There’s a new club in town

[Club founder, chops.]
Photos by dropoutbikeclub

It’s not every day I get to tell you about a brand new bike club, especially one as interesting as Dropout.

The Dropout Bike Club wants to spread the love and fun of mutant and freak bikes (like tall bikes and choppers) to everyone. They’re sort of a kinder, gentler, more inclusive (and less reclusive) version of our other freak bike club, CHUNK 666.

David Darby (aka chops) is the brains behind the club. Chops is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and a long time Portland bike activist who is well-known in the community for his creativity. You might remember him from the BikeCraft Faire where he read his poem, Next Time (see the video, read the text). He is also a talented artist whose work will be displayed in tonight’s art show at City Hall.

Here’s more from chops about his new club:

[Where it all begins.]

“We will soon have a monthly ride and we are working on building a loaner library of tall bikes and choppers for people that would like to ride but don’t want to spend the time on maintaining their own bike. From this we will build our club membership and will have a good base to host a yearly event and also visit other clubs around the country and maybe the world.”

Chops and his friends are behind many of the amazing bikes you might have seen around town, including the Juggernaut which was unveiled at the recent Bike Fair.

Many of the bikes originate in chops’ very own freak bike shop, a fully stocked and tooled-up shop in his garage in Southeast Portland. (I hope to visit and bring back a report in the very near future!)

For photos of Dropout’s first official freak bike ride, check out their Flickr photostream.

It’s great to know about this new club. As someone who loves these D.I.Y. builders and their creative bikes, I am totally lacking in the tools, know-how and support to ever make my own mutant bike. Hopefully now there’s finally going to be a tall bike in my future!

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Ryno
Ryno
17 years ago

DropOutZ ChainGuardZ ForEveR

SKiDmark
SKiDmark
17 years ago

Why ain’t I in this club? HUH?

chops
chops
17 years ago

DROPOUT bikeclub now has a monthly ride
the weekday warrior ride
just like the one we had durring pedalpaloozer but
every month!
the ride its self is simple , meet up, ride to a
undisclosed outside chillin location 3-5 miles away
with a stop at the market allong the way
hang out and have fun
your ride its self is not so simple
this ride is for all the freekbike riders out there
please bring your
chopper/tallbike/longbike/swingbike/spincycle/cargobike/funkymini/unicycle/or
whatever other crazy petal powered freakbike you may
have
or if you dont have a bike like this but would like to
check this ride out show up on whatever you got

when: every 2nd wednsday gather @ 7:30pm

where: col summers park @ s.e. 20th and belmont (until
further notice)

questions? whant to be on our mailing list ? (about
one email a month)
email us at dropoutbikeclub (at) yahoo.com

see ya there!