The people, clubs, and culture that make up Portland’s bike scene.
[Ira Ryan at the 2006 Made in Portland Bike Show] A UK-based website called thewashingmachinepost has published a nice interview with Ira Ryan. Ira is an up-and-coming local bike builder and former messenger who recently launched Ira Ryan Cycles, located in the basement of Weir’s Cyclery in North Portland. Check out the interview. If you … Read more
Who will ever forget this guy? Not me. After my post a few weeks ago, I was amazed at how many people remembered seeing him. Readers chimed in from all over the country to say how impressed they were with the moxie and ingenuity behind this man and machine.
[Made with love by Elias Grey / Lemolo Bags] BikeCraft II is shaping up nicely. I’ve just finished the event flyer (see below) and so far there are 15 confirmed vendors! One of them is Elias Grey. He moved to Southeast Portland less than a year ago and he makes messenger bags under the name … Read more
A reader just pointed out to that the New York Times has mentioned Portland’s bike scene yet again in their Saturday edition. The first time is was all about our “cult-like” allegiance to cyclocross racing and now they cite a new report from Atlanta that says our “pedestrian and biker friendly” city is the main … Read more
[Zoobomber “Handsome” Dave] Acclaimed movie director Gus Vant Sant — who won was nominated for an Academy Award for Good Will Hunting — has tapped the Zoobombers for an upcoming performance piece with the BodyVox dance company. Van Sant and the Zoobombers will be guest artists at First Impressions V. 5, a show that runs … Read more
[You’ve got to seeit to believe it!] Tonight at Disjecta (SE 3rd and Ankeny), Portland begins a three-day celebration of pink mini-bikes and Sprockettes-style fun. Yes, our beloved Sprockettes are pulling out all the stops and the whole thing kicks off tonight at 7PM. Check out the line-up: B:C:Clettes and The Brakes bikedance teams from … Read more
[Austin and NatalieRamsland of SweetpeaBicycles] Austin and Natalie Ramsland — the husband-wife duo behind Sweetpea Bicycles — will open up their framebuilding studio on Saturday night. They’ll have frames on display (in various states of completion) and Natalie (she builds the bikes) will be happy to answer questions about her craft. It’s also a great … Read more
[A scene from lastyear’s BikeCraft event.] I’ve finally confirmed a location and date for BikeCraft II. It will happen in the atrium of City Hall in downtown Portland on Thursday, December 7th. BikeCraft is an event that showcases handmade, bicycle-related arts and crafts made in Portland. For more information check out the BikeCraft page I … Read more
[One idea for newZoobomb bike rack] The iconic Zoobomb Pile (a.k.a. the “Holy Rack” or the “People’s Bike Library of Greater Portland”) is in for a major change. Tuesday night, in a rare showing of cohesion, 20 Zoobombers met in a downtown restaurant to discuss potential new locations for the pile and share design ideas … 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]
[Robert Ping] Robert Ping, the BTA’s Safe Routes to School Program Director, has been named to the national Safe Routes to School Task Force. This task force is made up of representatives from various Federal agencies and leaders in health, transportation, and education and reports directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This select group … Read more
[Cyclocross pioneer andbike fit specialistMichael Sylvester] Michael Sylvester has a unique perspective on the Portland cyclocross scene. He was around at the beginning. Sylvester, along with a small handful of intrepid cyclocross pioneers established the first race series in Portland back in 1985. Yes, that’s over two decades before the Cross Crusade came onto the … Read more