It was a busy day on the show floor. Here’s the stuff that caught my eye…
First, Hutchinson claims to have solved one of the bike industry’s biggest unsolved mysteries — the flat-proof tire. Their new “Serenity” system looks very promising. It consists of a specially made tire and an “insert” developed by what the Hutchinson rep called a “proprietary solid polymer developed by our aerospace division.”
Surly Bikes has made a solid name for themselves over the years by offering well-built, versatile, and affordable steel bikes. You can hardly ride for five minutes in Portland without seeing one. I took a tour around their booth today with employee Emily Richard to find out what’s new.
The big news from Surly is their new Trailer (capitalized because that’s actually the model name). The Trailer is a bare-bones, heavy duty chunk of steel that’s rated to carry 300 pounds. Check it out…
Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish announced earlier today that the City of Portland will assume an official leadership role in the Gateway Green project. It’s been over a year since the project has moved significantly forward, but today Fish said the City’s decision to step up with leadership responsibility and financial commitment will help “break the logjam.”
Day Two here at Interbike and I’ve got lots of new product information and photos to share. I’ll start with Sun Bicycles, which was one of the more memorable booths I visited today in part because of their $550 (estimated retail) longtail “Atlas” cargo bike. In addition to that low-priced longtail, they’ve also got a sand bike and some interesting tadpole trikes and a handcycle.
At a show filled with lots of carbon fiber race machines, it’s great to see a company serving folks who want to ride but have special needs (the City of Portland purchased trikes from Sun for their Senior Cycling program).
I’ve got to get back out onto the show floor, but I wanted to share some of the bits and bikes I checked out yesterday.
Basil bags from The Netherlands are very solid and attractive. They’ve got a full range for daily riding. Their business “Select” line is water resistant (comes with rain cover) and has a new hook system that has an extra lock for security. They also make colorful baskets and sturdy front racks.
Last night, after a full day roaming the aisles of the Interbike trade show, I hopped on a shuttle bus and headed a few miles off the strip for Cross Vegas. Cross Vegas is a major cyclocross race that draws international pros and America’s top talent. But, since it’s in Vegas and since it happens when (nearly) the entire U.S. bike industry is in town, it’s just as much a spectacle and a party as it is a bike race.
From the Elvis impersonator who posed for photos, sang the national anthem, and then did a bike-inspired rendition of “Leaving Cross Vegas,” to the VIP Players Club area with a metal praying mantis dance club that spit fire, it was an amazing night. And, did I mention there was a full moon?
I’ve been following Puma’s entry into the bike world with some interest since the release of several models back in June. My interest is because of Puma’s position as a popular global shoe brand with a strong foothold in the urban market. As such, they’re taste-makers to some degree. So, what if they used that leadership to get more people excited about bikes? Mainstream brands embracing bikes is a good thing — isn’t it?
But what if Puma is just hopping on the latest trend, hoping it leads to more shoe sales? Is the whole thing a publicity stunt? Bike-washing perhaps? I stopped by the Puma Bikes booth at Interbike yesterday to find out.
David Guettler, owner of River City Bicycles in Portland’s central eastside, was named Retailer of the Year by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News at an award ceremony last night following the first day of the Interbike trade show.
I bumped into an ecstatic Guettler at the Cross Vegas race shortly after the awards ceremony. Guettler has been in the bike industry for 31 years and says this is by far the biggest honor of his career. “I’m still floating from the awards ceremony… this is a big deal!” Guettler said being a part of the bike industry is such an honor because the bicycle is such a powerful force for good that can help solve so many of our world’s problems. “I think this is the most important industry in the world. To be selected by my peers… it’s just staggering.”
To say urban biking has arrived on the radar of the bike industry is a major understatement. The products, the bikes, the magazines — urban biking has all the trappings of a bona fide segment segment of the industry. Another major part of urban biking is fashion. In the past few years, the selection of stylish and functional clothes made for people that bike has skyrocketed. Also in the past few years, Momentum Magazine has made a name for themselves by organizing fashion shows (they brought one to Portland back in October of 2009).
The Ready to Ride fashion at Interbike this afternoon did not disappoint. Check out some of the fashions and the faces in the slideshow below:
Year: 2007
Brand: Trek
Model: 1200
Color:silver/red/black
Size:52cm
Serial: C94GT241
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2010-09-21
Stolen From: Curtis Hale Apartments
Neighborhood: SW
Owner: Emily Johnson
OwnerEmail: emily.k.johnson19@gmail.com
Description: aftermarket aerobars, look pedals
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-78830
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Metro finalized an agreement yesterday that will allow them to secure the required easement rights to extend the Springwater Corridor Trail. The agreement will close more than half of the existing “Sellwood Gap” south of SE Tacoma Street.
According to a Metro press release, they reached an agreement with Oregon Pacific Railroad Company for $618,000. The agreement also included the sale of a 5,000 square foot property to Oregon Pacific in the Sellwood area.
The Sellwood Gap is a thorn in the side of many people in the Portland area. When the trail reaches Sellwood, the popular multi-use path snakes through residential streets for about a mile until the trail picks up again.
A bit of rain and the official start of fall don’t seem to be slowing anybody down. Head out and enjoy the last Sunday Parkways of the year, join the folks hoping to rekindle the critical mass flame, or get your fill of trees and parks at one of this weekend’s many great events.
7:00am-9:00am: Breakfast on the Bridges
It’s time once again for your favorite morning commute tradition. BonB serves up delicious free breakfast treats and coffee to commuters bicycling and walking to downtown. This month’s volunteers will be on the westbound Hawthorne bridge, the Morrison bridge, and Steel bridge lower deck. Add a couple minutes to your morning ride to enjoy this great event and hang out with your fellow commuters.