Small is the new big when it comes to bike shops in Portland. Over the past few years we’ve seen a clear trend in what type of shops are opening up. They are small and service-oriented, tucked away in places that often only a loyal stable of local customers know about.
In the past few months three new small bike shops have opened up in Portland. Here’s what you need to know about each one of them…
Tuite Bicycle Repair – 2234 N Lombard (Google Map)
Tommy Tuite opened up his shop back in September. With over 10 years of experience at local stalwarts like Veloshop (now Portland Bicycle Studio), Western Bikeworks, and Velotech.com, Tuite offers a little something for everyone. He and his (growing) family live just a few blocks from the store, so it’s truly a neighborhood place where you’re certain to feel welcome. “We aim to add a positive space for the community to discover bicycles for racing, health and transportation,” Tommy said in an email to us a few months back.
Tommy is a veteran ‘cross racer so he knows the high performance stuff; but his shop has bikes for cruising and commuting too. Fairdale is one of the shop brands. Swing by Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm or call (503) 477-5570 to see if Tommy’s got what you need. TuiteBicycleRepair.com
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Workhorse Cycle – 833 SE Main/Activspace (Google Map)
Workhorse Cycle is a brand new shop opened by Portlander Nolan Restivo. Tucked in a small space (in the same building as BikePortland’s first office!), Nolan’s forte is one-on-one service with a smile. His personal passion for cyclocross, bikepacking, and mountain biking inspired him to open his own shop. WorkhorseCycle.com
Norther Cycles – 5515 N Albina (Google Map)
Norther is the new venture from framebuilders Starmichael Bowman and Mark Simmons. You might recall Starmichael from his time over at Kenton Cycle Repair. And Mark is the builder behind Belladonna Cycles, which he started in 2008. Together, this duo have carved out a cool space just off the vibrant corner of Killingsworth and Albina adjacent to the Portland Community College campus. Norther is a combination framebuilding shop and retail store. They carry lots of silver vintage and new-old-stock drivetrain parts from companies like Suntour, Mafac and Shimano, dynamo lights from Son, handlebar bags, fenders, and more. They also love to refurbish vintage bikes and do repairs and overhauls.
Norther’s retail shop is open Friday through Sunday 12:00 to 6:00 pm, or by appointment. Give them a call at (971) 303-2809. NortherCycles.com
We’re lucky to have such a diverse selection of bike shops in Portland. Who knows, maybe one of these three will be your forever shop.
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org
Mazel tov, folks, small is beautiful.
So we now have close to 80 bike shops in Portland.
It seems illogical that they will all survive long-term.
Consumers will be wise to ask themselves: What do I really want from my local shop?
An experience?
To feel like I belong to a cool club?
To find racing sponsorship (and all that goes with it)?
Or do I just need to get my bike fixed so I can ride again?
I think it will be very interesting to see where so many of these shops are a year from now. Stay tuned.
Tried a couple of new ones. On an overhaul one couldn’t align my handlebars correctly and didn’t do a good job of re wrapping handlebar tape. Another did a good job swapping out a blown tire.
For me, it’s a spectator sport.
Don’t expect many will have found their niche in five years, but my reliable is a mile and a half away.
location… I go to the shop closest to me until they prove useless then I go to the next closest shop… I try to do everything local…
Thanks again to Tuite for hosting our most recent BikeLoudPDX meeting!
Tommy is a solid dude and a great mechanic. So glad to see him open up his own spot!
Thank you Jonatnan!!! The community reception has been fantastic!
Go Portland!!!!
I agree, Tommy is a solid dude. He and I have been good friends for over 10 years, and is the only guy who’s ever worked on any of my bikes. We’ve even bought and sold the same bike (Ciocc) to each other a couple of times. (and a VW GTI)
Stoked Tommy opened up a shop. Super knowledgeable about all thing bikes and great guy too boot.
Does he know the difference between English, French and Italian bottom brackets on 70’s-era bikes? Can he spot a real Hetchins frameset from a Chinese knockoff? If so he’s a very rare – nay, nonexistent – mechanic.
He’s probably very knowledgable about what’s relevant and what people are riding TODAY.
Small is the new large.
Best luck to Starmichael, I love the guy, but his first shop is my forever shop. I’m sticking with Rich and Co. in Kenton.
I’d love help to help edit and update a google map of all the local bike shops and bike community spaces
I plan to expand this to any business promoting #visionzero and putting people before parking and cars. This bike friendly list would include the Clinton Theater
The map may include a boycott layer marked in RED. Please boycott the Laurlehurst Theater who bullied and lied to prevent bike safety on NE 28th ave.
Here’s the first draft of the map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z43wUj3fRcQU.kLAhR8wdRBS4
There was a similar map, but it was outdated.