist, and advocate Russ Roca has recently launched a line of t-shirts. Like his varied interests, the shirts have many themes. They also have a mission — to help fund he and his partner Laura Crawford's upcoming bike adventure and their ongoing Path Less Pedaled project

I first came to know Russ through his bike activism in my home town of Long Beach, California. Since those days, Russ and Laura have logged thousands of miles by bike and train criss-crossing America in search of interesting people, places and projects that they've then shared with their growing legion of fans through their website and Facebook page.

They're now plotting a trip to New Zealand and Russ hopes the sales of his t-shirts help get them there.

We recently asked Russ a few questions about his shirt designs, the Big Trip, and more...

BikePortland: When did you start being a t-shirt designer? How did this all come about?

Russ Roca: I use to work as a graphic designer, before the photography and before the cycling. For fun, I use to silkscreen my own shirts in the bathroom of our apartment. I used my darkroom equipment at the time to burn my own screens and the shower head to clean out screens. It was a big mess! Now, I'm using an online service that allows me to design shirts and they handle the printing and distribution.

Rumor has it you're planning another big adventure. Do the t-shirts help fund it?

Yes and yes. We're planning to go to New Zealand for three months and are hoping to leave after Thanksgiving. Our goal for that trip is to look at the bicycle travel and tourism industry in New Zealand. The country has been putting a lot of money to make it into a cycling destination and we want to see what the U.S. could learn from them.

We want to do a DIY travel type show. Sort of like No Reservations, but on a bicycle. Each episode will be about five minutes long that will focus on something food-related, something cultural and something bike related. We've already started doing outreach to bike advocates in NZ to get a lay of the land.

How has response been to the shirts so far?

The shirts are really key to making this happen. Within the first few days we sold over 100 shirts! The response has been amazing, especially to "The Zombie Apocalypse Will Not Be Motorized" shirts. The zombie shirts have been the most popular, probably due to a renewed interest in zombies.

Why zombies?

For me, the zombie apocalypse is symbolic of a lot of things. Peak oil, natural disaster, climate change. It is sort of a gallows humor. In every zombie movie, one of the big dilemmas of the survivors is finding gas for their cars! The season opener of The Walking Dead starts with the survivor's RV breaking down and their search for parts. Every time I see a zombie movie, I just want to tell them to get a bike. So the zombie shirt is my funny response to that.

Tell us more about your other designs...

The designs run the gamut, but simply put: they are shirts for bike people. I have some that are humorous. One of the designs is a play on the Zipcar logo that replaces the "Z" with a cyclist and says "Zipfar." I had a special Halloween shirt that said "People for Zombies" that was a twist on the People for Bikes logo. I also have some shirts that simply celebrate leisurely riding with a silhouette of a bike leaning up against a tree. I'm also making shirts about transit. I have a shirt with the street sign for the train and a hear that says "Trains are for Lovers."

The design of the shirts is pretty interactive too, with lots of input from our readers. After the first Zombie shirt went up, people wanted one that showed an Xtracycle, bakfiets, recumbent and Brompton. So I designed them all and people have really appreciated that sort of interaction.

I've also been making some bike advocacy centered shirts. One says "Bike Local. Buy Local" and another is a "Vote Bikes" shirt that lists economic reasons for voting pro-bike.

What's next for you and Laura?

We are in a unique stage in our site PathLessPedaled.com and Facebook page. It began as a way to record our personal journey on bicycles, but it has grown into something larger. We're turning on readers to bike advocacy news and and concepts from other bike advocates around the country.

My hope is that the shirts will continue to sell so that we'll be able to continue to explore bike cultures around the country and eventually the world.
—

Russ and Laura are currently in Portland while they plan their next trip. You can see more of Russ's shirts in his online store.

Author and CEO Mia Birk presented her book, Joy Ride, to the Vancouver Bicycle Club (VBC) on Wednesday at the new downtown Vancouver library.

Introduced by Portland’s own Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie, Birk informed the crowd of about 60 VBC members that Portland’s famous bicycling atmosphere didn't happen overnight.

"People have this myth that people just woke up one day and everyone was biking and there were bike lanes everywhere… it didn’t happen that way. It was hard work that got Portland to be Portland," Birk told the crowd.

Telling the crowd she wanted to avoid discussing the controversial Columbia River Crossing project, Birk briefly pointed out the cost difference between freeways and bike projects. "Everything Portland has done cost less than one mile of urban freeway," she said.

