First trees, now ‘Love by Bike’ (just in time for Valentine’s Day)

Max Kirchoff and his delivery vehicle.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Over the past two holiday seasons, Portlander Max Kirchoff has established a successful business delivering trees by bike throughout the city. His Trees by Bike concept launched in 2009 and last year it grew by leaps and bounds.

Now Kirchoff is extending the idea to Valentine’s Day with a new project dubbed, “Love by Bike.” He’s teaming up with his partner Christina Collada to spread the spirit of love this month the same way they spread the spirit of yule in December.

With a shopping-cart enabled website, an entrepreneurial zeal, and bike delivery staff at the ready, Love by Bike is off to a quick start. They’ve got an inventory of locally-sourced items including cards (handmade and bike-themed of course), coffee (from Portland’s own Trailhead Coffee Roasters), chocolate truffles (from Missionary Chocolates), roses (grown in Hillsboro), and even a tune-up from Veloshop.

Sweetening the deal even more is that 10% of Love by Bike’s revenue will go to the Portland Women’s Crisis Line, an exceptional local non-profit (you might remember them from their Take Back the Night bike ride event).

Kirchoff says this is a “test year” for the Valentine’s deliveries, but he hopes it works as well as the trees did. “I’d love to see it succeed not just for us, but for our partners and our riders – it would be great to spread local love and ride bikes everyday.”

Learn more at LoveByBike.com and follow Max and Christina on Twitter.