The Trek Stop: A Qwik-e Mart for bikes?
James Thomas of the Bicycle Design blog introduces us to the “Trek Stop”, a convenience store for bikers… (Photos courtesy of James Thomas/Bicycle Design)
Business
Showers Pass moves to Southeast Portland
Showers Pass, designers of popular rain-gear, are now based in Southeast Portland (they were previously in the Southwest Hills area). I have been meaning to do a story on them, but I noticed Bicycle Retailer & Industry News Magazine had a story on them today: Showers Pass Moves, Boosts Management
Portland company sponsors top cycling team: Will debut at Tour de France
Portland-based Columbia Sportswear has announced that they have taken over sponsorship of Team High Road (formerly T-Mobile) and new jerseys with “Team Columbia” will debut at the start line of the Tour de France. This would be first time a Portland company was a title sponsor of such a high-profile racing team. Team High Road … Read more
Business Alliance reports uptick in bike commuting
The Portland Business Alliance has just released their 2007 Downtown Portland Business Census and Survey and the results show a 20% rise in the number of people who commute by bike. The survey — which included businesses, government entities and non-profit organizations — found that 6% of downtown employees got to work by bike (last … Read more
Want sustainable transportation? How about a bamboo bike trailer?
A bamboo trailer built in North Portland by Elden Clark (notice the bottle-capped screw heads).(Photos © J. Maus unless otherwise noted) North Portland resident Elden Clark hopes to turn his love for building bamboo bicycle trailers into a business. I first spotted Clark’s work on a flyer he’d posted outside of a bike shop. Then … Read more
Time in the saddle means time off work for local company
The man behind the company — Chris King — at the City Hall Bike Show in 2006.(Photos © J. Maus) Chris King Precision Components is a company that has built its reputation on going above and beyond. From the first headset he made back in 1976, Chris King has proven that he sets his own … Read more
Bike industry leaders will hold Obama fundraiser — and he’ll take a bike ride
“It’s really an opportunity to talk about bikes with Barack.”— SRAM CEO Stan Day in Bicycle Retailer magazine BicycleRetailer.com reports that the president and CEO of component manufacturer SRAM will hold a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. According to the story, “the event’s goal is to introduce Obama to industry leaders and to … Read more
Stores hope discounts lure bike-riding customers
This sign welcomes customers at ReStore on SE Morrison Street.(Photo © J. Maus) With public consciousness of high gas prices at all-time high and with a noticeable rise in bike traffic on Portland streets, some local businesses are flying their bike-friendly flags by offering special discounts to lure human-powered customers. There are many businesses throughout … Read more
Video: Sweetpea Bicycles and Portland’s handmade bike culture
Check out the video below. It was created by Daniel Sharp for Nau, a clothing designer that used to be based in Portland (before closing their doors).
Putting the Yuba Mundo to work
Big bag of chicken feed? No problem. But two wooden screen doors?(Photos © J. Maus) On Saturday, I decided to put the Yuba Mundo through a few paces. When he dropped it off last week, local Mundo man Jeremy Towsey-French said the bike excels at carrying awkward loads. With that in mind, I decided to … Read more
A grand ‘Tour of Oregon’ is closer than you think
The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in downtown Portland.(Photos © J. Maus) A study released yesterday by two Georgia colleges found that the Tour de Georgia — a week-long professional road race that wrapped up in April — contributed $38 million to that state’s economy. That news comes on the heels of an announcement to expand … Read more
The ‘Mundo’ makes its Portland debut
Jeremy Towsey-French loves the Mundo.(Photos © J. Maus) Jeremy Towsey-French dropped by BikePortland.org headquarters today to introduce me to the Yuba Mundo. The Mundo (it means “world” in Spanish) is a cargo bike dreamed up by an ex-employee of Xtracycle and Jeremy is the Portland distributor. He’s set up a website at StumptownMundo.com and he … Read more