A People's Choice award will be given to one of these entries into the Oregon Manifest challenge.

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The Cielo by Chris King entry and
the Tsunehiro/Silas Beebe entry (R)
roll on Skyline Blvd during the
50-mile Field Test. The bikes took 3rd and
2nd places respectively.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Tony Pereira of Portland-based Pereira Cycles took home top honors for the 2011 Oregon Manifest Constructor's Design Challenge. The event, which was a competition to design and build the "Ultimate modern utility bike," concluded today with a grueling "Field Test" competition.

I'll share more thoughts and photos from the Field Test and the awards later (see my Field Test Photo Gallery). For now, here are the winners...
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Crowds pack into PNCA's gallery to see the Oregon Manifest entries.
(Photos © J. Maus)

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Team Metrofiets explains the highlights of their entry to the panel of judges as the Oregon Manifest competition continues in Northwest Portland today.
(Photos © J. Maus)

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What happens when you combine one of the most esteemed product design and "innovation consultant" firms in the world, a highly respected custom bike builder, and the latest battery technology and then tell them to build the ultimate utility bike?

Introducing the Faraday, the Oregon Manifest Constructor's Design Challenge Entry from the San Francisco-based IDEO - Rock Lobster team...

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Bike builders and design pros
from around the country
unveiled their entries for
the Oregon Manifest
Constructor's Design Challenge
this morning in Northwest
Portland.
- Photo Gallery -
(Photos © J. Maus)

The entries into the 2011 Oregon Manifest Constructor's Design Challenge have been revealed and urban utility bike design will never be the same.

Right now at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Northwest Portland, some 40 entrants from all over the country are displaying their bikes for the first time. The mission was to build the "Ultimate modern utility bike" and these competitors have definitely answered the call.

Back when this contest was first held in 2009, most of the bikes were randonneur-style road bikes. The majority of competitors didn't break new ground. This time it's totally different.

The competitors have risen to meet the challenge. (more...)

Jonathan Reed of Quixote Cycles
is confident in his entry and
can't wait to see what others
have created.
(Photo © J. Maus)

If you're not excited about the Oregon Manifest Constructor's Design Challenge yet, I have no other choice than to seriously question your love of bicycles.

Some of the most accomplished bicycle minds in the country have been working for months under shrouds of secrecy in their underground lairs to design and create the "Ultimate utility bike." What exactly does that mean? That's the fun part — How each individual builder and team defines that term will be one of the most fascinating things to watch for when the bikes are revealed Friday.

Will the entries include cargo bikes? Will anyone bring a folding bike? Will e-assist make an appearance? How will classic porteur-style bikes hold up against more innovative entries? Will one form of utility bike steal the show?
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As of this Friday night, the rules of utility bike design might be changed forever. At least that's the hope of the entrants and organizers of the Oregon Manifest. The Manifest has challenged a field of the best and brightest builders and designers in the country to create the "ultimate modern utility bike" and the big reveal happens this Friday night in Northwest Portland.

The murmurs I've heard from entrants and organizers are enough to make even the most jaded bike industry veteran excited. (more...)

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Screen grab from OregonManifest.com.

The list of entrants for the 2011 Oregon Manifest Design Challenge is now posted online. The builders, who will compete to build the ultimate utility bike, include some of the most innovative and respected builders in America today. In total there are 34 builders from 11 states and six student teams.

Last month we were at the event launch where organizers unveiled Levi's as the title sponsor and introduced a trio of exciting "Creative Collaborations" (select bike builders partnered with leading industrial design firms). (more...)

2009 Oregon Manifest Design
Challenge winner Tony Pereira and
event organizer Shannon Holt at
the launch party tonight.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The 2011 Oregon Manifest Design Challenge is shaping up to be a potential game-changer in the bicycle world. Oregon Manifest is a non-profit organization that "exists to celebrate and amplify bike craft, design and innovation." Launched in 2008, the organization — and the event — have matured considerably since their last event in 2009. What began with a bike show, roller races, and some great parties in 2008, morphed into a celebration of bike advocacy, art, bikes and more in 2009. After a year hiatus, Oregon Manifest seems to have finally found its focus — the exciting meld between industrial design and bicycle craftsmanship. (more...)

