From e-bikes to recumbents, Portland’s niche bike shops find success

Coventry Cycle Works-1

Coventry Cycles has found a comfortable
niche with recumbents.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

With (at least) 69 bike shops in Portland — that’s one for every two square miles, in case you’re keeping track — we’re often asked how they can all survive. The bike shop business isn’t easy; but one way to stand out in the crowd and be successful is to find a niche (or create a new one) and then develop it into a healthy market. Several Portland bike shop owners have done precisely that. And they’ve done it well.

Powered by high-touch marketing and nurtured by Portland’s seemingly bottomless love of interesting bikes, a handful of small-scale entrepreneurs have taken big risks on bike shops that fit both their personal passions and market niches that bigger companies either couldn’t serve or didn’t even know existed.

Here’s a quick take on each of three specialized Portland bike shops whose bets are paying off.

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Reader Story: Collision cover up (literally) and a cop’s bad attitude

Mike Cobb at a recent cargo bike roll call event.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Mike Cobb, well-known to many in the Portland community for his bicycling prowess, mechanical skills, and enthusiasm for cargo bikes (he wrote a dispatch from Seattle’s Disaster Relief Trails for us last month), had an unfortunate incident in the northeast Portland parking lot of Home Depot last night.

Mike was struck by a man driving a black Camaro — and then things got weird. I’ll let Mike tell the rest of the story in his own words…

I was riding west, down approximately the center of the parking lot lane, near the southwestern parking lot corner of the Home Depot on Marine Drive (map). A driver of a black Camaro was traveling in the same direction, approximately 50 feet ahead. He rounded the parking lot corner as I continued. He then stopped and backed up very quickly to enter into a parking space (shown in my pictures below). I noticed the impending collision, so pedaled hard, only to have the rear end of the bike tagged by the backward-moving Camaro’s rear left bumper.

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Robin Moore: From viral star “MC SpandX” to anti-coal crusader

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Robin Moore.
(Photo: Aaron Araki)

28-year former Portland resident Robin Moore burst onto the bike world with his role as MC SpandX in the hilarious spoof rap video “Performance“. The video was shot entirely in Portland and when it debuted in 2009 it became a viral hit. So far it has nearly 2.3 million views on YouTube. After Performance, Moore went on to create “Get Dirty“, “Le Velo” and he scored a few cameos in BikeSnobNYC videos.

Today, Moore is the co-founder of +M Productions and has focused his considerable filmmaking talent onto something much more serious that spandex jokes; an documentary titled “Momenta” which exposes the dangers of proposed coal train exports in the Pacific Northwest. Moore dropped us a line last week and we emailed him a few questions to learn more about his project.

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Gray with black stripes ALL CITY BIG BLOCK 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: ALL CITY
Model: BIG BLOCK
Color:Gray with black stripes
Size:55cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-06-27
Stolen From: SE 51st and Powell
Neighborhood: SE
Owner: adam byrd
OwnerEmail: aqbyrd(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: No accessories, single speed, black bull horn handle bars, black tape, black fyxation pedals, black crank, flip flop hub set on free wheel, ripped western bikeworks sticker on the lower part of frame, only 3 months old, front brake – black with black caliper
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-154265
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Vancouver readies for first carfree, ‘open streets’ event

Sunday Streets Alive website.

This article was written by our Vancouver contributor Madeleine von Laue.

Vancouver residents won’t have to cross the I-5 bridge to participate in a Sunday Parkways event this summer, nor will runners or skaters or anyone else; the City of Vancouver’s very own first Sunday Streets Alive will spin to life August 18, bringing fun and frolicking to approximately four miles of streets through downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.

