The Batavus “Old Dutch” have arrived
Well I had my doubts whether or not it would ever happen, but after some ads popped up recently it was just a matter of time… And now it’s official, the Batavus “Old Dutch” bikes have landed in America.
Products
Bakfietsen go mainstream
Scott Mizee aboard a bakfiets.File photo The Oregonian’s inPortland secion has a nice story today that will give a big boost to Portland’s awareness of and interest in bakfietsen (Dutch for “box bikes”). The story focuses on how great the bikes are for kids and families, and even mentions a woman who uses one as … Read more
Local cyclist imports trailers from Poland
John Climaldi and his first shipment of Extrawheels.Photo: John Climaldi Local recumbent enthusiast and general bike nut John Climaldi was looking through VeloVision Magazine one day when he came across something that was “so cool” he just had to know more. The product was the Extrawheel, a Poland-made bicycle trailer that wasn’t available in the … Read more
Signs of life from Clever Cycles
Can you spot the bakfiets?Photo: Clever Cycles on Flickr Clever Cycles, Portland’s soon-to-be-opening retail shop that will carry bakfiets cargo bikes and “a complete line of resoundingly practical biking gear” is showing signs of life at their location on SE 9th Ave., just south of Hawthorne Blvd. Part of a Dutch bike invasion sweeping North … Read more
Dutch bike invasion continues with Batavus
I first brought you the news about original, Dutch Batavus bikes potentially coming to the U.S. market back in October. I had received spy photos of them from my correspondents at the Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.
CCC now offers used parts on eBay
The Community Cycling Center has gone global. Thanks to staff mechanic Rich Walker, the venerable, Northeast Portland-based non-profit is now offering select parts and accessories on eBay. Check it out via their new website.
In the shop with bike tool maker Brett Flemming
[This is the third installment of my “In the shop” series. Check out the first two on Joseph Ahearne and Tony Pereira.] Brett Flemming At the end of a cul-de-sac in a non-descript, Vancouver Washington subdivision, is the home and shop of Brett Flemming, an extraordinary machinist, inventor, and head mechanic for one of the … Read more
A close-up look at a Coasting bike
The bike for the other 161 million? Yesterday I got my first, hands-on look at the fruits of Shimano’s new Coasting product initiative. Only three manufacturers (Raleigh, Trek and Giant) are licensed to make bikes with Coasting and I gave Trek’s offering, the “Lime Light” a closer look.
Hanging with war vets on my last day in D.C.
A cheesy self-portrait in front of the Lincoln monument. Saturday was my last day in Washington D.C. and I spent it on a bike. When I arrived, it was 70 degrees, nearly perfect riding weather. Unfortunately things got worse as the week wore on. By the time Saturday rolled around, we’d seen rain, sleet, and … Read more
Shimano shares Coasting story
Shannon Bryant ofShimano Marketing At the closing ceremony of the National Bike Summit, the Shimano marketing duo of Shannon Bryant and David Lawrence hit the stage to tell the story of Coasting. Shimano embarked on this initiative five years ago when they teamed up with premier product design group IDEO. That was the start of … Read more
Booth, Speedvagen mark new direction for Vanilla Bicycles
[The Vanilla Bicycles booth at the Handmade Bicycle Show.]
Ms. Michaels gets her mixte
Here’s a nice bike love story for you. Sprockette and Portland school teacher Maggie Michaels got the surprise of her life today. Maggie is the girlfriend (and muse) of builder Joseph Ahearne and he has been secretly working for months on a special “mixte” style bike that he unveiled today. She showed up at the … Read more