Our friends at the Oregon Manifest have a big party planned tonight (2/3). They'll unveil design criteria, judges, and more information about their 2011 Utility Bike Design and Build Challenge. Details are below...

Oregon Manifest Lights the Torch for the National 2011 Utility Bike Design and Build Challenge

- Design criteria and title sponsor will be unveiled at launch party this evening -

WHAT
Oregon Manifest—the bi-annual, one-of-a-kind bicycle design and build competition—is rolling out its 2011 Constructor’s Design Challenge criteria for the ultimate modern utility bike at a private launch party being held this evening in Portland’s Pearl District. They will also announce the national title sponsor, along with the 2011 judging panel of nationally esteemed names in the bicycle and design worlds.

New for the 2011 Oregon Manifest is the Designer/Builder Creative Collaborations. In an exciting, unparalleled partnership, three global design firms will pair with top bike builders to push the boundaries of what a modern utility bike can be. These firms and builders will be revealed at the launch event as well, and one of the firms will be in attendance, along with some local bike builders.

In the next eight months, up to 35 custom bike builders from across the nation, plus five student teams, will test their mettle against Oregon Manifest’s rigorous design criteria in pursuit of a utility bike that addresses the needs of the everyday rider in an innovative, highly considered way. The 2011 Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge culminates in a road test, judging and awards gala in Portland on September 23 and 24, 2011.

Utility bike: a bicycle designed for practical transportation, as opposed to bicycles which are primarily
designed for recreation and competition

WHEN
Thursday, February 3, 2011, 7 PM

WHERE
Lizard Lounge
1323 Northwest Irving Street, Portland, OR

CONTACT
Amy Hunter, ahunter@leeweinstein.biz, (503) 927-5872

ABOUT OREGON MANIFEST
Oregon Manifest exists to celebrate and amplify bike craft, design and innovation. They believe that real innovation happens in workshops, garages, design houses and schools. Oregon Manifest values the process of making, the spirit of ingenuity and the passion of brave undertakings. Oregon Manifest is a 501 c4 non-profit organization. oregonmanifest.com

Organizers of the upcoming Oregon Manifest event want to know what you think makes the "Ultimate Utility Bike." They're asking for short video submissions and they'll also accept drawings. See the info on how to enter below (deadline is January 10th):

We want you to tell us what your idea of the Ultimate Utility Bike is!
We may include your submission in our upcoming Oregon Manifest video broadcast on our website.
Send us a 1-2 minute video of yourself completing the following three sentences:

1. I'm _____________ from _________, ____ and this is my idea of the ultimate utility bike.

2. The Ultimate Modern Utility Bikes should....
("take me to work, allow me to shop for weekly groceries, carry my kid, store in my office easily")

3. With the Ultimate Utility bike I would....
("get to work, stop off at the library, pick up a few things at the grocery store, then ride over to the next town to visit my friend")

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Guidelines:
• 1-2 minutes in length maximum
• shoot outdoors, in natural light, with low contrast
• have your friend film you: visible head and shoulders or more is best
• state your name and your city at the beginning of the vid
• specs: we'd prefer HD footage, but we can use anything from HD formats (like 720 x 1280 or 1080 x 1920) down to 640 x 480. Chances are, your cell phone or digisnap camera will be just fine for this. If you have a DSLR or video camera that can shoot really nice HD, then by all means, go for it. If not, don't sweat it. We're more interested in your stories and ideas than awesome cinematography.

WE ALSO INVITE YOU TO DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR IDEA

How to send us your footage:
1. name your file using your first and last name (example: DanSmith.mov)
2. create a text file that includes your name, address, phone number and email address).
3. archive (stuff) the video file and the text file together in one package -- include a scan of your drawing as well, if you have one
4. in your web browser go to: www.grymttr.com / click CLIENT LOGIN in lower left corner / user name = om / password: destiny / upload button is on upper left
5. upload your archived files

If we use your video, we will contact you to sign a release form to use your image.
If you do not include contact information as directed we cannot use your video.

