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 Mullin) have signed a lease on a space at 1516 SE 9th (just off Hawthorne, across from the Lucky Lab Brew Pub).
Todd says the 1800 square-foot shop should be ready for a grand opening this spring.
The shop will sell Dutch bakfiets cargo bikes (they’ve already sold over half their first shipment on word-of-mouth alone), city bikes, and complementary accessories. Expect some great new products never before available in Portland; like Brompton’s line of foldable bikes, Surly’s Big Dummy longtail bike, Xtracycles, Dutch, oil-cloth panniers and other cool stuff.
Everything they sell will be, “relentlessly practical” and Todd adds that they will only stock bikes that take luggage, lights and fenders seriously,
“You won’t see anything in our shop that even resembles racing or lycra. Our focus is on hauling cargo and family, staying comfortable while riding in all types of weather and safety…but that’s not to say that utility biking can’t fun and sexy!”
Sounds like it will be a perfect fit for Portland and I can’t wait for opening day.
Thanks for reading.
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I support these guys all the way! They really are breaking new ground here in Portland. I have recently had the pleasure of getting to know Dean Mullin a bit and I have to say, “I am impressed!” –no, I am not getting paid to say that. But, I do hope that they have a very successful venture.
Being a first generation American with a Dutch father, I have a strong appreciation for things from The Netherlands. Having 4 kids, I have a strong appreciation for bikes that are focused on children and cargo. Frankly, I can’t wait for their shop to open!
I encourage you all to check it out. Its going to be fun!
Scott Mizee
npGREENWAY.org
im thrilled that someones finally bringing the bakfiets.nl long john style bikes into the states. i ride a cat long haul, and it always sucks to have to tell people who ask where they can get one that while theres someone in the state who makes them, good luck actually *getting* one. nevermind that the bakfiets.nl version fits a wider variety of people, and has more practical options for family use.
now ill have somewhere to point them all! demand for a useful cargo bike is high – especially if the price is right – people have seen the gateway drug of the longtails, and now theyre ready to move on to real cargo hauling – front loaders are easier to work with, and you can *see* your cargo – no more worrying about whether or not youll fit through that gap, or what the kids are doing – its right in front of you! heck, you can have *conversations* with your cargo!
now if someone in the states would just build one of the *big* bakfiets, the trikes with the front cargo bed the size of a compact pickup truck!
-joel
We love the bakfiets we bought from them!
I was at the grocery the other day and saw a CleverCycles bakfiets there — I don’t know whether it was Dean’s or Scott’s, but a couple of people came up and asked about it. I directed them to the clevercycles web site. The folks I was chatting with thought it was plenty sexy. 🙂
Joel: Have you checked out http://www.haleytrikes.com ? His standard models are a bit smaller than the largest Dutch trikes, but he does do custom work. Don’t forget to peruse the Green Hummer story while you’re there!
Now I will not have as much reason to travel to the Netherlands.
Now only if they would serve some apple pie or spiced cookies with their repairs. mmmm.
Will the new shop be a place where I could testride a stokemonkey?
Drake: yes; maybe not opening day, but not long after.
Owner #2: we’ll have to see whether our insurance covers on-site waffle/stroop incidents.
Joel and Val, we’re working on trike options. Joel, longtails as gateway drug/waystation toward the real… that’s funny and I hear where you’re coming from, but respectfully disagree.
I know this may sound loopy but, are you going to have a small kids play area? I know this is popular at some restaurants but places like Rejuvenation Hardware (check theirs out) have them too. Mom and dad can shop while kiddos can play.
yes, absolutely we will have a kid’s play area. we expect that our own kids will spend a lot of time in the shop with us too. the bakfietsen are often described as having the stability, toughness, and kid-allure of playground equipment.
So today as we were leaving New Seasons, a couple wheeled up to the store – he on a bakfiets w/ plastic rain hood, she on an Xtracycle. I pointed them out to my husband and said “There! That’s what I have been telling you about.” I had showed him pictures of both, but he’s one of those “need to see in action” guys. He was pretty impressed. Not impressed enough to immediately purchase one for me, but impressed nonetheless
Cecil: I like your comment. It made me chuckle as it resonates with me.