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Freak bikes, minis will take part in Oregon Handmade Bike Show


Zoobomb Century
Tackling the hill on a freaky mini.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Coming up in November is the first-ever Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show. Among the 25 vendors are some of Oregon’s most talented bicycle craftsmen.

Several well-known custom bike makers from Portland will be exhibiting. But in addition to the usual suspects, and in a nod to Portland’s distinct brand of bike building, the show will also feature builders known for a different kind of custom bike; minis and freak bikes.

Yes, alongside $3,000, meticulously crafted frames made to exacting tolerances will be bike creations culled from local dumpsters, then welded and bolted together by the DIY genius of Zoobombers and members of the Dropout Bike Club.

One such genius is Gabe Tiller. He says, “it’s quite fitting, really, if they are trying to represent Portland’s bike scene.”

Tour de Fat '06
A mini tall bike.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

So what type of bikes can you expect at the show? Gabe says, “So far I’ve heard rumors of fixed gear tall-bikes, custom recumbents, choppers, quadruple mini-stacks, mini-bikes, and of course pyle technology [I have no idea what that is].”

Gabe and his cohorts have planned a freak bike workshop this Sunday where they’ll take a truck load of junked out frames and see if they can, “come up with some last minute monstrosities.”

Sounds like an event not to be missed. Put it in your calendar now! Here are the details:

Stay tuned for profiles of builders and more coverage of the show.

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