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black matte Novarra Buzz 2001

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Year: 2001
Brand: Novarra
Model: Buzz
Color:black matte
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-06-12
Stolen From: From car. Near SE 66th and Center
Neighborhood: Foster-Powell
Owner: Sean Kelly
OwnerEmail: skelly04( atsign )gmail.com
Description: Black matte hybrid Novarra Buzz. 9-speed, grip shifter on right handlebar. Black seat with white stitching. Metallic-looking red plastic fenders. Black Rear rack. water bottle holder. SPD pedals
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13005090
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

MCBF recap: Pie jousting, Sprockettes, and amazing bicycles

2013 Multnomah County Bike Fair-36

Splat! Pie jousting was a big
hit with the kids at MCBF.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Pedalpalooza came to a close on Saturday at the Multnomah County Bike Fair. The event was held adjacent to the now-defunct Washington High School at SE 12th and Alder. While it seemed to lack the crowds and energy of past MCBFs held at Colonel Summers Park, there was still plenty of fun and shenanigans to go around.

There were bike competitions like a slow race and foot-down derby, various types of jousting (pie, swing-bike, and tall-bike), lots of picnicking, a small vendor expo, a visit from The Hamster Ball, a special show by The Sprockettes, live music, and of course plenty of interesting bikes to gawk at.

Check out the photos and captions below for a little slice of the event…

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Brown/Silver Trek 7100 2009-11

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Year: 2009-11
Brand: Trek
Model: 7100
Color:Brown/Silver
Size:Big mens 22″
Serial: WTU169CO239C
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2013-06-27
Stolen From: Outside of Grout School 3119 SE Holgate Blvd.
Neighborhood: Kenilworth
Owner: Dave Frankunas
OwnerEmail: davefra(at sign)yahoo.com
Reward: yes
Description: leather seat and hand grips, bike rack
front and seat shocks
Police record with: portland
Police reference#: 1353250
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

The Monday Roundup: Pre-stolen bikes for sale (and more)

Was it pre-ordered?

Here’s the bike news from around the web that grabbed us this week:

— In Japan, a brazen bike thief has been spotted listing bikes for sale online before he or she even steals them. After all, why take the risk until you’ve gauged consumer demand?

— The New York Times is just the latest respected news organization to document the decline in driving in America. We love that their Sunday headline, The End of Car Culture, came on the same day as regional papers reported on the demise of the Columbia River Crossing project.

— In London, one in four rush-hour vehicles is now a bicycle. That’s the stat Portland is trying to hit by 2030.

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Red Scott Speedster 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Scott
Model: Speedster
Color:Red
Size:56
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-06-30
Stolen From: 1001 NW Couch Street, outside Athleta
Neighborhood: Pearl
Owner: Annie Bertucio
OwnerEmail: annebertucio( atsign )gmail.com
Description: Red frame with while handlebar tape and white seat. Alex wheel (white rim) on the front, Bontrager wheel on the back. Because I tossed the Bontrager on in a flat tire pinch this morning, the shifting will be unfriendly. “PDX Bike Commuter” sticker near the bottom bracket. Left hood is noticeably bent inwards.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13005741
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black/white Trek Remedy 7 09

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 09
Brand: Trek
Model: Remedy 7
Color:Black/white
Size:19.5
Serial:WTU308G0425D
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-06-01
Stolen From: SE Knight St, Portland, OR, United States. What appeared to be a nice neighbourhood.
Neighborhood: Knight Street
Owner: Justin Wolfe
OwnerEmail: justinwolfe28@hotmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: Black and white Trek Remedy 7 Mountain bike 2009. Blue anodized brake levers, white/black Rock Shox Lyric front forks, clipless pedals, Maxxis tires
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13005721
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Orange Norco Bigfoot 05

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 05
Brand: Norco
Model: Bigfoot
Color:Orange
Size:S
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-06-30
Stolen From: SE Knight St, Portland, OR, United States. What appeared to be a nice neighbourhood.
Neighborhood: Knight Street
Owner: Eryn Freeman
OwnerEmail: erynlinnaea(AT)gmail.com
Description: Burnt Orange Norco Bigfoot Mountain Bike small frame 2005. Sun faded on the top bar, scratches on frame and worn out seat. Big mountain bike tires on it and about 5 inches of travel. Please call if you find 17786773796 We are from B.C. Canada.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13005721
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

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