First look: New book chronicles Oregon Manifest competition

New Oregon Manifest book-1

(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Organizers of the Oregon Manifest event are set to release a new book tomorrow. The book, BIKE CRAFT, DESIGN, INNOVATION, is a coffee table quality, 228-page publication that provides an in-depth look into the bikes and the builders of the 2011 competition as well as a recap of the inaugural 2009 edition of the event.

Here’s the official blurb:

This image-rich document of the competition features design details of each entry bike, the three designer/craftsmen Creative Collaboration bikes, on-the-scene shots from the Field Test and judging, and interviews with the winners, judges and the Creative Collaborators. Also included are portraits of the 2009 competitors.

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The non-profit Oregon Manifest organization put the book together as part of their mission to “celebrate and amplify bike craft, design and innovation.”

The heart of the book are the six-page spreads on each 2011 entrant. Readers get a close-up look at how the builders’ bikes lived up to the competition’s goal of producing the “ultimate modern utility bike designed for the everyday cyclist” as well as revealing Q & A’s with the builders themselves.

What I love about the book (and about Oregon Manifest’s work in general) is that it elevates “utility” — which for years has been something of a dirty word in the bike industry — to something beautiful and deserving of a high-quality coffee table book. The book is a fitting complement to the work of the builders it features and to the bright and exciting future of utility bikes. BIKE CRAFT, DESIGN, INNOVATION should be required reading not just for lovers of great bike design; but for everyone in the bicycle industry.

The book was designed and edited by Portland firm Grey Matter and the images come from a variety of photographers. It’ll be available online starting tomorrow via digital print-on-demand in both soft ($51.95) and hardcover ($71.95) versions.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, 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 supporter.

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dwainedibbly
dwainedibbly
11 years ago

Are there plans for another Manifest, perhaps in 2013?

Paul Smith
11 years ago

The book sounds awesome, but $52 at a minimum? Eeks!

Jon
Jon
11 years ago

I love the quote: …competition’s goal of producing the “ultimate modern utility bike designed for the everyday cyclist”
I’m not sure the average cyclist is going to cough up $2500 for a frame only. Most of the the average cyclists that I know think even $1000 for a complete bike is an extravagance. I guess I could find out more about how these bikes fit the average cyclist if I wanted to pay $72 for a coffee table book.

kww
kww
11 years ago
Reply to  Jon

I believe that the since the Manifest was started, it has had a great effect on the variety of mass produced bicycles that you can buy in a bike store for much less money.

It seems 10 years ago, you had a choice: MTB or a TdeF bike, now you really have a choice!

Brad Ross
11 years ago
Reply to  kww

The goal is to design bikes that fit into the “modern utility” idea. Of course a custom one off is not going to be cheap. Prototypes never are. But the ideas that stem from these bikes and the Manifest as a whole will will filter into mainstream production bikes that are affordable.