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The bikes have been raced, judged, and ogled. And the winners are…

[Welcome to our continuing coverage of the Oregon Manifest’s Constructor’s Design Challenge. See our previous coverage here.] Greg Heath built and raced this Donkelope bike, which won a design award.(Photos © Elly Blue) All day yesterday, the thirty offerings in the Oregon Manifest Constructors Challenge were judged. Today, they were put through their paces on … Read more


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Spirits high, riders weary, some down as Constructor’s Race challengers near end point

The Circle A Cycles bike was the only onewith dirt proudly on display last night.They’ll all be looking battleweary by now. (Photo © Elly Blue) Our correspondent Mark Reber just called from up on Skyline Drive where he’s been photographing the challengers in the Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Race at the race’s Beer Pickup Checkpoint. All … Read more


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First look inside the Constructor’s Design Challenge

Editor’s note: Please welcome new BikePortland contributor Mark Reber. A reporter and photographer, Mark is working with us to cover the Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge and Race this weekend. Mark was able to spend some time with the bikes and their proud, nervous builders this morning, and sent this dispatch — and some enticing … Read more


A few peeks at Manifest Design Challenge entries

Sean Chaney of Vertigo Cycles posted this sneak peek of his Design Challenge entry. The Constructor’s Design Challenge (part of Oregon Manifest) is coming this Friday. The event is an unprecedented opportunity to have the brightest minds in bike building put their skills and experience into building the Ultimate Transportation Bike. Each entry will be … Read more


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Builder Focus: Sweetpea is latest builder to offer production bike line

[BikePortland intern Jonathan “J.R.” Reed contributed reporting to this story.] Production means more riding and less waiting.(Photo: Daniel Sharp Photography) Portland-based Sweetpea Bicycles is the latest local bike builder to offer a line of production bikes. Builder Natalie Ramsland says the move was made to make Sweetpeas more accessible, both in terms of price and … Read more


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Impressive list of ‘Constructors’ will push transportation bike boundaries

What sort of features will builders like Joseph Ahearne dream up?(Photo © J. Maus) If you haven’t taken time to peruse the schedule of the Oregon Manifest, you should. The six-week event — which last year mainly focused on a custom bike show — has blossomed into nothing short of an urban biking summit. This … Read more


Oregon framebuilders will bring their bike show to town this Halloween

Crowds were thick at the 2007 OHBS(Photo © J Maus) The Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association, a nonprofit group that unites and promotes the booming local handmade bicycle frame industry, has announced that they will host the 2009 Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show this October in Northwest Portland. The show will be held over Halloween weekend, Saturday … Read more


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Tom LaBonty and his custom cargo bikes

One of Tom LaBonty’s creations.-Slideshow below-(Photos © J. Maus) Portland is truly a cargo bike lover’s paradise. Whether you want the legendary “bakfiets” from Holland, a less expensive version from China, a high-end custom version made in Portland, or a myriad of other locally available options, this town is a veritable cornucopia of cargo bikes. … Read more