DEADLINE FOR ALL VIDEO SUBMISSIONS IS JANUARY 10TH, 2011!

New for 2011, Oregon Manifest
will team with Core77 on
'Creative Collaborations'.

What if you paired a small, custom bike builder with a world-class product design firm? That's the experiment that organizers of the Oregon Manifest event plan to carry out during their event next year. Details of the 2011 Oregon Manifest were unveiled yesterday and if all goes according to plan, transportation bike design will go to places it's never been before.

As part of their effort to push the boundaries of design and create the "ultimate utility bike for modern living", Manifest organizers will link builders up with teams from three of the worlds' top product design firms (not yet public). These 'Creative Collaborations' will be chronicled step-by-step by the widely read and respected design magazine Core77 (which has been named as the official media partner).

According to Manifest organizers, "These three teams will be tasked with re-framing the conversation about bikes as tools for modern living, pursuing design solutions that are effective, practical and truly innovative." (more...)

An entry in the 2009 Constructor's
Design Challenge.
(Photo © Elly Blue)

Organizers of the Oregon Manifest have announced they're moving to a biennial format and scaling back the event to focus on the Constructor's Design Challenge. The event, which began as a handmade bike show over one weekend in 2008 and grew into a six-week series of events last year, will take place again in 2011. (more...)

This story is part of our ongoing Oregon Manifest 2009 coverage.

High fives exchanged among racers
who didn't complete the "epic" course.
(Photo © BikePortland/Elly Blue)

The Oregon Manifest Constructors Challenge bicycles have been built, raced, judged, and celebrated. The top 15 bikes (12 chosen for their design and the three that were raced the fastest) are on display at Manifest headquarters at NW 10th and Hoyt. Observers are weighing in with glowing reports and criticism.

The major stories have been told -- of Tony Pereira's blue stunner that won the design challenge, Joseph Ahearne's gorgeous 9-speed mixte, and the jeans skirt and sweater worn by its rider (who changed into a cocktail dress for the final lap). (more...)

[Welcome to our continuing coverage of the Oregon Manifest's Constructor's Design Challenge. See our previous coverage here.]

Greg Heath built and raced this
Donkelope bike, which won a
design award.
(Photos © Elly Blue)

All day yesterday, the thirty offerings in the Oregon Manifest Constructors Challenge were judged. Today, they were put through their paces on a 77 mile course, from Vernonia to Portland via some epic hills, gravel roads, and city traffic. (more...)

The Circle A Cycles bike was the only one
with dirt proudly on display last night.
They'll all be looking battleweary by now.
(Photo © Elly Blue)

Our correspondent Mark Reber just called from up on Skyline Drive where he's been photographing the challengers in the Oregon Manifest Constructor's Race at the race's Beer Pickup Checkpoint.

All the racers Reber saw were in high spirits, he said. They report a beautiful and rural but challenging course that began at 10am today at Vernonia High School and continued to Scappoose before winding through the west hills and returning to Portland via Old Germantown Road. (more...)

An enthusiastic crowd turned out tonight for the reception party.
(Photo by Mark Reber for BikePortland)

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Our man at the Oregon Manifest Constructor's Design Challenge has sent over more photos of the amazing transportation bicycles put together by some of the best builders in the business.

This is just a small sampling of the extraordinary bikes in the show. Get down to the Oregon Manifest Union (539 NW 10th at Hoyt) from 7-10:00pm tonight for the official reception.

Scroll down for a few more sneak peeks of the builders have showed up with:

Pereira Cycles (Portland, OR)
Tony has really outdone himself (again). Highlights of his beauty are a hand-made taillight, integrated spot for a u-lock, and a fully custom from rack bag by Portland-based Lemolo. Check it out:

(All photos by Mark Reber/BikePortland unless otherwise noted)

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