The Pedal Nation/PDX Bicycle Show did not disappoint. If you missed the action today, it’s open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm tomorrow (Sunday).
Check out the slideshow below for our photos from the day. You can also see updates from the show via Twitter here. Check back Monday for a recap of the show (I’m tired!):
If you went to the show, please share your impressions in the comments below…
Thanks for reading.
BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.
Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.
It was a bit smaller than I expected but I had a blast. All the folks I wanted to talk to were there…NuVinci, Showers Pass, Nutcase, and some of the custom builders. The demo ring was great! Not only got to try the NuVinci hub on a trainer but on the ground, too! Also my first 3 rides on 2-wheel ‘bents, and one was Sprout’s e-assist…COOL! The RideKick e-trailer was nice, too, and I got a great intro to it: didn’t know what it was, hopped on for a spin thinking “ho-hum, another trailer, yeah, fine.” It towed nicely, hardly knew it was there. Back in the pits the rep asked me if I liked the assist…uh, hunh? “Yeah, just push this thumbie…” Whee! Hooks up to most bikes in minutes; very smooth. The BMX riders wowed me as always, as did the trials demo. Had nice chats with Jude at Sugar, Shawn at Ruckus (he’s changing my opinion of carbon), Brompton and several other vendors with cool products. Very nice way to spend the afternoon, glad I went.
that all crabon utility bike is pure 1337 geekiness. but then again i just don’t get the neo-luddite steel fetish.
Not only is it ‘lite-looking but it demonstrates an all-but-invisible repair to serious top-tube damage and installation of upper rack eyelets into the seat stays. Ask Shawn about frame repair kits the size of tube patch kits.
i really, really want his fenders.
Alan, I’m glad I read your review. Following your advice I went straight for the bike ring and test road a wide variety of bikes, including a Metrofiet, Joe Bike, tall bike, recumbants and Bike Friday folding bike.
I was surprised by the number of bikes with the NuVinci rear hub. A number of manufacturers are using them now and it seems like it worked really well with a surprisingly wide gear range.
Oh dear, I still want a Renovo with a NuVinci hub, but after a long conversation with Coventry’s Marilyn, I want a recumbent, too. I don’t think Renovo is making wood recumbents yet, but that would combine three fantasies.
I need to get a much better-paying job.
at one point, Ken mentioned a wood ‘bent was on his “to do list”
Disappointing.
k. – Why?
“Disappointing.”
I thought so too.
For me it had to do with the overall focus of the setup. Registration included a required information card that wanted (no, not required, but didn’t mention that it wasn’t) income level, email (and land) address, marketing questions… man I get enough spam, don’t want to spend $10 for the luxury of getting more. Real turn off.
Center area was for ? Fashion? For those who are more concerned about winning a popularity contest then equipment ability (guess this is the Facebook generation influence) okay, cool. Was of no interest to me and it took up a very large part of the venue and, well, it was the center.
These two factors heavily influenced my take on the show. Yes there were a few interesting bits but the level of fluff and greed gave it, IMO, a rather desperate and disjointed feel.
Not your father’s Bike Fest (unfortunately). Guess I’m looking forward to the Handmade Bike Show in Bend this year.
I declined filling out the info card.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who thought so. It was weird and not that exciting for $10. I didn’t know the Bike Crafter people were going to be there . . . I wish there had been more of that sort of thing. But after spending $10 to get in, I didn’t really want to spend any more money.
Also they handed me that plastic bag with nothing really in it before I realized what was going on. I ended up giving it back. Just more fodder for the landfill!
Other than custom builders, what did you see for $10 that couldn’t be viewed for nothing by visiting a few bike shops?
Well, quite a few of us volunteered and spent nothing to get in.
While I seem to have relationships with bike shops all over at least SE Portland, I’m always there for a specific reason instead of seeing the sights. I kind of hate to take up a shop’s time unless I am actively looking for something. I bought a cone wrench at my LBS this afternoon – that’s what I went in for, that’s what I came out with.
At a show like this, the vendors fully expect most visitors to be gawkers, some of whom may become customers when they/we wouldn’t otherwise.
But I bet you see where the rest of us who didn’t get in for free are coming from right? It didn’t feel very “Portland” for being here.