$4 gas nets a new bike for one Portland commuter

Michael Khadabux and his new bike.
(Photo courtesy Michael Khadabux)

May 23rd was a bad day for Portlanders who buy a lot of gas, but for Michael Khadabux, it was he’ll always remember with a smile.

That’s because he was the lucky winner in a contest to guess which day gas would hit $4.00 a gallon at a Shell station across from River City Bicycles on SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Khadabux’s petrol prognostication skills earned him a brand new Specialized Globe city bike. He told me today that he plans to use it “for short trips to the store or library etc. I’ve got a pretty long commute [Clackamas to Lloyd Center] so I’ll do that on my faster road bike.”

River City sponsored the contest and co-owner Dave Guettler said they received over 400 entries. Khadabux was one of 22 people to guess May 23rd (the Friday before Memorial Day) and he won the contest after his name was pulled out of a hat.

Congratulations Michael!

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
16 years ago

Thanks Rivercity and Specialized for providing a nice accessorized city bike vs. something a little less useful.

Jordan
Jordan
16 years ago

I was one of the 22 who guessed the 23rd. Michael enjoy your new bike 🙂

a.O
a.O
16 years ago

Lucky!!

John Russell
16 years ago

I was off by a long shot. Oh well. It\’s not like I\’m paying those gas prices.

a.O
a.O
16 years ago

Can we get a pool going on $5?

Mmann
16 years ago

Congrats! It happened quicker than I guessed. If it goes down a little (yeah, right) does that mean there will be another winner when it hits 4 bucks again 🙂

the other steph
16 years ago

go Michael! is this for the next trip to Champoeg, by chance?

Qwendolyn
16 years ago

congrats to Michael K.

Michelle
Michelle
16 years ago

Congrats Michael! What a fun contest – thanks Dave and RiverCity for all the wit and creativity.

KTesh
KTesh
16 years ago

Congrats Michael!

It was supposed to be on my Birthday (I was off by less than a week)… nutz.

Enjoy!

mike_khad1
mike_khad1
16 years ago

Thanks for your congrats everyone. And thanks to River City for doing this. I was quite thrilled to hear Dave of River City on my answering machine.

davidio
davidio
16 years ago

I can assure you this bike went to somebody who uses it – Mike rides EVERY day. It\’s always nice to see a big prize go to somebody who deserves it, though I doubt he\’ll give up his regular ride (a lovely Burley road bike, if I remember correctly) for the flat-bar commuter.

Adam
Adam
16 years ago

Congrats on the new bike. It would\’ve been kind of cool to see someone who wasn\’t already a committed commuter win it though to. None the less this was a cool contest.

april
april
16 years ago

That\’s so awesome–what a creative contest idea. :^)

joeb
joeb
16 years ago

I was off by a month. Maybe $5 would warrant another contest?? Hmm Aug 17.

\’Grats Michael.

Catherine
Catherine
16 years ago

hahaha! Congrats, Dad. That\’s pretty cool. Enjoy your sweet new ride. lol
-Cat

steve
steve
16 years ago

They couldn\’t have given the guy a bigger one? He is going to hit his frickin knees on the bars!

cecil
16 years ago

Congrats, Michael!

I admit that I was also one of the 22, assuming in my cynical way that the price would hike just in time for what has traditionally been the biggest \”driving weekend\” of the year. I don\’t know if I should be pleased with the power of my analytical skills or dismayed with the accuracy of my cynicism. Either way, I am glad that I only have to fill my gas tank about once every 6 weeks (or more). . . .

KTB
KTB
16 years ago

Congrats Michael–I guessed that day too! Probably because I knew I\’d be driving that day instead of riding my bike. Oh well! Glad I\’m riding today!

efairlay
efairlay
12 years ago

I like that I haven’t even noticed the gas prices, except the occasional complaint from a automobile driver.