share their craft with the public at Velo Cult.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Since they moved to Portland from San Diego just over one year ago, Velo Cult Bike Shop & Tavern has proven that the old rules don’t apply when it comes to what a bike shop should be. Now, the shop that’s known just as much for parties as they are for products has announced the opening of a public frame building studio.
That’s right. A full-fledged studio where local craftsmen weld steel tubes into bicycle frames and shop visitors can watch every step of the process while they enjoy a cold beer (from one of 14 taps), get their bike repaired, or pick up some new parts. I’ve heard shop owner Sky Boyer talk about this for months and this Friday is the big launch party.
So far, two builders have agreed to ply their craft for the public: Joshua Bryant of Cycles J Bryant and Travis Cooper of Cooper Cycles (both builders are from the 1515 SE Ankeny shop I profiled back in February).
While he realizes it might not lead to the highest levels of productivity, Bryant says he’s excited to give this a try. “I’ll be able to come out and say hi when I’ve got a moment or two and want to chat with folks. It’s exciting and possibly great exposure as a result of being so accessible… I’m also just a little bit crazy enough to think this is somehow a good idea.”
(Photo: Velo Cult)
For Sky, this is an opportunity to embrace something he loves — custom made steel frames — while also helping up-and-coming local builders get some much-needed exposure. To learn more, I emailed Sky a few questions…
What exactly is this “frame building studio”?
We built a nice area for frame builders to work and for customer to watch. There is a counter top with bar stools where you can watch the builders through glass. Kind of like watching glass blowers. The frame builders will be operating their own businesses so I have no say in what they do. Both builders do mostly lugged brazing on randonneur style frames. There’s room for more in the future. The idea is to have frame builders in this space on shifts so that all times there’s someone for customers to watch. I’ve always been a big supporter of frame builders because I know how hard that business is. My reasoning for doing this is first and foremost for my customers and secondly so that the builders can get exposure.
Why would a bike shop and tavern have such a thing?
Velo Cult is really my home away from home. My concept with the shop is to do what I would want to see in a shop. Frankly, watching frame builders is fun. Watching anybody build or fix is fun. At least it is to me. I feel that customers would likely feel the same for the most part. Have a beer and watch frame builders, sounds like a good afternoon to me.
Won’t it be annoying for the builders to have a bunch of people looking over their shoulders?
It will take a certain type of frame builder for sure. Being in a fish bowl has it’s drawbacks. The reasoning for doing this is worth it to some though. Most (pretty much all) frame builders are buried in their caves and don’t see the light of day until they crawl out and go to a custom frame show. At those shows they get photographed. It’s a lucky day when they can sell a frame at a frame show, really they just get exposure from dozens of blogs and hundreds of individuals with Facebook accounts. In this setting they will be behind glass and hopefully a hundred people a day will take photos and promote their brands.
What are your goals for this? How do you think it will help your business and/or shop community?
I would like to have more people riding custom steel bikes. I know I won’t make any money on people buying these custom bikes but still, it’s promotion for good frames. I’d like to see the frame builders get popular beyond their wildest expectations. It would be great if people found this to be a source of good entertainment and perhaps I could sell a beer or two. As for community, I hope that this and other things we do will help to boost up the Hollywood District which I feel it’s high time for. Hollywood district has some cool things happening now and I hope to be a solid part of that.
The official launch party for the frame building studio is set for this Friday (May 17th) at 7:00 pm.
Thanks for reading.
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It’s funny to realize VC has been in town just a year. Sky finds another great way to draw in the “bikes as culture” community.
This seems like a nice deal for builders as well who get publicity and a lot of face time with potential customers.
I concur- Sky is on the cutting edge of bike shop marketing innovations. Went there last night and enjoyed some bluegrass jams and a pint or three 🙂 There appears to be no downtime in that shop whatsoever. From the wrenchin’ crew and event space up top, to the movie theater / shag bar in the basement, it is all quite amazing. I think if shops want to succeed in this town, they definitely need to follow Sky’s lead and at least get some taps set up. Seriously, the place is just awesome; like the ultimate kick-back cyclist garage hangout.
On another note, anyone been up to Dirty Fingers bike shop up in Hood River? I’ve heard it’s somewhat similar…!?
So crazy, it just might work. It IS wonderfully strange that Velo Cult has been around for just a year and for months now it’s been the first place to show off to my out-of-town guests. Keep following your bliss, Sky and I’ll keep guiding people to what that creates.
Velo Cult has 14 beers on tap? Since when?
They just added a bunch of taps in the last two weeks.
Cool!
I believe they have 12 taps now, and a big fridge of bottles and cans. Unless you’re counting a couple taps on beer keg bikes in the back…
Either way, Friday night should be fun! Beer and bikes and custom bikes and bikes all over the ceiling and beer!
I can answer the beer question. We now have 12 taps with two more expected in the next week or so. On top of that about 40 great bottles and cans. Always only the highest quality beers and one low-brow beer, Old German.
Well alright! I gotta get myself back to Velo Cult! It’s been a few weeks.
OG is the FINEST of the Low-Brow-Brews
Perfect. I have an out of town guest coming in this weekend and am putting together a list of places that represent Portland. Hm, so many of them beer-related. 🙂 This is definitely going on the itinerary!