“Not a lifestyle, not for fitness: it’s an experience. People like the idea of riding a bike just as they like the idea of going to the park, farmer’s market, lake, picnic, outdoor music/arts, festivals or chatting with neighbors. Unfortunately most people don’t do it as often as they would like.”-from Shimano Coasting marketing materials … Read more
[Kirk Pacenti]Photo: Pacenti Cycle Design Portland just scored another bike industry coup. Kirk Pacenti of Pacenti Cycle Design — a well-known designer and supplier of bicycle lugs and frame tubing — has announced that he will move his business to Portland by the end of next year. Pacenti supplies artisan bicycle builders with everything needed … Read more
[Dean Mullin of CleverCycles demonstrateshis bakfiets.] I have just confirmed that the Dutch Bicycle Company — a Florida-based importer of bakfiets and Dutch city bikes — has named a Portland distributor. According to Dutch Bicycle Company owner Dan Sorger, Northeast Portland resident Dean Mullin will represent the complete range of Dutch city bikes offered by … Read more
Todd Fahrner, the man behind Southeast Portland-based Cleverchimp, has just published photos and video of his latest creation. He has outfitted a Dutch “bakfiets” bike with his superlative Stokemonkey Human Electric Hybrid Drive device. Check it out:
[Custom Surly Pugsleysbuilt up by Cyclepath] The other day I stopped into Cyclepath and noticed a unique-looking Surly Pugsley leaning against the wall. Shop co-owner Bill Larson noticed my drooling and before I could form a sentence he was wheeling out another one just like it. Turns out that these beauties belong to none other … Read more
[This is the first article in a series on Portland’s local bike builders.] [Tony Pereira of Pereira Cycles in his shop in Southeast Portland]
[Can it replace a Burley?] SW Portland-based Showers Pass Clothing (4860 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.) has just released a new jacket that they tout as being the solution to the discontinued Burley Rock Point rain jacket. According to the official press release, “the new Showers Pass Touring Jacket has more features at a lower price … Read more
I know isn’t directly related to Portland, but I’ve been following the local bakfiets and Dutch city bike news lately and I know a lot of Portlanders (including myself) love these things. So here you go. [Click for full view] Jorg & Olif, the stylish Canadian company who re-brands and modifies authentic Dutch city bikes … Read more
[Screenshot from Richard’s blog] Northeast Portland resident Richard Wilson is on a Dutch bike kick. Like myself, he’s especially smitten with cargo bikes, or “bakfiets.” In fact, he likes them so much, he’s started a Bakfiets blog that he hopes will become the, “…go-to resource for bakfiets and to stimulate serious interest in the bike … Read more
*Update: For all you Dutch city bike fans, well-known bike and parts distributor, Seattle Bike Supply will be importing Batavus bikes from Holland. See this comment for more details and a photo from Interbike] As a follow up to my post about Electra’s new Amsterdam city bike, Bike Gallery’s marketing guy Kris Schamp has just … Read more
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Xtracycle, the company that sells kits to convert bikes into longtail, cargo-hauling machines. Besides besides a great company with a solid product, much of the recent excitement has revolved around the news from Interbike that Surly now makes the first Xtracycle-equipped bike, their new Big Dummy model.
I usually wouldn’t post about a bike that has no connection to Portland and that I haven’t even ridden yet…but the new “Amsterdam” bike from Electra could make a serious run at being the perfect Portland bicycle. I’m also excited about this bike because it’s looks to be the first time a euro-stylish city bike … Read more