From the Portland city archives: A tall bike on Union Avenue in 1980

IMG_2995

Kickstand included.
(Photo: City of Portland Archives)

Tall bikes look great in sepia, too.

Local freelance reporter and BikePortland friend Lee van der Voo came across the above photo in the City of Portland’s archives and sent it along. It was taken in the parking lot outside the former Winchell’s Donut House at 5601 NE Martin Luther King Boulevard, now home to Geneva’s Shear Perfection barber and beauty salon.

“It’s from 1980, during a PDC project on what was then Union (now MLK),” van der Voo writes.

Advertisement

Here’s a closer look at the same photo:

IMG_3000

It’s hard to tell what that is dangling from the handlebars — a lei? A tutu? In any case, it’s nice to know that even in this town, some things never really change.

(And if you happen to know whose bike this is or was, please let us know.)

Michael Andersen (Contributor)

Michael Andersen (Contributor)

Michael Andersen was news editor of BikePortland.org from 2013 to 2016 and still pops up occasionally.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

20 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
basketloverd
basketloverd
9 years ago

Faux-fur steering wheel.

basketloverd
basketloverd
9 years ago

Plus, it’s a tandem.

Racer X
Racer X
9 years ago
Reply to  basketloverd

…or perhaps more likely two frames welded together.

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
9 years ago
Reply to  Racer X

Yeah, two frames plus a few more tubes, but I’d call it a tandem instead of a long-tail tall-bike because of the crank and pedals for the stoker. Hard to tell for sure, and I’m sceptical how well it would work, but it looks like a single loop of chain might connect all three gears in a triangle.

Jeff Ong
Jeff Ong
9 years ago

I love that it’s taking a parking space!

9watts
9watts
9 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Ong

Well, claiming one, at least.

Mike G
Mike G
9 years ago

Maybe it was owned by the founders of Voodoo Doughnuts doing some early field testing.

Mark
Mark
9 years ago

I’m guessing that’s a steering wheel with a fuzzy cover.

Pat Franz
Pat Franz
9 years ago

Weird has deep roots here, yes it does!

Bella Bici
9 years ago

How is it not tipping over on that kickstand?!??

Pete
Pete
9 years ago

Bud Clark’s old bike?

CaptainKarma
CaptainKarma
9 years ago

Probably a steering wheel. We had tall bikes back in small-town Midwest USA in the dark ages of the hippie era, and bicycle steering wheels were necessary along with a banana seat, for the bike to be “complete”. We also had PPVs or people powered vehicles. Lightweight fiberglass pedal cars with side by side seating. The cops didn’t know WHAT to do about them, so they banned ’em of course.

9watts
9watts
9 years ago
Reply to  A.K.

absolutely hilarious. thanks for the link.

Al from PA
Al from PA
9 years ago

Not sepia, but a faded Kodacolor print.

AndyC of Linnton
AndyC of Linnton
9 years ago

Too cool!
Are there any Winchell’s in Portland anymore? Not that it’s that big of a deal, just trying to remember.

A.K.
A.K.
9 years ago

I don’t think there are, HOWEVER, I think that the Heavenly Donuts on Lombard is a former Winchell’s – someone can perhaps verify or correct that assumption.

fredlf
fredlf
9 years ago

Reminds me of the old Mojo Nixon song,
“Standing outside of the Winchell’s,
Feeling very existential.”

Mike Quiglery
Mike Quiglery
9 years ago

I have a photo of a bunch of bikes lined up in front of the old Coon Chicken Inn out on Sandy taken in the late 40s. Now, if somebody could tell me how to scan and post it? The photo quality isn’t very good anymore. On the other hand, realizing how politically correct things seem to be, might cause too much of a stir.