Yesterday, Elly and I got a nice treat compliments of a thriving, local, bike-based business — Jed Lazar of SoupCycle stopped by and brought us lunch.
Jed launched SoupCycle just six months ago, but as we reported a few days ago, his business is thriving. After getting a closer look at his operation, and tasting some SoupCycle turkey chili, fresh bread and salad, I’m not surprised.
Jed does all his deliveries on a recumbent tricycle that pulls a large cargo trailer. The soups and salads rest in coolers in the trailer and the fresh bread sits on a shelf behind his seat. He had 40 soups on board (chilling in quart containers) and the whole contraption weighed about 200 pounds.
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If you’re wondering how he zips around and fills deliveries all over SE Portland (what he calls “Souplandistan”) with that load, he’s got a secret weapon (besides eating all that healthy food).
Just near the shifters on his handlebars is a trigger for an EcoSpeed electric assist unit. “It sure helps up the hills,” says Jed. I gave the trike a whirl and it’s definitely got zip. With the ape-hanger bars and big trailer, you feel like you own the road.
Jed says he takes up a full lane of traffic downtown and that most people just treat him like any other vehicle on the road.
Jed’s in this business not only to sell soup and pay the bills, he also hopes to inspire others who will see him at work and consider starting their own bike-based business.
View and listen to the audio slideshow above to hear more from Jed.