Portland’s bike-powered BBQs and talk show get their due

media-grilled

Grilling by bike in Paste Magazine.

If you’ve followed this site for a while you know that here in Portland, people do a lot of amazing things by bike: raising a family, getting married, moving, and responding to disasters are just a few of them.

I like to share those types of stories here on BikePortland because they challenge people’s assumptions about what bicycles make possible. That’s why I get excited when larger media outlets give them attention because their I know their audiences will be even more amazed and inspired.

Case in point are two recent bits of media attention worth noting: Portland’s “Grill by bike” trend highlighted in Paste Magazine and the Pedal Powered Talk Show earning a spot on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Art Beat program.

Advertisement

Bike-powered BBQ’s are nothing new in Portland (remember the Musical Mystery BBQ Ride during Pedalpalooza 2005?), but it seems to be enjoying a renaissance and Paste Magazine has taken note:

Group rides, fun, food: it all goes hand in hand. In many ways—except for the flames, maybe—mounting a bike on a grill is the next logical step. Enter Grilled by Bike…

Grilled by Bike exemplifies the DIY attitude, but does it all while riding at high speeds in extreme conditions. Their group motto: Ride on Fire.

If pedaling around a grill doesn’t impress you, how about producing a talk show from a cargo bike?

The Pedal Powered Talk Show launched in 2011 and has been gaining speed ever since. Phil Ross and Boaz Frankel have done a fantastic job keeping the wheels turning and they’re starting to get much-deserved attention. Last week the excellent OPB show Oregon Art Beat tracked them down and devoted an entire segment to telling their story:

Congratulations to all involved! While bbq’ing and hosting a talk show by bike might seem like trivial pursuits, expanding people’s minds about the bicycle’s potential is much more powerful than it first appears.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

4 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Phillip Ross
9 years ago

Thanks for the kind words Jonathan! The Pedal Powered talkshow just started airing episodes from our 5th season! Check them out at http://www.pedaltalkshow.com

Isaac
Isaac
9 years ago
Reply to  Phillip Ross

I love the bike you two use in yer show! Is this some sort of funky Portland bike that you two pieced together or can I get something like this in a retail setting? So cool!

EricIvy
9 years ago

Thanks for the #GrillBike coverage BikePortland and Paste Magazine! What’s kind of funny is that The Pedal Powered Talk Show and Grilled By Bike joined forces earlier this year!

Photo:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KkznOIXT-g8/VRoxNRdjnhI/AAAAAAAAB0U/w4KbSIRNhm8/s1600/bike%2Bthe%2Bbillboards%2Bgrilled%2Bby%2Bbike%2Bportland%2Bbillboard.JPG

Story:
http://pedaltalkshow.com/we-rode-we-saw-billboards-we-conquered/

Josh G
9 years ago

I thought Phil was the Silent Bob of the operation and would never talk on camera. Looking forward to the Enchanted Forest episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYFSELCVT30