(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Having an office downtown is fun because of all the neat people you run into. Recently I’ve started getting coffee from a new place every few days simply as an excuse to roll around with my camera to see what I run into. Last week I noticed Erik Young’s bike locked up so I snapped a few photos. Erik is known around town as Sharky and he’s one of the oldest full-time bike messengers in Portland. He’s also an accomplished track racer, dad to an 11-year old son Velo (I know that because he goes to my daughters’ school), and much more. I hope to do a full profile of Sharky someday; but for now, check out a few photos I was able to snap before he rolled away…
(You might also recall when I shared some photos of Sharky carrying his son in a messenger bag seven years ago!)
I’d love to read that profile, Jonathan!
His bike was the first one I had ever seen completely brakeless when I first moved here and I asked him why at Stumptown in Old Town; he mumbled something like “It works fine if you know what you’re doing.” and rolled off down the sidewalk. Very enlightening! I do love how worn his steed is though 🙂
Fun… yet I HAVE to say this: “Too cool for a helmet?” With kids, it only takes one mistake and… I mention this with good intentions only.