According to Birk, a former City of Portland bicycle coordinator, three things are required for bicycling to succeed in a community:

“First, you have to have really strong political leaders that embrace bicycles; second, you need strong advocates that are organized and galvanize the community; third, you have to have really good staff in the city. When you have all three things in place, really amazing things can happen."

During the presentation’s Q&A, the crowd asked Birk for advice on a wide range of topics from getting street sweepers to clean bike lanes to obtaining funding for bike projects. But as much as Birk offered advice on how to tackle Vancouver’s bike issues, she encouraged Vancouver to find its own identity. "Vancouver has to make it uniquely Vancouver," she advised, "don’t be Portland, be your community."

After the presentation, Birk said Vancouver’s next step should be completing its bicycle path network and continue to work on its Downtown Vancouver Growth and Transportation Efficiency Center Plan (PDF) (known locally as "the GTEC plan"). According to City of Vancouver Senior Planner Jennifer Campos, Birk's company, Alta Planning and Design, has just signed a $70,000 contract to manage the public outreach effort for the GTEC plan. When asked about a possible conflict of interest between her community advocacy for bike projects and her company’s contract work, Birk said no such conflict exists. "Most people have a job that feeds their bellies or their souls, I’m honored to have a job that does both."

Our friends at Bikeasaurus — the fabulous bike-inspired art, gift, and accessory store at 1337 SE MLK Jr Blvd — sent us a note about the art coming to their "mini-gallery" this month. Check out the blurb from owner Becky Morton below and stop by the shop this Friday for the opening reception...

"Not sure if you knew about it, but BIKEASAURUS has a mini gallery in our lobby and we show bike-related art by different artists every month. You should come check it out sometime if you have a few minutes. We have monthly First Friday opening receptions (always 7-10 pm with free snacks and wine.) There is an opening this Friday and I'm really excited about the art, which will be linocuts by local artist Amy Erickson. I attached a photo of one of her prints I thought you might enjoy! The title is "Alpenrose Women's Madison.""

For Dezy Walls, a 63-year-old professional entertainer who plays and pedals a piano bike, Portland feels right at home.

Walls, who's known as the "Pianobike Kid", hails from Ireland, lived for stint in Holland and moved to Carlton, Oregon (a small town 35 miles southwest of Portland) six months ago. When he showed up at Saturday Market this past weekend on his piano bike, a few readers sent in photos and a few days later I tracked him down for a quick chat and some photos.

Walls is a jovial man who speaks with an Irish accent, is quick to smile, and has long silver hair that flows like the tunes he plays and the songs he sings. As he pedaled toward me in Waterfront Park this morning I asked how ended up as Pianobike kid:

"I was playing a tourist bar in Ireland and the locals would come in late, with lots to drink, and sit on the piano, blocking me from all the people I'd been playing to all night. So, I would push the piano through them and the owner would say, 'Have you license to drive that thing?!' and I thought, well there's an idea."

For full effect, and to hear Walls play, listen to the audio of that exchange:
Download audio file (dezy3.mp3)

That was back in 1992. It took Walls about 10 years to finally build his first piano bike, but it wasn't nearly as refined as the one he has now. "It fell apart in the Irish rain," he said.

His current piano bike — which he just picked up in September — is completely custom from the ground-up. It was built by Tom Zucal (a retired aeronautical engineer) and Jimmy Sindal (a woodworker); both of whom are fans of Walls' and did the project as a labor of love. After meeting Walls and hearing his music, it's easy to see how he'd get such devoted fans.

The bike weighs about 300 pounds, including a 50 pound battery that powers the keyboard, amps, and speakers. The drivetrain is fixed, which allows him to pedal forward and in reverse. Heavy-tensioned springs make the seat comfortable and the bike is steered by simply nudging the front of the piano just above the keys.

In addition to doing farmer's markets and gigs at local coffee houses and pubs, Walls relies on corporate parties and other events to make a living. Sales of his CD also bring in some cash. Life is funny features 16 original songs — including the hit "Stress management" — all written and sung by Walls.

Walls' "big ambition" he says, is to put on a musical. He's working on a theater production (an autobiographical comedy) he hopes to open in Portland and then take on tour around the world (and yes, the piano bike features prominently in the musical). But Walls and his wife Claire aren't planning on leaving Portland any time soon. "We wanted to find a place that really suited us and when we hit Portland we said, this is it!"

Welcome to Portland Dezy! I think you'll find that you fit right in.

—

If you'd like to see Dezy perform, check a list of upcoming gigs on PianobikeKid.com.